ICHA Patient Safety Initiative

The Issue- Unsafe Healthcare

We all desire safe, timely, effective, affordable, equitable and patient – centred healthcare. What we get in reality is far from what we desire; healthcare has become complex, costly and risky due to the flawed and weak healthcare system lacking adequate investment, resources and attention. Improvement of quality, safety and efficiency in healthcare is what everybody needs and wants and yet, few are willing to do something about it. Urgent action needs to be taken to address the daunting issue but not on an individual or piecemeal basis. It is a systemic issue and needs to be addressed in a concerted and consequential manner.

Biggest Pt. Safety issue: INAPPROPRIATE CARE is the biggest Patient Safety Issue – Physically, Mentally and Economically. It is also the major reason for the prevalent mistrust and also the reason for majority of litigations.

Magnitude of Unsafe Healthcare-Some disturbing statistics

In Healthcare there is a tsunami everyday …….We don’t realize it!

Despite recognition of the fact that “safe healthcare for all? is fundamental to improve the health index, precious little has been done to address the problem. Every day, lack of patient safety measures in healthcare facilities devastates the lives of millions of people. Hundreds of millions of patients worldwide are suffering from infections acquired in health-care facilities.

WHO FACT Sheet
(as of 13 September 2019) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/patient-safety

Key facts

• The occurrence of adverse events due to unsafe care is likely one of the 10 leading causes of death and disability in the world (1).
• In high-income countries, it is estimated that one in every 10 patients is harmed while receiving hospital care (2). The harm can be caused by a range of adverse events, with nearly 50% of them being preventable (3).
• Each year, 134 million adverse events occur in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), due to unsafe care, resulting in 2.6 million deaths (4).
• Another study has estimated that around two-thirds of all adverse events resulting from unsafe care, and the years lost to disability and death (known as disability adjusted life years, or DALYs) occur in LMICs (5).
• Globally, as many as 4 in 10 patients are harmed in primary and outpatient health care. Up to 80% of harm is preventable. The most detrimental errors are related to diagnosis, prescription and the use of medicines (6).
• In OECD countries, 15% of total hospital activity and expenditure is a direct result of adverse events (2).
• Investments in reducing patient harm can lead to significant financial savings, and more importantly better patient outcomes (2). An example of prevention is engaging patients, if done well, it can reduce the burden of harm by up to 15% (6).

Surgeries are the most complex health services and costliest. Hence Safe Surgery is a Public Health Priority.

Overall, unsafe healthcare is an economic burden and so is a major PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. Studies show that poor quality and unsafe care including: avoidable medical errors leading to additional hospitalizations and extra medical expenses, litigation costs, infections acquired in hospitals, disability, lost income and productivity have cost some countries as much as US$ 19 billion a year.15% of hospital expenses can be attributed to treating patient safety failures in OECD countries.

How ICHA proposes to address the issue?

ICHA proposes to promote “safe healthcare for all" in our country with our technical and professional competencies covering the areas of education, awareness, adoption and implementation of best practices and thus, bring about the desired change. The economic benefits of this activity itself would bring returns several times worth the investment required. The social benefits are bonuses.

Major strengths of ICHA: –

1. Multi-stakeholder body comprising all stakeholders. Constituent National Associations / Institutions ensure high credibility.
2. ICHA structure engenders opportunity for all to contribute, thus circumventing politicking and individualism, while achieving balanced outcomes.
3. Nearly 700 Affiliates from all walks and all across the country. Most of these affiliates have very senior people who are the virtual advisory panel. This resource strength makes ICHA a “one-stop-destination? for all inputs needed for strengthening health systems in all its diverse aspects.
4. The three core values Trust – Transparency – Transactions strengthen ICHA’s competitive capability
5. Follow the key concepts of quality as non-threatening, educative process to help upgrade all
6. Validating excellence achieved through peer review for credible and quality system

ICHA Patient Safety Initiative – Snapshot of what ICHA has done so far

To reinforce ICHA’s mission, viz. “Patient Safety as the core of Healthcare Excellence", ICHA had embarked on implementation of Patient Safety initiative through the WHO – Patient Safety, Action Areas and Global Patient Safety Challenges (GPSC I, II & III). The initiative comprises the following:-

Commonwealth Fellowship Programme

1. Online Patient Safety learning program through Peoples University, http//:peoples-uni.org.
2. Multi – location events
3. Develop partnerships with Healthcare Systems
4. Consolidation and Pre-convention event at Delhi in September ‘09
5. ICHA Convention on Patient Safety: 27 – 29 November ‘09 in New
6. Ongoing programs in Medical Colleges and Collaborative Centres
7. Maternal and Neonatal Safety initiative

ICHA Patient Safety Initiative – The Future Focus

1. Patient Safety Education in educational institutions through professional councils and online programmes
2. Best practices implementation in all areas
3. Address India Centric concerns like Maternal and Neonatal Safety
4. Partnerships with major public and private Healthcare systems
5. Technology Innovations

Download Resources

ICHA Initiative on Pt Safety Presentation

Scientific Programme : ICHA Convention for patient safety