NMC orders patient safety cells in all medical colleges

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges and institutions across the country to form Patient Safety Committees or Cells and appoint nodal officers to improve healthcare quality and reduce preventable harm. The directive, issued after a communication from the Union Health Ministry in May 2026, mandates institutions to share committee details with the National Patient Safety Secretariat (NPSS).

The patient safety framework covers 11 domains including medication safety, surgical safety, infection control and antimicrobial resistance. The committee, chaired by the head of the institution, will implement the National Patient Safety Action Plan 2030, review incidents, conduct root cause analyses and submit periodic reports to the NPSS.

Separately, the Andhra Pradesh director of medical education has constituted similar committees in all government teaching hospitals, designating faculty members for each safety domain in line with the Union health ministry guidelines.