Patient Safety in India: An Ecosystem Approach to Bridging the 'Two-Way Gap'
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Social Development, Health & Nutrition; Social Sector Initiatives (National Patient Safety Framework, NABH); International Bodies (WHO).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Health & Governance): Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; Role of civil society. Patient safety is a core component of 'Quality of Care' in the health sector.
Key Highlights from the News
September 17 is observed as World Patient Safety Day.
Patient harm during treatment is a major global health problem. Global statistics show that one in ten hospitalized patients experiences such harm.
In India, the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions like cancer and diabetes enhances the importance of patient safety.
Main reasons for the problem in India:
Overburdened providers and heavy workload on healthcare workers.
Passive uninformed patients who hesitate to ask questions about their treatment and remain inactive.
Solutions:
Make patients active partners in care.
Efficiently implement government policies like the National Patient Safety Implementation Framework.
Promote NABH accreditation to ensure the quality of hospitals.
Establish Patient Advisory Councils (PACs) to include patients' voices in hospital administration.
The article argues that patient safety is not solely the responsibility of doctors but a shared responsibility involving the government, hospitals, patients, and civil society.
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