What is a noncommunicable disease? Understanding this year’s World Patient Safety Day theme…

Summary

On Thursday 17 September 2026 the seventh annual World Patient Safety Day takes place, focused on the theme of “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases”. In this blog we explain what noncommunicable diseases are, and why they are a patient safety priority.

Content

World Patient Safety Day encourages us to reflect on some of the most persistent and complex challenges facing health systems globally. Some of the most significant of these relate to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

What are NCDs?

NCDs, simply put, are long-term diseases that are not passed from person to person. These account for a significant proportion of illness, disability and premature mortality. NCDs include:  

• cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and hypertension)
• cancer
• chronic respiratory diseases (included COPD and asthma)
• diabetes
• neurological conditions
• genetic conditions.

Unlike infectious diseases, which are caused by pathogens and can spread between individuals, NCDs are typically the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.[1] Common risk factors include tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.

Impact of NCDs

NCDs are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Global health estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that over 43 million people were killed by NCDs in 2021.[2] More than 18 million NCD deaths were among people younger than 70 years of age.

A recently published report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) assessed the health and economic benefits of tackling NCDs.[3] It highlighted that:

• Despite decades of national efforts, NCD rates have continued to rise between 1990 and 2023.
• Among members of the OECD (high-income and middle-income countries), if there were no NCDs, health expenditure would be about 40% lower.

Tackling and reducing the rate of NCDs is one of the biggest global health challenges we face.

NCDs and patient safety

While much of the discourse around NCDs focuses on prevention and public health interventions, there is an equally important patient safety dimension that warrants attention. One of the core objectives of this year’s World Patient Safety Day is to raise awareness of the patient safety challenges associated with NCDs throughout the course of a patient’s care and treatment.[4]

People living with NCDs often require long-term care, multiple medications and interactions with different parts of the healthcare system. This complexity increases the risk of safety incidents such as medication errors, delayed diagnoses or fragmented care.

From a patient safety perspective, NCDs highlight the need for coordinated, person-centred care. Patients with multiple conditions may see several specialists, each with their own treatment plans, which can sometimes conflict or lead to unintended consequences. Ensuring clear communication across healthcare teams, and with patients themselves, is critical to reducing harm.

Health inequalities also play a significant role. In the UK and globally, NCDs disproportionately affect people in more deprived communities. These groups may face barriers to accessing care, lower health literacy and increased exposure to risk factors. Addressing these disparities is not only a matter of public health, but of patient safety and equity.[5]

Role of patients and families

Raising awareness of and tackling the patient safety issues associated with NCDs also requires recognition of the important role that patients and families can play. The promotion of meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs and their communities is a key objective of this year’s World Patient Safety Day.[4]

People living with NCDs often develop a deep understanding of their conditions and can be valuable partners in identifying risks and preventing harm. Encouraging shared decision-making and supporting patients to speak up about concerns are key components of safer care.

Looking ahead to World Patient Safety Day, it is clear that tackling NCDs is not just about managing long-term conditions—it is about designing systems that are safer, more integrated and more responsive to the needs of those who use them. This requires collaboration across sectors, sustained investment and a commitment to learning from both success and failure.

By placing patient safety at the heart of NCD care, we can move towards a healthcare system that not only treats illness and reduces healthcare expenditure but actively works to prevent harm and improve quality of life for millions of people.

Share your views and experience on the hub

Do you have experiences or views around the theme of this year’s World Patient Safety Day that you would like to share? You can share your thoughts with us by commenting below (sign up here for free first), submitting a blog, or by emailing us at [email protected].

References

1.    WHO. Noncommunicable diseases. 25 December 2025.

2.    WHO. The Global Health Observatory – Noncommunicable diseases: Mortality. Last accessed 11 May 2026.

3.    OECD. The Health and Economic Benefits of Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases. 15 April 2026.

4.    Patient Safety Learning. World Patient Safety Day 2026. 30 March 2026.

5.    Department of Health and Social Care. 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future. 3 July 2025.