The Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO) and the Patient for Patient Safety Foundation (PFPSF) have collaborated to launch Patient Advisory Councils (PACs) on World Patient Safety Day 2023, in accordance with this year's theme, 'Engaging patients for patient safety.'

PACs are important for involving patients and amplifying their voices in decision-making. CAHO strongly supports PACs in order to increase patient engagement, and it established the PFPSF in order to educate and raise awareness about patient safety, with the goal of preventing harm by empowering patients, healthcare providers, and caregivers.

Dr Alexander Thomas, Founder President, CAHO, said,

“Instances of medical errors can erode trust, impacting the patient’s confidence in their care and undermining the broader healthcare system.”

Dr Nagendra Swamy S C, Patron of CAHO, said,

“Research has shown that when patients are engaged, there is a significant improvement in safety, patient satisfaction, and overall health outcomes.”

Dr Vijay Agarwal, President of CAHO, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative and the release of a “Step-by-Step Guide to Establishing a PAC,” saying, “This marks a significant moment in the country’s healthcare delivery history.”

Dr Lallu Joseph, Secretary General of CAHO, highlighted the

“Patient Reported Experience Measures” (PREMs) initiative to assess patient perceptions of their care experiences and help meet patients’ needs.

Kris Gopalakrishna, the former Vice Chairman of Infosys, introduced PACs at Ramaiah Medical College, setting forth guidelines for hospital integration and the promotion of PREMs.

Som Mittal, the Chairman of PFPSF, encouraged patients to “Elevate their Voice” and share valuable insights with their caregivers, emphasizing the importance of having a neutral forum for such communication.