…As Taskforce targets patient safety
The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to improve patient safety in the treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with stakeholders calling for stronger regulation, medication safety and better continuity of care.
Speaking at the 2026 World Patient Safety Day commemoration in Alausa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said patients managing hypertension, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and sickle cell diseases face multiple points of care where avoidable harm could occur.
Ogunyemi said the state had inaugurated a Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety to develop safety standards, strengthen incident reporting, improve complaints and redress systems, and establish quality indicators.
She identified diagnostic and medication safety, referrals, follow-up and patient-provider communication as key areas requiring attention, while citing the Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) as a tool for improving continuity of care.
Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Musbau Aina Lawal, said safe healthcare requires strong systems, competent professionals, reliable medicines and equipment, effective referrals and informed patients.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, urged closer collaboration among regulators, healthcare facilities and professional bodies, stressing that quality and safety should be embraced as part of healthcare delivery.
The event, organised by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), also marked its 20th anniversary. Officials pledged to strengthen data-driven, risk-based regulation and close safety gaps across healthcare facilities.
Experts called for early detection, medication reconciliation, patient education, effective follow-up and a non-punitive culture that encourages healthcare workers to report and learn from errors.
