Lagos State Government has said that about 20 to 40 per cent of patients’ health costs is wasted as a result of improper diagnosis. Executive Secretary of Lagos State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr Abiola Idowu, who gave the hint, yesterday, during a hybrid event to mark the World Patient Safety Day 2024, said that every misdiagnosis represents a failure.

She, therefore, insisted that healthcare professionals must imbibe accountability and learn from their mistakes to prevent a repeat. Idowu, who maintained that ensuring the protection of patients is the very foundation upon which the healthcare system stands, said: “As healthcare workers, our maxim and fundamental principle is ‘do no harm.’ Delivering accurate and timely diagnoses is critical in ensuring effective patient care.

“As healthcare professionals, we must imbibe a culture of transparency and accountability in recognising and reporting diagnostic errors. We must learn from our mistakes and prevent them from recurring.

“We must not underestimate the role of patients in the diagnostic process. We must encourage patients to ask questions and seek second opinions when necessary.”

In her speech, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, noted that the theme reflects a critical aspect of healthcare delivery that requires continually improving accurate diagnosis.

She added that diagnosis is often the initial step in a patient’s journey to recovery and when this step is missed or delayed, it compromises the entire process of care, leading to adverse outcomes, loss of trust in the system, and sometimes tragic consequences.

Also, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said that as doctors, the benchmark globally is ensuring that health providers make the right diagnosis and carry out the best treatment practices.

The commissioner noted that as medical practice is changing, there is a need for regulators to move with the deviation. However, as part of efforts to improve patients’ safety, the Lagos State Patients Safety Rights Charter was unveiled at the event as a guide for practitioners.