Source: Adewale Momoh, Akure

Professor Leroy Edozien advocates urgent reforms to tackle medical errors and unsafe care practices across Nigeria’s hospitals

A Health Law professor at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, Prof. Leroy Edozien, has raised alarm over the growing toll of unsafe hospital care in Nigeria, warning that one in every 24 patients dies as a result of medical accidents or patient safety incidents.

Speaking during the 3rd UNIMED Postgraduate School Interdisciplinary Discourse Lecture, held at the Oladipo Akinkugbe Hall, Edozien said unsafe practices such as medication errors, patient misidentification, blood transfusion errors, and diagnostic mistakes contribute significantly to patient harm and preventable deaths.

“One in 24 people die from unsafe hospital care,” he said, citing global statistics that show over three million deaths are caused by patient safety lapses each year.

In Nigeria, a national survey of doctors, pharmacists, and nurses found that 47% self-reported involvement in medication errors, reflecting a troubling trend that urgently needs to be addressed, Edozien added.

Global Problem, Local Crisis

Edozien noted that one in every 10 patients worldwide is harmed during healthcare delivery, and one in four hospitalisations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nigeria results in harm. He described a “medical accident” as any event or circumstance that could have—or did—result in unnecessary harm to a patient.

“The implications include physical trauma, psychological and emotional distress, and financial devastation,” he stressed.

Drawing on real-world examples from Nigeria and abroad, the professor advocated for systemic reforms, including stronger clinical governance, improved healthcare worker education, and enhanced patient safety training to reduce these incidents.

Interdisciplinary Approach to Safer Healthcare

Also speaking at the event, Prof. Michael Asuzu, Dean of UNIMED’s Postgraduate School, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing healthcare challenges.

“This lecture series creates a platform for cross-sectoral knowledge-sharing, enabling experts from diverse fields to contribute to improving patient safety and care,” Asuzu explained.

The discourse aligns with UNIMED’s mission to promote excellence in medical education, research, and healthcare delivery.