The Lagos State Government has introduced new measures to enhance patient safety, particularly for those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, announced this at the 2026 World Patient Safety Day commemoration organised by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA). The goal is to prevent avoidable harm to patients with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.
According to Dr. Ogunyemi, patients with NCDs face multiple risks due to repeated consultations, tests, medication, referrals, and follow-up. This creates several points where errors could occur, emphasizing the need for patient safety to be integrated into every stage of care. To address this, the state has established a Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety to develop a statewide safety framework and set minimum standards.
The Task Force will focus on strengthening incident reporting and learning, improving complaints and redress mechanisms, and developing patient-safety indicators. Key areas requiring urgent attention include diagnostic safety, medication safety, referral systems, continuity of care, and patient-provider communication. The state is also leveraging the Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) to improve information flow and coordination across healthcare facilities.
Dr. Ogunyemi emphasized the importance of making patients active partners in their care, stating that an informed patient is not merely a recipient of healthcare but a partner in safe care. Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Musbau Lawal, echoed this sentiment, stressing that safe healthcare cannot be achieved by chance and requires effective regulation, competent healthcare professionals, and reliable medicines and equipment.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, highlighted the need for a strong health system as the foundation for safe healthcare. This requires adequate infrastructure, qualified personnel, functional equipment, essential medicines, reliable records, and effective clinical protocols. Dr. Lajide urged regulators to focus on driving improvement across healthcare facilities rather than just identifying non-compliance.
The Chairman, HEFAMAA Board, Dr. Yemisi Solanke-Koya, reflected on the agency's 20th anniversary, assessing its regulatory journey and preparing for emerging challenges. The keynote speaker, Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Ajibola Sanda, identified late diagnosis, medication-related harm, and communication failures as major threats to safe NCD care, advocating for early screening, accurate diagnosis, and effective follow-up.
Experts at the event also called for a non-blaming "just culture" that encourages healthcare workers to report errors and near misses. Patients requested affordable medicines, respectful communication, continuity of care, and stronger digital health records. The event was held under the theme: "Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases," "Safe Care for Life," highlighting the importance of prioritizing patient safety in the management of NCDs.
Key points
- The Lagos State Government has established a Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety to develop a statewide safety framework.
- The state is leveraging the Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) to improve information flow and coordination across healthcare facilities.
- Experts advocate for a non-blaming "just culture" that encourages healthcare workers to report errors and near misses.
