On World Patient Safety Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a call to action, asking for better pediatric care globally. According to their press release, many children around the world are not receiving safe healthcare.
Unsafe healthcare can cause preventable deaths and disabilities in children. “Patient safety from the start!” was the focus of this year’s World Patient Safety Day on September 17. WHO says, “ensuring safe care for newborns and children is not just a health priority – it is a cornerstone of achieving universal health coverage (UHC).”
The organization identified the following ways that stakeholders can improve pediatric outcomes:
Healthcare leaders can “invest in training, infrastructure, and data systems,” and make children’s safety a priority in national health strategies.
Healthcare professionals can provide safe, personalized care to children.
Parents, caregivers, and society can advocate for children’s healthcare.
Educate pediatric patients on their care.
WHO says these actions can prevent the deaths of up to one million newborns a year. Investing in pediatric safety is not only a moral imperative – it is a strategic necessity for building resilient health systems and achieving universal health coverage.”
