PORTUGUESE NATIONAL PLAN FOR PATIENT SAFETY 2021-2026

Abstract: Patient safety is a key priority for health policies as instigated by the WHO Global Action Plan for Patient Safety. The Portuguese National Plan for Patient Safety (NPPS) 2021-2026 was published by a legal act underscored by an innovative and robust methodology to design national plans for patient safety. The Plan was developed through triangulation methodology and followed-up by an advisory body of experts. This was made through a collaborative approach with academic institutions and with participation of different stakeholders. The NPPS 2021-2026 aims to consolidate and promote safety in the provision of health care, including in new setting, such as home-care and telehealth, but without neglecting core principles, namely culture of safety, communication, reporting of safety incidents, and implementation of safety practices. Finally, it also emphasizes the need for a more integrated approach in the fields of Health and Law, for the protection of the notifier in a non-punitive reporting system of safety incidents with possible conflicting constitutional rights.