Patient Safety Initiative – WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

Patient safety remains a central priority for BKMA, embedded consistently across its conferences, academic platforms, and advocacy work. From the outset, BKMA has aimed to engage not only doctors, but also paramedical staff, healthcare administrators, and the wider public—recognising that meaningful change in safety culture requires a collective effort. Despite systemic challenges, steady progress has been achieved, and the commitment to advancing patient safety remains unwavering.

The foundation for this initiative was laid in November 2022 at BKMA’s first annual conference. A key panel discussion on “Healthcare Challenges in Kashmir: Safety, Quality & Governance – How can BKMA support?”, chaired by Mr Gulzar Mufti, established BKMA as a credible and influential voice in promoting patient safety and governance.

Building on this momentum, the April 2025 Leeds Conference marked a significant step forward in scaling impact. With the theme “Safety in Healthcare Saves Lives,” the conference brought together a strong multidisciplinary panel including surgeons, anaesthetists, hospital leaders, and administrators. The involvement of government representatives, including the Health Minister and Chief Minister’s Office, further strengthened its reach and influence. Despite technical challenges on the day, the core message resonated widely across specialties.

BKMA has since focused on translating dialogue into action through active stakeholder engagement. At SKIMS, discussions with the Director and senior clinicians led to the issuance of a theatre order mandating the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. Encouragingly, several departments, including Neurosurgery and General Surgery, were already demonstrating compliance. A joint BKMA–SKIMS working group has been established to monitor progress, with plans for regular audit and follow-up.

Engagement with the Directorate of Health has also been highly constructive. With existing use of the NMC checklist aligned to WHO standards, leadership has reinforced the importance of implementation at the hospital level. Plans for refresher training sessions are underway. Similarly, at GMC Anantnag, institutional leadership has committed to adopting recommended safety practices.

Wider clinical engagement has been equally positive. Meetings with Heads of Departments across key specialties—including Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Surgery, and ENT—have demonstrated a shared commitment to embedding a culture of safety and improving compliance.

BKMA’s patient safety initiative has now progressed from raising awareness to influencing policy and initiating implementation. Leadership engagement has been achieved across multiple levels. The key challenge ahead lies in ensuring consistent compliance, robust auditing, and long-term sustainability.

BKMA has clearly moved beyond discussion to delivery. Patient safety is now firmly on the agenda, and the organisation remains committed to strengthening and sustaining this vital work for the future.