The Lagos State Government has renewed efforts to strengthen patient safety in the management of non-communicable diseases, with stakeholders calling for stronger regulation, clinical governance, medication safety and continuity of care.

Speaking at the 2026 World Patient Safety Day commemoration organised by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said patients living with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and sickle cell disease require safe and coordinated care throughout their treatment journey.

Ogunyemi said the state had inaugurated a Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety to develop minimum safety standards, strengthen incident reporting and learning, improve complaints and redress mechanisms, and establish quality and patient-safety indicators.

She also identified diagnostic safety, medication safety, referral systems, continuity of care and patient-provider communication as key areas requiring sustained attention. According to her, the Smart Health Information Platform is expected to improve coordination and information flow across the health system.

The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Musbau Aina Lawal, called for stronger health systems and effective regulation, stressing that safe care requires competent healthcare professionals, reliable medicines and equipment, effective referral mechanisms and meaningful patient participation.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, said a strong health system remained the foundation for safe and quality healthcare. She called for closer collaboration between regulators, healthcare facilities, professional bodies and providers, stressing that quality and safety should be embraced as the responsibility of healthcare providers.

The Chairman of the HEFAMAA Board, Dr. Yemisi Solanke-Koya, said the 2026 commemoration was significant as it coincided with the agency’s 20th anniversary. She said HEFAMAA had evolved from inspection to registration, monitoring, accreditation, licensing, enforcement and quality improvement.

The Executive Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, said the agency would continue to pursue a proactive, risk-based and data-driven regulatory system aimed at closing safety gaps and strengthening accountability across healthcare facilities.

The keynote speaker, Consultant Nephrologist at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ajibola Sanda, identified late detection, medication-related harm, poor follow-up and communication failures as major safety risks in non-communicable disease care. He called for early screening, accurate diagnosis, medication reconciliation, effective referrals, follow-up and patient education.

Stakeholders at the event also advocated a non-blaming culture that encourages healthcare workers to report errors and near misses for learning and system improvement. Patients living with chronic conditions called for affordable access to quality medicines, respectful communication, continuity of care and stronger use of digital health records.

The event, held under the theme “Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases” and the slogan “Safe Care for Life,” brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, regulators, development partners and patients to discuss measures for improving safety and quality in long-term disease management.