An estimated 5.2 million injuries occur annually in India due to medical errors, including medication-related mistakes and hospital-acquired infections, according to a communication from the Union Health Ministry. The estimate has prompted the National Medical Commission (NMC) to call for stronger patient safety systems across medical colleges and hospitals. In a recent notice, the NMC advised medical institutions to designate a patient safety nodal officer and establish a dedicated patient safety committee or cell.

These bodies are expected to monitor existing safety practices, review incidents, and recommend corrective measures to prevent avoidable harm. The reported injuries span a range of preventable events, from medication errors involving incorrect drugs or dosages to infections associated with inadequately sterilized equipment and pressure injuries in hospitalized patients. Such…