World Patient Safety Day

September 17 is World Patient Safety Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated this day to raise public awareness and promote safe healthcare for patients. Every year, Luxembourg joins the international community in reaffirming its commitment to ensuring safe healthcare for all.

In 2024, the chosen theme is ‘Improving diagnosis to guarantee patient safety’, which aims to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, political decision-makers, patients, and the general public of the crucial importance of accurate and rapid diagnosis.

Making safe diagnosis a priority

Ongoing training for healthcare professionals is planned to ensure that their knowledge is kept up to date on specific topics and to ensure the safety of diagnosis.

At the same time, public awareness campaigns are being rolled out to promote screening for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and other diseases.

Diagnosis is a team effort

Wherever necessary, the Luxembourg healthcare system encourages a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis.

The active participation of patients and their families is also central to efforts to improve diagnosis. Patients must become active participants in their own care. They can appoint a trusted support person to accompany them throughout the process. In addition, creating a National Information and Mediation Service means that patients can be better guided and informed, strengthening their ability to play an active part in their care.

Involving patients in the diagnostic process ensures an accurate diagnosis and patient safety. The Ministry of Health and Social Security actively supports all the initiatives and actions of national patient associations, recognising their crucial role in improving the quality of care and promoting patient safety nationwide.

"Get it right, make it safe!"

With this slogan, the WHO calls for concerted efforts to reduce diagnostic errors and ensure patient safety. To achieve this, a communication campaign will run from 13 to 27 September 2024, in conjunction with healthcare professionals, to raise awareness among all healthcare stakeholders and the general public of the importance of working as a team and involving patients and their families in this process to make a correct, rapid, and safe diagnosis.

Together, we can help to strengthen patient safety and improve the quality of care in Luxembourg.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and Social Security