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From ANA News:

New Alliance to Address Global Problem of Patient Safety

11/01/04
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners has announced a series of key actions to cut the number of illnesses, injuries and deaths suffered by patients during health care, with the launch of the World Alliance for Patient Safety.

The new alliance which includes WHO, senior health officials, academics and patients' groups have agreed to work together to reduce the adverse health and social consequences of health care. A number of countries have already initiated patient safety plans and legislation. Political leaders from several countries are playing a key role in supporting the development of research, delivery capabilities and knowledge to tackle the full range of patient safety issues on a worldwide scale. Two partners of the Alliance - the Department of Health of the United Kingdom and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - are committing resources and expertise to start reversing the escalating incidence of preventable adverse effects in health-care. Read complete press release at www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2004/pr74/en.