World Patient Safety Day is observed every year on 17 September, a global campaign led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness, mobilise action, and reduce avoidable harm in healthcare. This year’s theme, “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child”, focuses on ensuring safe, appropriate, and individualised care for newborns and young children (from birth to nine years), who face heightened risks due to their rapid development and unique healthcare needs.
Why it matters to chronic pain professionals
-
Unsafe healthcare practices in early life can contribute to lifelong complications, including poorly managed pain trajectories.
-
EFIC calls on policymakers and healthcare systems to integrate safe pediatric care strategies as part of broader chronic pain prevention and management initiatives.
-
Investing in safe childhood care is directly aligned with long-term reductions in community burden and improved patient outcomes.
WHO 2025 Objectives
- Raise awareness of safety risks in newborn and child care across all healthcare settings.
- Mobilise all stakeholders: Governments, healthcare organisations, professionals, and caregivers—to implement sustainable strategies for safe paediatric care.
- Empower parents and caregivers through education and involvement in care decisions.
- Promote research and innovation aimed at safer, age-appropriate healthcare practices for younger patients
Advancing ICD‑11: SIP & EFIC lead the way for chronic pain recognition in Europe
The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform, led by the European Pain Federation (EFIC) in partnership with Pain Alliance Europe, continues to drive the implementation of ICD‑11. This new diagnostic framework is the first to clearly define and classify chronic primary pain and related subtypes as legitimate health conditions—reducing the risk of misdiagnosis, under-treatment, or inappropriate prescribing.
When chronic pain is not correctly recorded, patients may experience delays in care, limited access to appropriate therapies, and even stigmatization. By supporting the rollout of ICD-11, EFIC and SIP are working to improve diagnostic safety, enhance treatment accuracy, and elevate chronic pain as a public health priority across and beyond Europe.
Pain Alliance Europe – PAE supports this year’s World Patient Safety Day 2025 highlighting the theme: “Patient Safety from the Start”, that draws from WHO’s urgent call to action to eliminate avoidable harm in paediatric and newborn care, building on the efforts of previous campaigns on ‘safe childbirth’, ‘prioritizing patient safety’, ‘health worker safety’, ‘medication safety’, ‘patient and family engagement’ and ‘diagnostic safety’. PAE is committed to supporting people living with chronic pain and we acknowledge the pivotal role that patient safety plays in the healthcare journey, especially for those suffering from long-term pain conditions. The risks faced by pain patients – from delayed diagnosis to inadequate treatment options – can undermine their safety and well-being. PAE calls for a concerted effort to improve patient safety through education, research, and policy initiatives. It is essential that healthcare professionals are trained to understand and address the safety risks associated with pain management from the outset, ensuring that every patient receives high-quality care, free from harm or neglect.
This World Patient Safety Day, EFIC, PAE and SIP call on policymakers, clinicians, and health systems to prioritise the safe identification and management of chronic pain, starting with the right diagnosis.
Get involved
-
Visit our page for downloadable resources, infographics, and activities tailored to European pain professionals.
-
Join local initiatives or partner with patient organisations and policymakers to elevate conversations around pediatric pain safety.
-
Use #PatientSafety and #PainAwareness and join the global movement on 17 September.
