OECD and Saudi Patient Safety Center: The Economics of Patient Safety. From analysis to action (21 October 2020)

Summary

The work presented here was undertaken by the OECD to provide a strategic background report for the Patient Safety Priority within the G20 Health Working Group (HWG) 2020. It was commissioned by the Saudi Government.

‘"Acting on patient safety requires leadership and communication, political will, and investment. Transparency across a health system is also integral to begin improving safety and reducing harm. This can only be achieved through investing in a modern information infrastructure, but also relies on sound governance, accountability and proactive leadership.

The analysis is clear: unsafe care kills millions, and harms tens of millions of people each year. It also exerts a great economic cost on health systems and society, consuming valuable resources that could be put to productive uses elsewhere. Much of this can be prevented through concerted action and adequate investment. The time for action is now."