The Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) has made a significant move toward improving healthcare by launching the country’s first-ever National Patient Safety Guideline (NPSG). This guideline aims to address growing concerns around the safety and quality of care in the country's healthcare facilities. It’s a step meant to elevate patient care standards and reduce the alarming rate of harm many patients face.

The statistics are sobering. In Ethiopia, 10pc of patients encounter safety hazards while receiving medical care, with a 2pc mortality rate linked to these issues. Globally, over 3 million lives are lost each year due to preventable medical errors. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in ten patients worldwide suffers harm in healthcare settings, and in primary care alone, four in 100 patients are affected.

Among the most common and dangerous risks are medication errors, surgical and diagnostic mistakes, unsafe blood transfusions, and healthcare-associated infections. These are issues that can result in long-term harm or even death.

A recent tragedy underscores just how urgent these improvements are. A doctor lost his life due to a preventable error during a routine surgical procedure. What was supposed to be a minor surgery turned into a nightmare when anaesthesia complications led to a severe reaction. The patient was transferred to another hospital, but despite desperate efforts, including attempts at dialysis, he passed away on September 15.

His grieving family is left not only heartbroken but also disillusioned with the healthcare system. They face the painful task of explaining the loss to his young children, including a three-year-old daughter. This tragic case is just one of many, reflecting the dire need for enhanced patient safety measures in Ethiopia.

Mihret Abate, a technical assistant at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), worked alongside MoH and WHO to develop the NPSG, the first in the country. According to her, the quality of healthcare services depends on a well-structured system, which many local institutions lack. The IHI has trained over 3,700 healthcare providers to improve safety standards, yet challenges like poor communication, insufficient training, and a lack of coordination persist.

To address these challenges, the new guideline provides a roadmap for healthcare providers to follow, complementing their existing skills and ethical practices. It is designed to help prevent errors, improve diagnostic accuracy, and ensure that healthcare services are delivered safely and efficiently.

Some hospitals are already leading the way in patient safety. St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College has implemented innovative programs to improve care. The hospital designates a "focal person" in each department responsible for patient safety and even appoints long-term patients as "ambassador patients" to share feedback on their care experiences.

According to Abdu Adem (MD), the hospital’s quality director, St. Paul Hospital takes patient input seriously, giving the example of one patient’s suggestion which led to the creation of an operating room checkpoint, providing vital information to patients about their procedures and medications. The hospital also focuses on health literacy, educating both patients and healthcare providers about safety measures, which are all grounded in evidence-based practices.

One of the largest in the country, the Hospital has a capacity of 700 beds and serves 2,500 to 3,000 patients daily. The institution actively engages in research endeavours, leveraging insights to drive improvements in care even outside its jurisdiction. Notably, such initiatives led to the establishment of a maternal surgical unit surgery area at a Hani Dima healthcare facility in Burayu, reducing the need for referrals to St Paul.