Dr Gabriel Adakole, a public health expert, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise accurate and timely diagnosis in its healthcare agenda to enhance patient safety.
Adakole made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Abuja, in commemoration of World Patient Safety Day.
He emphasised the importance of addressing diagnostic errors, which he described as a significant threat to patient safety.
NAN reports that World Patient Safety Day, observed annually on September 17, aims to raise awareness and promote global solidarity to reduce harm in healthcare settings.
This year’s theme, “Get it right, make it safe!” underscores the critical role of accurate diagnosis in patient safety.
Adakole said that timely and accurate diagnoses were fundamental to providing effective treatment and preventing avoidable deaths and complications.
“A correct and timely diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment and care. Any failure in this process can lead to severe health consequences,” he said.
He further explained that diagnostic errors like missed, delayed, or incorrect diagnoses, accounted for a significant number of preventable harm cases in healthcare.
“These errors can occur due to various factors, including poor communication among healthcare providers, heavy workloads, and inadequate training of healthcare workers.
“A diagnosis is crucial for identifying a patient’s health condition. Achieving an accurate diagnosis requires close collaboration between patients and their healthcare teams.
“However, the diagnostic process is complex and can be lengthy, with errors potentially arising at any stage,” he said.
He said that such errors could prolong illness and, in severe cases, lead to disability or death.
He urged the Federal Government to invest in modern diagnostic tools, improve healthcare worker training, and develop policies that enhance communication and teamwork in healthcare settings.
He also called for increased collaboration between the government and stakeholders to implement systemic changes aimed at reducing diagnostic errors.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also advocated for prioritising diagnostic safety as part of global efforts to improve patient safety.
“The goal of WHO is to work with governments to design safe diagnostic pathways, support healthcare workers in making accurate decisions, and engage patients in the diagnostic process,” he said.
Adakole described patient safety as a shared responsibility, and called on healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers to work together to minimise diagnostic errors and improve health outcomes for Nigerians.
He listed solutions to reduce diagnostic errors to include fostering positive workplace environments, and ensuring access to high-quality diagnostic tools.
He said that encouraging healthcare workers to continuously enhance their skills while addressing unconscious biases was also crucial.
“Understanding the diagnostic process is essential for reducing errors.
“This process consists of multiple steps, including the patient’s initial presentation, history-taking, examination, diagnostic testing, and communication of results. Errors can occur at any stage.
“Additionally, patients should be empowered to actively engage throughout their diagnostic journey,” he said.(NAN)
