During the VI Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety in Santiago, Chile, Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Mary Lou Valdez, highlighted the importance of ensuring basic conditions of hygiene, health, physical safety, and personal dignity in clinical settings. She stressed that individuals, families, and communities judge their trust in health services based on the care they receive.
Valdez pointed out that although countries in the Americas have made progress in patient safety, health systems in the region are still fragmented. This fragmentation leads to poor quality of care, adverse events, patient dissatisfaction, and mistrust. Mortality rates due to poor quality of care vary across countries in the region, with rates ranging from 47 to 350 deaths per 100,000 people.
The goal of the summit held on 17-18 April was to allow countries to exchange experiences on implementing and sustaining strategies for safe healthcare delivery. Workshops during the summit covered topics such as quality assurance methodologies, clinical challenges like childbirth and comorbidities, and supporting countries in implementing the World Health Organization Plan of Action for Patient Safety 2021-2030.
Valdez emphasized that PAHO will continue working with countries in the region to cultivate a culture of quality in healthcare delivery. This includes continuous process improvements and developing financing strategies to optimize health resources allocation. She highlighted the importance of reaching the highest standards of healthcare delivery and patient safety.
