The Philippines Brings Together Global Health Leaders, Stakeholders in 7th Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety

The Department of Health led by DOH Secretary Teodoro S. Herbosa (center) answers questions from the media in a press conference on the 7th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Mandaluyong City on 04 April 2025. Joining Secretary Herbosa in the panel are Director Louis Vinyals Torres (left) of the Division of Health Systems and Services, WHO Western Pacific Region and Professor Sir Liam Donaldson,  World Health Organization Special Envoy for Patient Safety.

MANILA 05 April 2025 - The 7th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety hosted by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on 03-04 April 2025 brought together health ministers, global health leaders and key stakeholders from 75 participating member states, creating a unique opportunity to foster international collaboration and share best practices in patient safety.

The summit’s theme, “Weaving Strengths for the Future of Patient Safety Throughout the Healthcare Continuum,” emphasized the importance of collective efforts in addressing emerging global challenges, such as climate change and its impact on  healthcare and patient safety. The Summit also served as a platform to evaluate the progress of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan (GPSAP) 2021-2030, reinforcing the Philippines' commitment to enhancing health systems and improving health outcomes.

“The Mandaluyong Declaration is a powerful commitment from participating nations to take concrete national and global actions for patient safety. This declaration outlines the strategies that will help embed patient safety into the core of healthcare systems worldwide, ensuring that every patient receives safe, high quality care regardless of where they are,” said DOH Secretary Teodoro S. Herbosa at a press conference about the Summit on 04 April 2025.  

The Philippine hosting of the Summit sets the stage for the country’s forthcoming presidency at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2025. As the first Philippine president of the WHA since its inception in 1948, Secretary Herbosa shall be responsible for presiding over WHA sessions, guiding discussions, and ensuring smooth proceedings on global health policies, resolutions, and decisions.

The outcomes of the 7th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety and the forthcoming presidency of the World Health Assembly not only showcase the Philippines’ commitment to enhancing healthcare systems but also highlight its resolve to foster international solidarity in addressing shared global health challenges.  END