FG focuses on safe care for Nigerians living with NCDs – Minister

The federal government weekend reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening clinical governance and patient safety systems across Nigeria’s health institutions, with a renewed focus on ensuring safe, coordinated and quality care for people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, stated this at the commemoration of World Patient Safety Day 2026 in Abuja.

The theme: “Safe Care for Non-communicable Diseases,” with the slogan “Safe care for life!,” highlights the need to protect patients from avoidable harm throughout their healthcare journey.

Prof. Pate noted that NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, constitute a major health burden and often require prolonged interaction with the health system.

He added that the extended nature of NCD care creates multiple points at which safety risks may occur, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, referral, follow-up and long-term management.

She said patient safety remains fundamental to the quality and effectiveness of healthcare delivery, requiring that the right care is provided to the right patient, at the right time and in the right manner, while minimising avoidable harm.

The minister recalled that the ministry developed the National Patient Safety and Care Quality Policy and Implementation Strategy in 2024, while in January 2026, it further strengthened the national patient safety architecture through the establishment and inauguration of the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety.