The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday held a celebration to mark World Patient Safety Day at the lobby of Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (PMMPMHAMB) Hospital in Tutong District.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, the guest of honour, officiated the cake-cutting ceremony.
The theme, ‘Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety set by the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights the significance of accurate diagnosis in healthcare to safeguard patient safety.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of PMMPMHAMB Hospital Hajah Siti Hasrainah binti Haji Mohd Hassan, in her remarks, highlighted the MoH’s commitment to ensuring that patient safety is a top priority.
She said, “The theme ‘Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety’, with the slogan ‘Get it Right, Make it Safe!’, underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis to ensure patient safety.” She announced in conjunction with the celebration, that the official opening of the hospital’s newly relocated blood collection/phlebotomy service room, has been moved from the first floor to the ground floor for public convenience.
She also noted that the role of the phlebotomy unit is to ensure accurate diagnostic testing, which is essential for both patient safety and effective treatment.
The celebration aimed to increase awareness of a ‘safety culture’ in healthcare and promote capacity building within the system, with the goal of fostering an environment that prioritises patient safety, encourages learning from incidents, and supports continuous transparency.
The objectives of this year’s celebration also include raising global awareness about the dangers of misdiagnosis, emphasising the critical role of timely and accurate diagnosis in enhancing patient safety and integrating diagnostic safety into clinical practice in line with the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030. – James Kon
