India Focuses on Safer Care for Patients With Chronic Diseases
Health Ministry highlights quality assurance, continuity of care and stronger safety standards during the 2026 World Patient Safety Day observance.
New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has called for stronger patient-safety measures in the prevention, diagnosis and long-term treatment of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), highlighting the need for safer and more consistent healthcare delivery across India.
The ministry made the observations during the national observance of World Patient Safety Day 2026 at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi on September 18. This year’s global theme was “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs).” Press Information Bureau
Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Aradhana Patnaik, said patient safety needs to be integrated throughout the healthcare system rather than treated as the responsibility of a single programme or department.
The ministry highlighted the growing importance of safety standards as NCDs account for nearly 63 per cent of deaths in India. Officials also stressed the need to improve referral systems and continuity of treatment so that patients can receive timely and appropriate care.
As part of its quality-improvement efforts, the government has set a target of achieving 100 per cent National Quality Assurance Standards certification of Ayushman Aarogya Mandir Sub Health Centres by March 2027, followed by certification of Primary Health Centres.
The national programme also included a patient-safety pledge involving healthcare stakeholders, policymakers, clinicians and quality management professionals.
Officials said strengthening quality assurance at different levels of the health system would help institutionalise safer healthcare practices and support India’s broader objective of improving healthcare quality and advancing universal health coverage.
