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Vuyo Sabani ​
"It is not up for debate that the prioritisation of patient safety in policy, awareness creation and changing organisational culture at our health facilities is necessary in order to strengthen healthcare systems towards the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI)." These were the words of Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Bandile Masuku on Tuesday, September 17, commemorating the first-ever World Patient Safety Day at the Gauteng Legislature.    
Dr Masuku said the nature of the healthcare provision environment was prone to human error, "this more so in a context where the demand for public healthcare services is high, and human and infrastructure resources are constrained."  
"The 17th September 2019 marks the first-ever World Patient Safety Day – a day dedicated to creating awareness of patient safety and urging people to show their commitment to making healthcare safer," said MEC Masuku whilst delivering a ministerial statement at the Gauteng Legislature. 
The Gauteng Department of Health held its inaugural World Patient Safety Day at Hammansakraal's Jubilee Hospital under the theme: "Patient Safety: A global health priority" saw various stakeholders converge to explore measures to curb the spread of adverse events in healthcare provision.  
MEC Masuku further added that to ensure healthcare services provided are effective, safe and people-centred, patient safety should be considered as a fundamental focus point in achieving improved health outcomes in the province. 
He said these include ensuring that the necessary safety standards are adhered to "in all our facilities, as well as making the commitment to improving staff morale among our staff members a priority."
"Patient Safety as a healthcare discipline emerges from the evolving complexities found in healthcare systems that lead to the increase of patient harm in healthcare facilities. This discipline is anchored on the prevention and reduction of risks and errors that patients face while being treated at healthcare facilities," said MEC Masuku.  
According to the World Health Organisation, 134 million adverse events occur each year due to unsafe care in hospitals in low and middle income countries, contributing to 2.6 million deaths annually. 
"The majority of these deaths and harm caused to patients can be avoided. As such, as the Gauteng Department of Health, we re-affirm that (1) the improvement of patient experience of care and (2) improving staff morale remain at the core of turning around the quality of healthcare we provide as a province," emphasised Dr Masuku.  
 
 
 
 
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