FG Strengthens Patient Safety Systems, Targets Safer Care for Nigerians Living with NCDs
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Government has renewed efforts to strengthen clinical governance and patient safety systems across Nigeria’s health institutions, with particular emphasis on protecting people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) from avoidable harm.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, stated this on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Abuja, during the commemoration of World Patient Safety Day 2026, themed “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases”, with the slogan “Safe care for life!”
The development was contained in a statement issued by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, on the commemoration of the 2026 World Patient Safety Day.
Pate said NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, constitute a major health burden and often require prolonged interaction with the healthcare system, creating several points where safety risks could occur.
He listed prevention, diagnosis, treatment, referral, follow-up and long-term disease management among areas requiring stronger patient safety measures.
According to the Minister, patient safety is fundamental to effective healthcare delivery and requires that the right care is provided to the right patient, at the right time and in the right manner, while minimising avoidable harm.
Pate recalled that the Ministry developed the National Patient Safety and Care Quality Policy and Implementation Strategy in 2024 and subsequently established and inaugurated the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety in January 2026.
He disclosed that the National Task Force is currently developing a National Framework on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety, which will provide coherent national direction on governance, accountability, quality improvement, patient safety practices, learning systems, monitoring and reporting across health institutions.
The Coordinating Minister stressed that safer healthcare cannot depend solely on individual health professionals, but requires strong leadership and governance structures, clear standards, competent and supported health workers, reliable data and functional incident-reporting and learning systems.
He also advocated a “Just Culture” in healthcare institutions, where professionals can report incidents, near misses and safety concerns without fear of inappropriate punishment.
Pate noted that the NCD-focused observance reinforces the urgency of strengthening patient safety systems because unsafe diagnosis, medication errors, poor communication, inadequate follow-up and fragmented care could cause serious harm to patients requiring long-term treatment.
He therefore called for greater continuity and coordination of care, competent health workers and meaningful patient participation in decisions concerning their health.
The Minister said patients must be treated with dignity and respect, adequately informed about their conditions and treatment options, and encouraged to participate actively in decisions regarding their care.
“Let us move from commitment to action; from reporting to learning; and from learning to sustained improvement,” Pate said.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian receives healthcare that is safe, effective, timely, equitable and respectful, while urging stakeholders to regard patient safety as a continuous responsibility rather than an annual observance.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said patient safety must be integrated into every stage of healthcare delivery through appropriate standards and protocols, reliable health information, effective referral systems and continuous improvement.
Kachollom described patient safety as central to the Ministry’s mandate to save lives, reduce physical and financial pain and promote health for Nigerians.
She said a strong health system must not only expand access to healthcare but must also provide services that citizens can trust to be safe, effective and people-centred.
The Permanent Secretary urged health workers, managers, healthcare institutions, development partners, patients and the media to make patient safety a daily responsibility rather than limit it to a one-day observance.
She stressed that the effectiveness of a health system should be measured not only by the number of people reached but also by the safety and quality of care provided.
Also speaking, the WHO Country Representative, Parvel Ursu, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, called for stronger primary healthcare, improved continuity and coordination of services, safer use of medicines and technologies, and systems that allow health workers to report errors and learn from them without fear of blame.
Ursu also urged patients and families to participate actively in their care by asking questions, communicating concerns and contributing to safer healthcare services.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in strengthening the quality and safety of NCD services and ensuring that the experiences of patients and families inform the design and delivery of healthcare.
The WHO representative commended the Ministry for prioritising patient safety and pledged continued support for the implementation of strategies aimed at reducing avoidable harm and strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s health system.
