To mark World Patient Safety Day 2026, WHO/Europe will hold a regional webinar highlighting the importance of safe care for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The event will explore why integrating patient safety into NCD programmes and services is essential for better health outcomes, improved experience of care and more effective use of resources for health systems.
Patients living with NCDs: a long-term challenge
“Safe care for life!” is the slogan of this year’s World Patient Safety Day campaign focused on NCDs – a major global health threat. In the WHO European Region, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and other NCDs account for 80% of all deaths.
People living with NCDs often require long-term, coordinated care across different providers and levels of the health system, which can expose them to safety risks such as medication-related harm, diagnostic and communication failures, fragmented care and treatment, and avoidable hospital admissions. These factors can increase the likelihood of harm to patients over time.
WHO/Europe webinar: sharing evidence and generating ideas
The WHO/Europe “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases” webinar will bring together patient representatives, public health experts, decision-makers and partners to share evidence and innovative approaches, as well as amplify the voices of people living with NCDs to inform better policies and practices.
The event aims to foster dialogue and collaboration among Member States and partners in support of the World Patient Safety Day 2026 theme.
The webinar is intended for national and subnational policy-makers responsible for NCDs, health managers and safety improvement leads; health professionals involved in NCD prevention and care; civil society organizations; and researchers and academic institutions.
The webinar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous translation available in Russian.