The Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, is presently representing the Republic of Maldives at the 7th Global Ministerial Summit for Patient Safety, convened in Manila, Philippines, from April 3-4, 2025.

The summit is organised by the Department of Health of the Republic of the Philippines and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO). This high-level gathering brings together global health leaders to further international cooperation in advancing safer and more resilient healthcare systems.

Held under the theme “Weaving Strengths for the Future of Patient Safety Throughout the Healthcare Continuum,” this year’s summit serves as a critical platform for participating nations to assess progress, exchange insights, and strengthen partnerships. The objective is to elevate patient safety as a foundational element of people-centred, equitable, and high-quality healthcare systems worldwide.

The Global Ministerial Summits on Patient Safety have played an instrumental role in promoting awareness and mobilising global action in the field of patient safety. A milestone of this initiative was the adoption of the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA72.6 on Global Action on Patient Safety, endorsed in May 2019. This resolution served as the catalyst for the formulation of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030, which outlines a comprehensive strategic direction and action-oriented framework for governments, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders globally.

The 7th Summit is designed to support the continued implementation of this Action Plan by evaluating achievements to date, identifying strategic priorities, and discussing effective measures to address challenges in patient safety. Central to the discussions are topics such as knowledge exchange, the adoption of best practices, and the systematic integration of patient safety measures across all levels of healthcare delivery.