The latest version of Patient Safety Curriculum Guide, translated by Chinese Hospital Association, will be adopted by medical institutions across China soon.
The guide, initially released by the WHO last year, covers various medical fields including dentistry, nursing and pharmacy. It is designed to assist health-care providers and universities to provide better training concerning patient safety.
Ma Xiaowei, the deputy minister of the Health Ministry, acknowledges the significance of patient safety.
"Currently, China is working to push medical reform further. The guideline issued by the State Council states clearly that the aim of the reform is to provide safe, effective and affordable medical services to the public, so the quality of medical care and patient safety are our top priorities."
China launched a medical service quality watchdog program in 2009 in order to oversee the quality of medical services.
According to the WHO, one in every ten hospital patients suffers serious injury or death due to inadequate medical care. In some countries, it can be as high as one in five patients.
Dr. Margaret Chan, the director-general of the WHO, says the guideline on patient safety involves not simply financial resources, but more importantly the knowledge and commitment to deliver safer care.
"Through its courses, health care providers and students alike can learn how systems impact on the quality and safety of care, and how poor communication can lead to medical errors. They can learn about the key risks of health care to be able to recognize, analyze and report hazards to patients. "
Wang Zhong, a doctor from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, agrees with Chan and says the key is for doctors to take patient's needs into account.
"A patient should be treated as an individual rather than as a subject carrying diseases. Doctors should not only look into the illness a patient has suffered physically, but more importantly what the patient feels. Only after knowing what the patient really needs can the doctors set up a personalized treatment plan and relieve a patient's pain."
The WHO launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety in 2004, and the latest safety guide is expected to be adopted in all member countries.
For CRI, I'm Ding Lulu.
