NMC Orders Patient Safety Panels
All medical colleges and institutions must set up committees to reduce avoidable harm in healthcare settings, covering 11 safety domains
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked all medical colleges and medical institutions in the country to set up patient safety committees and designate nodal officers to strengthen patient safety practices. The goal of this move is to reduce avoidable harm in healthcare settings by establishing an institutional mechanism for monitoring safety practices.
The patient safety committees will be chaired by the director, head of the institution or medical superintendent, with representation from relevant specialties and patient safety domains. The committees will cover 11 domains, including medication and surgical safety, blood and medical device safety, and infection prevention and control.
Other areas covered by the patient safety framework include patient and family engagement, vaccine and injection safety, operational research in patient safety, facility safety, and safety in AYUSH services. The framework also includes laboratory and diagnostic safety.
Medical institutions are required to share the composition and details of their patient safety committees with the National Patient Safety Secretariat (NPSS) at the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS). The NMC has asked institutions to comply with the directions and communicate the required details to the NPSS.
## Why it matters The move places responsibility on medical institutions to establish an institutional mechanism for monitoring safety practices, rather than treating patient safety as an isolated clinical responsibility. This change aims to reduce avoidable harm in healthcare settings and improve overall patient safety.
The NMC's direction is a significant step towards prioritizing patient safety in healthcare settings. By establishing patient safety committees and designating nodal officers, medical institutions can ensure that safety practices are regularly monitored and improved. This, in turn, can help reduce the risk of avoidable harm to patients and improve healthcare outcomes.
The requirement for institutions to share details of their patient safety committees with the NPSS will also help ensure that patient safety practices are standardized and effective across the country. By taking a proactive approach to patient safety, the NMC hopes to improve the quality of healthcare services in India and reduce the risk of adverse events.
