During a panel at FOCOS Hospital on World Patient Safety Day, Dr Arthur Sackeyfio, Head of Orthopaedics, urged healthcare teams to treat patient safety as a shared duty across every phase of non‑communicable disease (NCD) care.
He warned that the rising burden of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory conditions demands heightened vigilance from diagnosis to follow‑up. “Safe care for people living with NCDs goes beyond making the correct diagnosis and requires ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right time,” he said.
Dr Sackeyfio highlighted key safety pillars: accurate assessment, safe medication practices, appropriate monitoring, effective communication, proper documentation and timely follow‑up. He stressed preventive measures such as health education, regular screening, healthy lifestyles, vaccination and family support.
He noted that NCD management often involves multiple professionals and departments, making coordination essential. “Every transition from consultation to laboratory, pharmacy, imaging, admission, discharge and follow‑up is an important opportunity to strengthen or compromise patient safety,” he added.
Dr Sackeyfio called for teamwork and open communication among doctors, nurses, pharmacists, administrative and support staff. He urged institutions to use audits, incident reports and patient feedback to identify risks and to treat near‑misses as learning opportunities rather than blame.
He also urged patients to become partners in their own safety, encouraging them to ask questions, understand their conditions and medications, and raise concerns. “An informed and engaged patient is an important partner in achieving safe outcomes,” he said.
He concluded that patient safety is a continuous journey of learning, improvement and vigilance, and that every healthcare worker should feel confident to speak up when safety concerns arise.
