WHO: Patient safety in developing and transitional countries: New insights from Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean (2011)

Summary

Very little is known about the actual harm that occurs to patients in developing or transitional countries, although the available evidence suggests that they may have an even higher risk of suffering patient harm. Understanding the magnitude of the problem and the underlying factors represents the first step towards improvement. The World Health Organization (WHO) is making a concerted effort, in different parts of the world, to identify the main issues affecting safe care in developing and transitional countries and to use these data to begin to developing and implementing effective solutions.

Content

The Eastern Mediterranean/African Adverse Events Study is a large scale study carried out in six Eastern Mediterranean and two African countries, to assess the number and types of incidents that can occur in their hospitals and harm patients.

To carry out this study, a collaborative model was established in which 26 hospitals from eight countries, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen participated.

This document contains the main findings of the Eastern Mediterranean/African Study. It presents some of the risks associated with harm in the participating hospitals, as well as the consequences.