Message by the WHO Director-General
The 7th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety , organized by the Department of Health of the Republic of the Philippines and co-sponsored by WHO, was held in Manila, Philippines, on 3–4 April 2025. The Summit, themed "Weaving Strengths for the Future of Patient Safety Throughout the Health-care Continuum," brought together delegates from 64 countries, experts from academia, professional and international organizations as well as patients and their representatives. It focused on addressing the implementation gaps identified in the first Global Patient Safety Report 2024 .
Despite the progress made by countries in implementing the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 , there is an urgent need for accelerated action and improvement. Addressing the Summit, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros said, "Patient safety must be a non-negotiable priority in all health systems, at all levels of care, in all communities and at all income levels."
The Summit discussed the need to support countries in implementing the Global Patient Safety Action Plan through partnerships, learning and innovation, and increased accountability through data and monitoring.
At the conclusion of its deliberations, the Summit adopted the Mandaluyong Declaration , which recognizes the need for a renewed sense of urgency to accelerate action and calls for making patient safety a universal imperative by establishing patient safety as a foundational pillar of resilient, people-centred and equitable health systems that deliver quality care and drive improve health outcomes.
The Summit is part of a series of Global Ministerial Summits on Patient Safety that have led the way in advancing the global patient safety agenda. Beginning with the first Summit in London in 2016 and continuing at various locations, and Santiago in 2024 most recently, these Summits have provided a high-level platform for bridging technical knowledge and expertise with political commitment. They laid the ground work for the adoption of the WHA resolution (WHA72.6.) on Global action on patient safety in May 2019, and continue to respond to the call for action articulated by the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 ( WHA74(13) decision) .
Going forward, the Summits will continue to play a critical role in translating political commitments into action, ensuring that the fight against preventable harm to health remains at the heart of global health.
