Country: Ethiopia Source: World Health Organization Adama, Ethiopia, 26 March 2026 — Ethiopia has taken important steps to strengthen patient safety across its health system, as highlighted during a national review meeting of the Global Patient Safety Collaborative held in Adama. The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, 24 health facilities implementing the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Framework, partner organizations, professional associations, and patient representatives to assess progress, share lessons learned, and identify priorities for scaling up patient safety interventions nationwide. Opening the meeting, Dr Abas Hassen, Lead Executive Officer for Health System Improvement and Quality with the Ministry of Health, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fostering a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous learning across all levels of care. In keynote remarks, Dr Markos Feleke, representing the Ethiopian Healthcare Federation, emphasized the country’s growing commitment to building safer and more resilient health systems, noting that the continued engagement of private health facilities remains a critical component of this effort. Dr Bejoy Nambiar, Coordinator for Strategic Health Policy and Planning at the WHO Country Office in Ethiopia in his key note address highlighted Ethiopia’s progress under the Global Patient Safety Collaborative. Dr Bejoy noted key achievements, including the development of national patient safety guidelines and procedures, progress in advancing patient safety regulation, integration of patient safety into pre-service health professional education, and the development of training and e-learning materials. Additional milestones include the initiation of a national patient safety incident reporting and learning system, the establishment of a national patient safety network, and strengthened advocacy through the annual commemoration of World Patient Safety Day. Participants reviewed implementation progress of both the Global Patient Safety Collaborative and the Ethiopia Safe Care Align Project, examining achievements, operational challenges, and priority actions for the next phase. Findings from the one-year pilot implementation of the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Framework were presented, providing insights into performance against targets and lessons learned from participating facilities. The meeting also highlighted key national initiatives supporting safer care delivery. These included the establishment of the National Patient Safety Network, which is facilitating peer learning and capacity building among health facilities, as well as the launch of patient safety and quality improvement e-learning platforms. Findings from the national patient safety culture assessment were also presented. Health facilities shared practical experiences and frontline interventions, contributing to a collective reflection on improving safety practices. The meeting concluded with recognition of hospitals and technical working groups for their contributions, reaffirming the shared commitment of the Ministry of Health, WHO, and partners to expand patient safety interventions and ensure safer, high-quality care for all people in Ethiopia. For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, Please contact: Yetenayet Kebede Communications Officer World Health Organization -Ethiopia Phone: +251911080478 (Direct line, WhatsApp & Telegram) Email– yfita@who.int
