Patient safety from the start: a promise we owe every child in Timor-Leste

Op-ed by Dr Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste

As a parent, there is no greater fear than your child falling seriously ill. In that moment of vulnerability, our deepest hope is to place them in the safe, capable hands of healthcare professionals who will make them better.

But what if the care meant to heal them inadvertently causes harm?

Globally, a startling 1 in every 10 patients is harmed while receiving healthcare.  For newborns and young children, the risks are even greater. They are vulnerable, unable to speak for themselves, and their small bodies respond differently to medicines and procedures. In low- and middle-income countries, the statistics are especially sobering, upto 4 in 100 people die from unsafe care.

These numbers represent millions facing loss and grief, often from harms that we know how to prevent. More than half of all harm in healthcare is avoidable, and a significant share is linked to medication errors.

This is why we come together on World Patient Safety Day, September 17. This year, we focus our global and local efforts on the most precious among us: our children.

This year’s theme, Patient safety from the start!, is a reminder that our duty begins from a child’s very first breath and continues through the crucial formative years, especially from birth to age nine.

Why does this matter so much for Timor-Leste? Because our country is young, full of promise and potential. That potential resides in our children. Their healthy start in life is the foundation of our country’s future. But their vulnerability is very real.

Children are not small adults. Their bodies process medicines differently. Their doses must be meticulously calculated by weight. They need child-sized equipment and facilities designed for their needs. Crucially, a child cannot always tell their symptoms or question a decision. They rely on adults, including health workers, parents, and caregivers, to be their voice.

Without this protection, anything from medication errors, infections acquired in healthcare settings, delays in diagnosis, or a simple lack of child-friendly tools can have consequences that last a lifetime.

That is why patient safety is a shared responsibility.

To our dedicated doctors, nurses, and health facility managers: let us multiply our commitment to safety protocols by double-checking every medication and allergy, verifying patient identities, rigorously preventing infections, and always tailoring care to the child’s age, weight, development and context.

To parents and caregivers: you are not just bystanders in the health journey, you are part of the care team. Be your child’s safety champion. Ask questions: “What is this medicine for?” “Can you explain the procedure?” If something doesn’t seem right, speak up. Your voice is crucial.

To policymakers and leaders:  prioritize investment in child-friendly health infrastructure. This means ensuring clinics have the right equipment, staff are trained in pediatric care, and strong data systems are in place to learn from and prevent errors. Patient safety must be embedded into national health strategies.

To our communities, schools, and educators: help us build a culture of health literacy. Teach recognizing warning signs of illness, to see healthcare providers as trusted partners, and help break stigma so that seeking care feels natural and is seen as a sign of strength.

This World Patient Safety Day, my vision for Timor-Leste is one where every mother either in Dili or in the most remote village can hand her sick newborn to a health worker with absolute confidence and where every health post and hospital are equipped, staffed, and designed to protect our children from harm. Where families are empowered, engaged, and heard.