Ugandan health authorities have issued a strong call to action for healthcare providers to prioritize reducing diagnostic errors in their clinical practice. This appeal came during the national commemoration of World Patient Safety Day, held at Wakiso Health Centre IV, where the critical role of accurate diagnosis in safeguarding patient safety was underscored.

The event, organized under the theme “Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety,” and the slogan “Get it Right, Make it Safe!” gathered a wide range of stakeholders including government officials, healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society organizations, and community members. The discussions emphasized the profound impact timely and accurate diagnoses have on improving health outcomes and preventing patient harm.

In addition to the formal addresses, the event featured a three-day health camp that mobilized the community for screening and treatment of various health conditions, including HIV, Hepatitis B, diabetes, hypertension, and gastrointestinal issues. Participants also benefited from counseling on dental hygiene, nutrition, and infection prevention. Healthcare organizations exhibited their achievements and disseminated patient engagement materials to further promote awareness.

Honorable Anifa Kawooya, Minister of State for Health (General Duties), led the sensitization efforts. She highlighted the pivotal role healthcare providers play in ensuring patient safety through correct diagnoses:

“We all have a shared responsibility in reducing diagnostic errors. Healthcare workers must attentively listen to patients, conduct thorough physical examinations, and carry out appropriate tests to reach accurate diagnoses. These steps are crucial in mitigating errors and providing suitable treatment,” Honorable Anifa Kawooya emphasized. She also reminded patients of their role in the diagnostic process by providing accurate medical histories, asking questions, and seeking second opinions when necessary.

Diagnostic errors, which account for an estimated 16% of preventable harm in healthcare, pose a serious threat, especially in environments where detection and reporting systems are underdeveloped. Cognitive factors, such as inadequate recognition of symptoms, and systemic issues like poor communication among healthcare teams, often contribute to these errors.

Dr. Charles Njuguna, the Acting WHO Representative to Uganda, noted the importance of addressing these underlying causes:

“Today, we reflect on our shared responsibility to strengthen diagnostic processes. This includes ensuring that test results are accurately interpreted and communicated, and that patients receive safe and effective care,” Dr. Njuguna stated. He reiterated WHO’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s efforts to strengthen its health systems, particularly in enhancing diagnostic safety.

The World Health Organization’s Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 offers a comprehensive roadmap for addressing diagnostic errors, urging countries to adopt strategies that tackle both cognitive and systemic causes. Improving diagnostic safety requires addressing organizational vulnerabilities such as poor communication, heavy workloads, and inadequate teamwork, alongside improving healthcare workers’ training, and reducing the impact of stress and fatigue.

World Patient Safety Day, established by the Seventy-Second World Health Assembly in 2019, serves as a platform to raise public awareness and mobilize stakeholders to take concrete action toward improving patient safety. The global observance underscores the need for collective efforts to protect patients from preventable harm across all health systems.

Dr. Njuguna concluded by affirming WHO’s commitment to continue advocating for the adoption of global best practices in Uganda, with a particular focus on the critical area of diagnostic safety.