First International Patient Safety Conference in Nepal
Introduction
Patient safety has been a critical aspect of healthcare in Nepal, necessitating urgent attention and
action. To address this issue, Nepal Mediciti, in collaboration with the Government of Nepal and
GTA, and with technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO), organized a
two-day International Patient Safety Conference in Kathmandu. The conference brought together
national and international experts to identify practical solutions tailored to Nepal’s healthcare
system.
Key Outcomes of the Conference
The conference focused on identifying simple, high-impact solutions to enhance patient safety.
Recommendations were rigorously evaluated by national moderators to ensure their feasibility
within the Nepalese healthcare context. One of the primary objectives was to generate actionable
recommendations that have been incorporated into this White Paper.
The key takeaways included:
- Medical errors were identified as a significant cause of patient harm in Nepal.
- Overstressed medical personnel, resource constraints, and limited awareness about patient safety were recognized as contributing factors.
- Immediate action was recommended to address "low-hanging fruit"—solutions requiring minimal resources but with a profound impact.
To systematically improve patient safety in Nepal, a structured approach was proposed and implemented. The framework included the following phases:
1. Initial Phase:
- A multidisciplinary committee was established to draft a clearly defined patient safety plan.
- A Patient Safety Action Force was formulated to oversee implementation.
- Simple, cost-effective interventions with high impact were implemented.
- Regular monitoring and reviews were conducted.
2. Intermediate Phase:
- National patient safety standards were drafted.
- An accreditation body was established to ensure compliance with safety protocols.
Immediate and Cost-Effective Interventions Implemented Several simple yet effective measures were introduced to significantly improve patient safety without requiring substantial financial investment:
- Implementation of checklists to reduce procedural errors.
- Hand hygiene protocols to prevent infections.
- Proper medication management and legible documentation to minimize prescription- related errors.
- Enhanced patient identification protocols to prevent treatment mismatches.
- Prevention of falls through improved safety measures in hospitals.
- Promotion of a culture of safety among healthcare professionals.
Role of the Ministry of Health and Population For patient safety initiatives to be successful, the Ministry of Health and Population played a crucial leadership role. Without strong governmental commitment and oversight, sustainability of these efforts would have been challenging. The ministry undertook the following actions:
- Integrated patient safety into national healthcare policies.
- Allocated necessary resources for training and awareness programs.
- Established a regulatory mechanism to monitor patient safety standards.
The implementation of a structured, phased approach to patient safety in Nepal has yielded significant improvements. The collaboration of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and regulatory bodies, played an essential role in creating a sustainable and effective patient safety system. The lessons learned from this initiative continue to serve as a foundation for ongoing improvements in Nepal’s healthcare environment. Download