2024 WORLD PATIENT SAFETY DAY: LASG REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS

As part of its commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery, the Lagos State Government has reaffirmed the critical role of accurate diagnosis in ensuring patient safety while also underscoring the need for precision in diagnosis as a key factor in reducing medical errors and improving patient outcomes.

This was emphasised during the commemoration of 2024 World Patient Safety Day organised by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, on Tuesday where top health officials of the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders gathered to share views on the importance of patients safety.

Speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi highlighted various ongoing initiatives by the state to strengthen diagnostic accuracy, including advanced training for healthcare professionals and investment in state-of-the-art diagnostic technology.

These efforts, he noted, align with the global theme of the 2024 World Patient Safety Day, which emphasises the importance of timely and reliable diagnosis in safeguarding patient health.

The Commissioner stated that one of the ways the state government is prioritising the health of residents is by positioning Lagos State as the number one medical tourism centre in Nigeria, West Africa, and the Sub-Saharan region, ensuring patients receive the right diagnoses and treatments that meet international standards.

Abayomi urged medical personnel and other caregivers at the event to prioritise the health of their patients and ensure all the necessary steps are taken before commencing treatment. 

He emphasised that healthcare providers should be empathetic and compassionate in their interactions with patients, fostering an environment where patients feel confident enough to share crucial health information, especially details they may be reluctant to disclose. 

The Commissioner further stated that the State Government has set standards to eliminate quackery in healthcare and as such, any facility found to be operating outside these established standards will be sanctioned. He encouraged medical personnel to ensure they follow necessary steps before diagnosis, prescribe the correct medication, and refer cases beyond their expertise to specialists.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Health to the Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi said the theme of the event, “Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety”, reflects a critical aspect of healthcare delivery, urging healthcare workers to continuously improve diagnostic accuracy. 

She noted that diagnosis is often the first step in a patient’s recovery journey and that any delay or error in this step can compromise the entire care process, leading to adverse outcomes, loss of trust in the system, and sometimes tragic consequences.

Ogunyemi emphasised that Lagos State has always been at the forefront of healthcare innovation and reform in Nigeria, stressing that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration recognizes that patient safety is non-negotiable and is the bedrock of quality healthcare delivery. 

She explained that a correct diagnosis forms the foundation upon which appropriate and effective treatments are built, thus ensuring that the diagnostic process is reliable, timely, and accessible. 

The Special Adviser also informed the public of the state government’s efforts in expanding healthcare infrastructure, equipping diagnostic laboratories, radiology services, and primary healthcare centres with modern technology to support accurate diagnoses.

Earlier in her address, the Executive Secretary of the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr. Abiola Idowu explained that the essence of World Patient Safety Day is to reflect on collective achievements in improving patient safety and to address barriers that lead to patient harm. 

Dr. Idowu urged healthcare professionals to cultivate a culture of transparency and accountability in recognizing and reporting diagnostic errors.

The Executive Secretary further added that healthcare workers must learn from their mistakes and work to prevent their recurrence, highlighting the role of patients in the diagnostic process.

She said that healthcare providers must encourage patients to ask questions and seek second opinions when necessary. Idowu reiterated HEFAMAA’s commitment to ensuring that healthcare facilities meet the highest standards of diagnostic accuracy and patient safety by setting and enforcing minimum required standards.

In her lecture titled: “Patient Safety and Diagnostic Errors: Learning from Mistakes,” Associate Professor and Consultant at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Rita Oladele, highlighted medication errors, diagnostic errors, and unsafe blood transfusions as examples of adverse effects that may result from unsafe healthcare practices.

She emphasised the need for investment in reducing patient harm by ensuring healthcare facilities are well-equipped with functioning diagnostic equipment and staffed by qualified medical practitioners. 

The event had in attendance the presence of  His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, the Oniru of Iruland as Special Guest and other medical practitioners.