1 in 2 hospitalized children face harm: WHO calls for urgent action on World Patient Safety Day 2025

Half of hospitalized children face harm: World Patient Safety Day 2025 demands change

Up to one in two hospitalized children suffer harm during medical care — and over 50% of these incidents are preventable, according to WHO. On World Patient Safety Day 2025, WHO is calling for urgent global action to protect newborns and children under nine years old under the slogan, “Patient safety from the start!”

Unsafe care is a silent global crisis that disproportionately affects the youngest patients, leading to preventable deaths, disabilities, and lifelong consequences. Children’s rapid development, reliance on adults for care decisions, and higher vulnerability to infections and errors make them especially at risk.

The alarming reality of unsafe paediatric care

Reviews of paediatric care have found that:

• 1 in 2 children admitted to hospital wards experience harm
• Up to 9 in 10 children in intensive care face harmful incidents
• The most common causes of harm include medication and diagnostic errors, health care-associated infections, surgical complications, and medical device incidents
• Children with complex medical needs or dependent on medical technology face an even higher risk of serious harm.

Preventable harm and a chance to save 1 million newborns

WHO highlights that improving the quality of care could save up to 1 million newborns annually. By engaging families in care decisions, harm can be reduced by up to 15%.

Investing in paediatric safety not only saves lives but also cuts health-care costs by preventing complications, avoiding extended hospital stays, and reducing the need for repeat treatments.

Global call to action

WHO is urging all stakeholders to act now:

• Governments and health leaders: Prioritize paediatric safety, invest in infrastructure, workforce training, and data systems
• Health workers: Deliver child-centred, safe care tailored to each patient
• Parents and caregivers: Be active participants, ask questions, track symptoms, and speak up if something seems wrong
• Communities and educators: Raise awareness and empower children to engage in their own care

Unsafe care during childhood can lead to lifelong health consequences, undermining global efforts toward universal health coverage. This year’s World Patient Safety Day is a call to protect children from harm, starting at birth, to build healthier, more resilient communities.

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