Saudi Arabia Advances Lifelong Patient Safety as Chronic Disease Mortality Falls by 40% and Life Expectancy Rises to 79.7 Years

Saudi Arabia commemorates World Patient Safety Day 2026, observed annually on September 17 under the theme “Safe Care for Life,” amid national health indicators reflecting significant progress in healthcare quality, prevention, and patient safety. Key achievements include a 40% reduction in chronic disease-related mortality, an increase in average life expectancy from 74 to 79.7 years, and an improvement in the Healthcare Services Quality Index to 70.4% in 2025, exceeding the annual target of 60%. These indicators reflect the transformation taking place across Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system and its shift toward a model centered on prevention, early detection, and improving the quality and safety of care. The transformation also emphasizes empowering patients to participate in health-related decisions, contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the Health Sector Transformation Program, and improved quality of life. This year’s World Patient Safety Day focuses on the safety of care provided to people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) throughout their healthcare journey—from prevention, screening, and early diagnosis to treatment, follow-up, long-term care, and self-care. This approach aims to strengthen continuity of care and reduce preventable risks and harm. Saudi Arabia’s participation in this global occasion builds on national efforts to establish patient safety as a fundamental pillar of healthcare quality, strengthen integration across the healthcare ecosystem and government and community sectors, and reinforce the understanding that patient safety is a shared responsibility—beginning with the healthcare system and extending to individuals, families, and communities. As part of its national mandate, the Saudi Patient Safety Center is leading a range of awareness and educational initiatives and programs in partnership with relevant stakeholders. These efforts aim to expand the concept of patient safety beyond healthcare facilities and establish it as a sustainable community culture in which patients and their families are active partners throughout the care journey. As part of this year’s activities, the Center, in collaboration with the National eLearning Center, is organizing a workshop titled “Co-Designing Patient and Family Engagement in Care Planning.” The workshop aims to strengthen collaboration between patients, their families, and healthcare teams, while involving them in service design and improving the care experience. The Center is also organizing the “A Journey of Continuous Awareness” event at the Sports Boulevard in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Sports Boulevard, NUPCO Care, and Al Riyadh Club. Through interactive, physical, and family-oriented activities, the event highlights the importance of preventing noncommunicable diseases and the role of individuals and families in adopting healthy practices that contribute to safer care. The commemoration extends to healthcare facilities, landmarks, and selected locations through awareness messaging activations and the illumination of several buildings in orange, supporting the global patient safety message and reinforcing the concept of “Safe Care for Life.” His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tala’a Asery, Director General of the Saudi Patient Safety Center, emphasized that patient safety is a fundamental element in building a high-quality healthcare system. He noted that addressing noncommunicable diseases requires continuous and integrated care that accompanies individuals throughout their lives, placing prevention, early detection, and shared decision-making at the heart of the care journey. He said: “Patient safety is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the boundaries of healthcare facilities to include patients, families, communities, and various relevant sectors. Strengthening this partnership helps embed a culture of safety and transform it into a sustainable practice that contributes to improved health outcomes and quality of life.” The Saudi Patient Safety Center continues to advance practices that reduce preventable harm, promote patient and family engagement, and foster a culture of safety, supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in building a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system centered on prevention, quality of care, and improved patient experience.