—Janabi urges governments to protect patients from avoidable harm
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on African governments to strengthen patient safety measures for people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), warning that gaps in diagnosis, medication, referrals and follow-up can expose patients to avoidable harm.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, made the call in his message to mark World Patient Safety Day 2026, themed “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases”, with the slogan “Safe care for life!”
Janabi said people living with diabetes, cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory conditions often require long-term and complex care involving multiple consultations, tests, medicines, referrals and treatment.
He warned that every interaction with the health system could present risks if adequate safety measures were not in place.
According to him, NCDs caused at least 43 million deaths globally in 2021, while they accounted for 37 per cent of all deaths in the WHO African Region in 2019, compared with 24 per cent in 2000.
He added that nearly two-thirds of NCD deaths in the African Region were premature, compared with 41.7 per cent globally.
Janabi identified unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity and air pollution among factors contributing to the growing NCD burden.
He said patients could suffer avoidable harm through delayed or missed diagnoses, medication errors, adverse drug interactions, weak follow-up and poor communication when they move between healthcare providers and facilities.
The WHO official stressed that patient-safety risks could occur throughout the healthcare journey, including during diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and self-management.
He also noted that stigma, discrimination and barriers to essential medicines and health technologies could further increase the risks faced by people living with NCDs.
Janabi therefore urged countries to ensure that efforts to expand access to NCD services were matched with improvements in quality and patient safety.
He said stronger primary healthcare systems could provide continuity of care, detect health problems earlier and coordinate treatment across different levels of the health system.
“Health workers also need practical guidance, reliable supplies and workplaces where errors can be reported and used to improve care, without fear of blame,” he said.
Janabi noted that countries in the African Region were expanding integrated NCD services through initiatives such as WHO PEN at primary healthcare level and PEN-Plus at first-level referral facilities.
He said such approaches bring diagnosis, treatment and long-term care closer to communities while supporting safer care through evidence-based treatment protocols, clear referral pathways and regular monitoring.
The WHO Regional Director also called for greater involvement of patients and families in decisions about their care.
“People living with NCDs must also be partners in making care safer. They understand where services break down and where risks arise in daily life,” he said.
He urged patients and families to ask questions, speak up and raise concerns whenever they are unclear about any aspect of their treatment.
Janabi called on member states to embed patient safety into NCD policies and programmes, strengthen systems for reporting and learning from harm, and invest in health worker training, supportive supervision and the safe use of medicines and technologies.
He further urged health professionals to follow evidence-based protocols and communicate openly with patients and colleagues.
Janabi assured that WHO would continue supporting member states to strengthen primary healthcare and improve the quality and safety of NCD services across the continent.
“Every person should be protected from avoidable harm throughout their health journey,” he said.
