NMC directs all medical colleges to constitute patient safety committees and designate nodal officers

Key facts

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges and medical institutions to constitute patient safety committees/cells and designate patient safety nodal officers.
• Institutions must share committee composition and nodal officer details with the National Patient Safety Secretariat (NPSS) at the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS).
• Each committee is to be chaired by the director, head of the institution or medical superintendent, with representation from relevant specialties and patient safety domains.
• The NMC patient safety framework covers 11 domains, including medication and surgical safety, blood and medical device safety, laboratory and diagnostic safety, and infection prevention and control.
• Other domains include patient and family engagement, vaccine and injection safety, operational research, facility safety (biomedical waste, fire, structural and environmental safety) and safety in AYUSH services.