Patient Safety: A Priority for the European Commission

Mr Lee McGillHealth Strategy & Health Systems Unit

DG SANCOEuropean Commission

Towards Better Cancer Care in Europe: The ESMO MOSES III Survey, Panel 2

Brussels, 15 October 2008

The need for action on patient safety

Efforts across Europe to provide safe, high quality healthcare.

Increasing awareness of healthcare-related injuries and adverse events.

Few EU Member States with information on the prevalence of adverse events.

Studies suggest major health impacts and economic costs from adverse events.

Experience and common sense suggest targeted programmes, policies and initiatives can improve patient safety levels.

EU involvement in patient safety to date

Patient Safety Working Group of the High Level Group on Health Services and Medical Care from 2005-2008.

Community co-funded patient safety projects, including EUNetPaS, OECD on indicators and SImpPatIE.

Other EU initiatives.

EUNetPaSA good example of a Community co-funded project.

All 27 Member States and a number of stakeholders involved as partners.

A repository for patient safety research findings, experiences and good practice on patient safety.

A pilot study to test a practical sharing of good practice in the area of medication safety.

A 30 month project – what then?

Which adverse events are of most concern?

Priority Ranking of AE

26%

25%18%

15%

7% 5% 4%

HAI

Medication-related event

Communication problems

Error in Diagnosis

Medical device or equipment-related event

Surgery-related event

Other

Q 11

A role for the EU?

Role for the EU to support MS in their efforts to address PS concerns

90%

3% 7%

( strongly) agree ( strongly) disagree neither / nor

Q 59

Contents of the Recommendation 1

Proposes action in the following areas:

Support the development of national patient safety policies and programmes

Empower and inform citizens and patients

Establish or strengthen reporting and learning systems on adverse events

Promote the development of a 'patient safety culture' through education and training of health professionals and management

Develop and promote research on patient safety

Contents of the Recommendation2

Classify, codify and measure patient safety

Share knowledge, experience and best practice at European level

Additionally, for HAIs specifically:

Implement a national strategy for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections

Appoint a national multi-disciplinary Committee for the coordination of the implementation of the national strategy

Next Steps & ConclusionsCommission adopts Communication & Council Recommendation by end of 2008.

Discussions in Council 2009 during Czech Presidency.

Much still to be done at Member State level.

A definite supportive role for the European Union.

A need for politcal commitment and sustainability.