JP Nadda Calls for Safer Care on World Patient Safety Day 2026

New Delhi – On September 18, 2026, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda stood before staff and students at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to mark World Patient Safety Day. The day’s theme, “Safe care for non‑communicable diseases,” and the tagline “Safe care for life!” set the tone for a candid conversation about what it really means to keep patients safe.

“Patient safety isn’t a nice‑to‑have; it’s the very backbone of good health care,” Nadda said, his voice steady but earnest. He reminded the audience that safety stretches beyond the operating theatre – it includes dignified, patient‑centred treatment from the moment someone walks into a clinic.

The minister pointed out that safety is a team sport. Doctors, nurses, technicians, administrators, even patients and their families all have a role. “When we all pull together, a simple act like hand‑washing can become a lifesaver,” he added, chuckling softly about the irony of such a small gesture having huge impact.

Hygiene and infection control, he argued, are inseparable from safety. Proper diagnosis, correct treatment, strict adherence to infection‑prevention protocols and relentless waste‑management were listed as non‑negotiables. “A clean hospital is not just tidy; it’s a safer hospital,” Nadda emphasized, drawing a clear line between cleanliness and patient outcomes.

On the policy front, Nadda highlighted a few flagship programmes. The National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), rolled out in 2015, now cover roughly 60,000 government health facilities. He said the goal is to keep expanding the net, ensuring every public hospital meets a minimum benchmark of quality.

He also reminded listeners of the financial cushion provided by Ayushman Bharat – up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. With about 11.5 crore beneficiaries and treatment costs crossing Rs 1.6 lakh crore, the scheme, he noted, is already a lifeline for millions.

Generic medicines are another piece of the puzzle. The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has set up more than 20,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country, making quality drugs affordable and thereby reducing the risk of medication errors.

Preventive health was also on the agenda. Early screening for diabetes, hypertension and common cancers, Nadda said, can curb complications before they spiral into emergencies, keeping patients out of the intensive‑care unit.

Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava echoed the sentiment, noting that ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital have earned NABH accreditation – a testament to their commitment to cleanliness and safety. She linked the day’s message with the nation’s “Swachhata Hi Seva” drive, urging everyone – staff, patients, visitors – to take ownership of hygiene.

In the end, the minister’s message was simple: safety is collective, hygiene is non‑negotiable, and quality care is a right, not a privilege. As the event closed, the applause lingered, a reminder that the road to safer hospitals is still a work‑in‑progress, but one we all walk together.