Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) observed World Patient Safety Day 2026 on Thursday with a focus on “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases,” emphasising clinical vigilance and the prevention of avoidable harm.Addressing the inaugural session, PGIMER director Dr Vivek Lal stated that technology could assist healthcare professionals but could not replace human observation, alertness, and clinical judgment. He stressed that safety relies on mitigating everyday risks in medication, patient identification, infection control, documentation, communication, and shift handovers.Urging teams to watch for subtle clinical signs, Dr Lal said, “What is truly unpredictable may not be in our hands, but what is preventable must be prevented.”Dr Sanjay Jain, dean (academics) and chairperson of the Institute Patient Safety Committee, called patient safety a collective responsibility involving doctors, nurses, technicians, radiologists, and support staff. He identified medication errors, patient falls, misidentification, and unsafe blood transfusions as key areas requiring constant attention.Dr Mahesh Devnani, nodal officer for patient safety, underscored the necessity of standardised processes, safe surgery, and continuous monitoring.The technical itinerary included specialised sessions on medication safety, antimicrobial resistance, safe transfusion practices, infection control, biomedical waste management, and surgical protocols.
