The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare marked World Patient Safety Day 2026 with an event at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, where Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda highlighted government initiatives to strengthen patient safety across India’s healthcare system. The day’s theme, “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases”, emphasises coordinated and continuous care for people managing long-term illnesses.
Key programmes and outcomes
The Ayushman Bharat scheme has provided health coverage to approximately 11.5 crore beneficiaries, enabling access to treatment valued at around ₹1.6 lakh crore. Eligible families receive coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary care.
The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has established over 20,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country to supply quality generic medicines at affordable prices. The scheme has generated cumulative savings to citizens estimated at ₹45,000 crore.
The National Quality Assurance Standards certification, introduced in 2015, has been awarded to 60,000 government health facilities. The government aims to expand this to around 2 lakh institutions.
Out-of-pocket healthcare spending has declined from approximately 62 per cent of total health expenditure in 2014 to around 43 per cent.
The Quality and Safety Handbook released by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital provides standardised operational guidance for healthcare staff to maintain patient safety protocols across hospital departments.
The government operates the National Patient Safety Secretariat under the Directorate General of Health Services, which coordinates efforts through the India Patient Safety Network comprising 20 AIIMS and 5 Institutes of National Importance.
What this means for you
If you are from a family eligible under Ayushman Bharat, you can access major surgical and medical treatments at empanelled hospitals without paying large upfront costs. When purchasing medicines through Jan Aushadhi outlets, you can access quality generic alternatives at significantly lower prices than branded equivalents. Hospital visits should involve cleaner facilities with stricter infection-control measures as institutions work toward NQAS certification standards. The expanding focus on screening for conditions like diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers means preventive health checkups are becoming more accessible through public health facilities.