Safe care for life!
World Patient Safety Day is on September 17. The 2026 edition focuses on addressing one of the major health concerns affecting billions of people and accounting for 74% of deaths worldwide, namely noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Noncommunicable diseases are long-term conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, that can affect people of all ages and often require ongoing care throughout life.
In the Americas, NCDs account for approximately 6 million deaths annually and are the leading cause of mortality and disability. More than 240 million people in the Region live with at least one NCD, making delivery of safe, quality, and people-centered care a critical public health priority.
Globally, 1 in 10 patients is harmed during health care, with around half of this harm being considered preventable. People living with NCDs are particularly vulnerable to harm due to the long-term nature of their conditions, ongoing treatment needs and frequent interactions with health systems. This repeated exposure increases the likelihood of harm over time. With some conditions, such as cancer, up to 1 in 3 patients experience adverse events during care. Many people also live with multiple chronic conditions, further increasing the risk of harm.
World Patient Safety Day 2026 is, therefore, focusing on safe care for noncommunicable diseases, under the slogan ‘Safe care for life!’. It calls for multisectoral and multi-stakeholder action to ensure that no one is harmed while receiving care for NCDs.
People living with NCDs are at increased risk of harm in health care
This risk is driven by the long-term and complex nature of NCDs, health system challenges such as fragmented care and broader factors that affect access to safe care, such as poverty and discrimination.
Risks must be addressed across the continuum of care and in daily life
Safety risks can arise at every stage, from prevention, early detection and diagnosis to treatment and long-term management, across health care settings, homes and communities.
Strong, integrated health systems and a supported health workforce are essential for safe care
Strengthening primary health care, supporting health workers and addressing barriers that affect access to safe care through multisectoral action, are key to reducing harm.
People living with NCDs must be partners in safe care
Meaningful engagement, learning from people with lived experience and supporting healthliteracy reduces harm and leads to safer, better-quality care.
On 17 September, iconic landmarks, buildings and public spaces around the world will glow orange in support of World Patient Safety Day 2026. Together, these illuminations highlight a shared commitment to making care safer for people living with noncommunicable diseases, wherever they receive care and throughout their lives.
Join the worldwide wave - light up the night in orange for safe care for life! Fill out the form on the WHO website to share with us your plans for World Patient Safety Day 2026.
