During the 2021 Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety in Chile, Mary Lou Valdez, the Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), emphasized the importance of protecting fundamental hygiene, health, safety, and dignity in clinical settings. Valdez reminded attendees that while providing technical quality in healthcare services is essential, patient trust is ultimately determined by their experiences.
Despite significant progress in improving patient safety in the Americas, healthcare systems remain fragmented across the region. This has led to subpar quality care, adverse events, dissatisfied patients, and a lack of trust in medical professionals. Mortality rates attributable to poor quality of care can vary greatly between countries in the region, ranging from 47 to 350 deaths per 100,000 people.
The primary objective of this year’s summit was to provide an opportunity for countries to exchange ideas on implementing and maintaining strategies for safe healthcare delivery. The summit featured workshops covering topics such as quality assurance methodologies, clinical challenges, and supporting nations in implementing the World Health Organization Plan of Action for Patient Safety 2021-2030.
Valdez reiterated PAHO’s commitment to working alongside countries in developing a culture of quality when delivering comprehensive health services. This includes ongoing process improvements and devising innovative financing strategies to optimize resource allocation within healthcare systems. Valdez emphasized the importance of achieving high standards in patient care and safety to fulfill PAHO’s mission.
