WHO Regional Survey Reveals Patient Safety Gaps in NCD Care

BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO — A regional assessment released by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa highlights progress and critical gaps in health system safety, according to the latest who regional patient safety findings. Published on World Patient Safety Day under the theme “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases,” the survey reveals that one in six patients receiving chronic care for hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular conditions experiences avoidable clinical harm during treatment.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Janabi called on member states to integrate clinical safety protocols directly into primary healthcare facilities. Although several countries have introduced evidence-based treatment guidelines, major gaps persist in error reporting systems, health worker training, and medicine distribution security.

Key Assessment Metrics & System Recommendations

The regional report details clinical safety challenges across chronic disease management:

Clinical Governance Priority	System Performance Target
Avoidable Patient Harm	Reduce the 1-in-6 harm rate across chronic NCD treatment facilities
Incident Reporting Systems	Establish transparent, non-punitive clinical error tracking protocols
Primary Care Integration	Embed standardized NCD screening & safety tools into local clinics
Medicine Supply Security	Ensure uninterrupted distribution of safe, quality-assured chronic meds

Executing the WHO Regional Survey on Patient Safety Directives in Primary Care

Adopting the who regional patient safety recommendations requires health ministries across the continent to reinforce clinical governance frameworks. Expanding community-based screening networks is essential to detect non-communicable conditions early before advanced complications require complex, high-risk clinical interventions. Furthermore, health facilities must prioritize continuous training for frontline nurses and community health workers on error prevention and medication management.

Securing pharmaceutical supply chains remains equally critical to ending treatment interruptions that force patients onto substandard or counterfeit alternatives. By establishing transparent incident reporting mechanisms and enforcing who regional patient safety guidelines, African nations can safeguard patient health, reduce preventable hospital complications, and build resilient, patient-centered healthcare systems.

Why It Matters: Embedding clinical safety protocols into chronic disease care reduces hospital-acquired complications, ensuring safer, long-term treatment for millions of Africans living with non-communicable conditions.

Source: World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, September 17, 2026,