Up to 1,700 patients die each year in Switzerland from medical mistakes

The Swiss Patient Safety Foundation launched on Monday a week-long campaign to sensitize professionals and patients about patient safety as the country sees between 700 and 1,700 patients die every year because of medical mistakes.

The Foundation said more efforts could be done in Switzerland to reduce the amount of people passing away and suffering following misdiagnosis, medical mistreatment and management, despite the country boasting one of the most advanced and modern health systems in the world.

The Foundation pinpointed crucial areas which need to be improved in order to minimalize the risks incurred by patients when in a treatment centre.

For acute care, dealing with nosocomial (also known as hospital-acquired) infections is seen as a priority, as is reducing the cases of mis-medication, improving lab results management while enhancing patient identification and communication, especially after an accident.

For basic care, the highest risks for patient safety were identified as being the medication process, together with telephonic triage, diagnostics and patient-monitoring.

The Foundation highlighted the fact that failing to address these issues can not only cost the life of a patient, but also engender great suffering and generate additional costs later down the line. Endit