WHO focuses on safe care of non-communicable diseases. Taiwan Patient Alliance calls on patients to participate in disease safety discussions

2026/09/23 14:23

Shi Chongliang emphasized that patients must be involved in medical safety. Only through unilateral promotion by the government and the medical side, the results can be very limited. (Photo by reporter Lin Zhiyi)

[Reporter Lin Zhiyi/Taipei Report] The 2026 World Health Organization (WHO) World Patient Safety Day focuses on the safe care of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), emphasizing that patient safety should be implemented in every link from prevention to continuous care. Research shows that 1 in 6 NCDs patients experience preventable medical injuries. The Taiwan Patient Alliance calls for continuous strengthening of patient participation in disease safety discussions.

Wu Honglai, chairman of the Taiwan Patient Alliance, pointed out that the WHO commissioned a study by a research team from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, which compiled 23 countries, 63 studies, and 2.5 million patient data. Preliminary results show that among patients receiving non-communicable disease care, 1 in 6 patients will experience preventable medical injuries, which is three times the rate in general medical conditions. Among them, drug problems are the most common. Detailed research results are expected to be released in April 2027.

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Wu Honglai, WHO called on countries to make patients and caregivers important partners in safe care, and proposed five major disease safety goals, including establishing partnerships with patients, caregivers and civil society, strengthening prevention and risk assessment, providing early detection, accurate diagnosis and integrated management, ensuring the safe use and acquisition of drugs and medical equipment, and strengthening care coordination, continuity and transfer mechanisms.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shi Chongliang said that NCDs patients have a higher risk of encountering safety incidents because of their long-term medication needs, and as they age, they may have other comorbidities, so they may need to use more drugs. The efficacy and interaction risks of drugs must also be considered at the same time. They are a group that needs to pay great attention to safety.

Shi Chongliang said that the Ministry of Health and Welfare continues to strengthen patient safety from the aspects of medical service provision and patient participation. Through the Healthy Taiwan Deepening Program, hospitals are encouraged to improve the working conditions of medical staff and introduce smart medical care. Through smart tools, systematic methods and scientific and technological practices, the third and fifth readings of medicines are more accurate and trouble-free, and medication safety is also improved through closed-loop system operations.

In addition, Shi Chongliang emphasized that patients must participate in patient safety. Only through unilateral promotion by the government and the medical side, the results can be very limited. When the Ministry of Health and Welfare sets annual patient safety goals every year, it will definitely invite patient groups to participate, hoping to jointly promote the environment and safety of front-line medical care.