On World Patient Safety Day 2025, WHO urges global action to protect children from unsafe healthcare
On 17 September 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a compelling call to action on World Patient Safety Day, urging governments, healthcare providers, and communities worldwide to prioritise safe care for every newborn and child. Under the theme “Safe care for every newborn and every child” and the slogan “Patient safety from the start!”, WHO emphasises the urgent need to eliminate preventable harm in paediatric and newborn healthcare settings. Despite significant advancements, millions of children continue to face risks due to unsafe medical practices, underscoring the necessity for immediate and sustained investment in their safety and well-being.
Unsafe care is a leading contributor to child death
Unsafe care, especially in the early stages of life, is detrimental to children, often leading to mortality and long-term disability. Reviews of paediatric care reveal a harrowing reality: harmful incidents are widespread, affecting up to one in two children admitted to hospital wards.
In intensive care units, these figures are even more alarming, with some studies finding harm in nine in ten children. However, these rates vary depending on context and methodologies.
The most common causes of harm include:
- medication errors
- diagnostic errors
- health care-associated infection
- surgical complications, and
- incidents related to medical devices.
Critical intervention needed for paediatric safety
The WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 identifies paediatric safety as a vital area for intervention, emphasising that preventable harm in early life stages contributes significantly to child mortality and undermines long-term health outcomes and system resilience.
Unsafe care does not just result in immediate harm; it leads to lifelong disabilities, extended hospital stays, and repeat treatments, further placing strain on families and health systems. Furthermore, in low-resource settings, the absence of clean water, sterile equipment, and trained staff further exaggerates these risks.
The growing evidence makes one thing clear – investing in paediatric safety is a necessity for building resilient health systems and achieving universal health coverage.
Positively, over 50% of patient harm is preventable. This figure indicates that improving the quality of care could save up to 1 million newborns annually. Engaging patients and families in their care can reduce harm by up to 15%. Safer care reduces costs by preventing complications and reducing the need for hospital stays. These statistics provide hope and motivation for the necessary changes in paediatric safety.
Governments must act on patient safety
To achieve universal health coverage, governments and stakeholders must recognise that safe care for children is key to health equality, resilience, and sustainability.
WHO urges all stakeholders to act:
- Health leaders: Prioritise paediatric safety in national health strategies. Invest in training, infrastructure, and data systems to support your organisation’s growth.
- Health workers: Deliver care that is safe, child-centred, and adapted to each child’s needs.
- Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in patient safety. By being active participants in your child’s care, asking questions, staying informed, and speaking up, you can empower yourselves and contribute significantly to the safety of your child’s healthcare journey.Educators: Empower children to understand and engage in their own health care.
- Civil society: Advocate for safe care in all settings, especially in underserved and crisis-affected communities.
