Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka conducted a two – day National Convention on Healthcare Quality and Safety to celebrate the World Patient Safety Day. The first day of the commemoration held on the 15th of September, was more towards an academic focus. Two plenary sessions were held focusing on patient engagement, under the themes of ‘Medication Safety for Patient engagement’ and ‘patient safety for patient engagement’, where an expert group of speakers shared their thoughts, and these were complemented by a guest speech by an eminent Physician, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama. The second plenary included a talk by a member of a patient group, expressing their empowerment through a ‘Diabetic forum’. Abstracts submitted on healthcare quality and safety by hospitals throughout the country were presented as oral presentations and posters, and the best were selected and appraised. The event was graced by high level Ministry of Health officials including the Additional Secretary Medical Services, Dr. Sunil de Alwis and Deputy Director General (Medical Services)-I Dr. Lal Panapitiya, many heads of healthcare institutions, various categories of healthcare workers and patients.
