The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in collaboration with the World Health Organization will host  next month the launch of WHO’s Third Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication without Harm.

The WHO’s global challenges on patients safety are primary programs aimed at introducing improvements in health systems and thereby, reducing risks and harms resulting from delivery of health services. In this regard, the WHO launched earlier two global challenges. The first challenge was in 2005 called “Clean Care is Safer Care” and the second one was in 2008 called “Safe Surgery Saves Lives”.

This third challenge was officially launched by the WHO in Bonn, Germany last March with participation of the Sultanate, represented by the Minister of Health.

During the meeting held in Bonn, the Organization has chosen the Sultanate to launch this challenge in the Eastern Mediterranean region due to its good reputation among the international institutions. This meeting is the first launch for this challenge in the WHO six regions.

The 3^rd global challenge aims at reducing the harm caused by unsafe practices and medication errors. It focuses on improving the safety of medication by strengthening the systems required for reducing such errors.

Launching this challenge coincides with the celebration of the First Annual World Patient Safety Day, that was allocated based on the Sultanate’s proposal to the WHO, which recently has been approved to be on 17^th of September each year.  

Due to the importance of this high-level event in the Sultanate, the Ministry of Health, represented by the Directorate-General of Quality Assurance Center and other MOH Directorates and in collaboration with the SQU paid attention for the preparations, as well as providing adequate support for the participants. In addition, a main committee was formed consist of sub-committees related to various organizational, administrative and media matters.