World Patient Safety Day Conference

Safe Care for Life: Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

About the Conference

The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUHN), is pleased to host the World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) 2026 Conference, a three-day event dedicated to advancing safer care for individuals living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Observed annually on 17 September, World Patient Safety Day is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of patient safety and promote actions that reduce preventable harm in healthcare. The 2026 theme, “Safe Care for Life: Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)”, highlights the importance of delivering safe, coordinated, and patient-centered care across the continuum of care.

NCDs—including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health conditions—are among the leading causes of illness and death globally and in Kenya. Individuals living with these conditions are often exposed to patient safety risks such as delayed diagnosis, medication-related harm, fragmented care, poor care transitions, and inadequate monitoring. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among healthcare providers, patients, policymakers, regulators, and health system leaders.

Building on the success of the 2025 symposium, which brought together over 370 participants from 54 institutions, the 2026 conference will provide a platform for learning, collaboration, innovation, and practical action to improve safety in NCD care.

Participants will gain practical insights, learn from local and international experts, share experiences, explore innovative approaches to safer NCD care, and contribute to shaping a safer healthcare system for patients across Kenya and the region.

Join us as we work together to advance safe, person-centered, and high-quality care for individuals living with non-communicable diseases.

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Conference Objectives

The conference aims to:

• Raise awareness of patient safety risks associated with NCDs across the continuum of care.

• Strengthen healthcare worker capacity in diagnostic safety, medication safety, and patient-centered care.

• Promote meaningful engagement of patients and communities in improving safety.

• Advance integration of patient safety principles into NCD policies, strategies, and programs.

• Facilitate knowledge exchange and practical solutions for safer NCD care.

Key Themes

• The burden of NCDs and patient harm

• Strengthening primary healthcare for safe NCD care

• Diagnostic excellence and reducing diagnostic errors

• Medication safety and high-risk therapies

• Continuous quality improvement and risk management

• Patient engagement and shared decision-making

• Safe transitions of care

• Data, surveillance systems, and artificial intelligence in patient safety

• Leadership, workforce development, and health systems strengthening

Who Should Attend?

• ​Physicians and specialists

• Nurses and clinical officers

• Pharmacists and allied health professionals

• Healthcare managers and administrators

• County health leaders and policymakers

• Quality and patient safety professionals

• Researchers,  and students

• Community health workers

• Professional associations and regulatory bodies

• Insurance and healthcare industry partners
  

Speakers & Moderators​​​

Our speakers and panelists will be announced soon. Please check back for updates as we continue to confirm the experts, leaders and voices who will shape this conversation.​

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