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Invited talk on patients for patient safety by Rimi Thapa
Date: July 29 2026
Time: 10:45 – 11:15 am
Venue: Auditorium
Invited talk on patients for patient safety by Rimi Thapa
An invited talk focussing on patient safety was delivered by Ms Rimi Thapa at NIIT University. The talk took place on July 29 2026 from 10:45 – 11:15 am in the NU Auditorium. The invited talk focused on patient safety and highlighted the crucial role that every individual plays in preventing medical harm. The speaker introduced the concept of medical harm as injury or loss of life caused due to negligence, communication failures, medication errors, delayed diagnosis, or other shortcomings in healthcare systems. Emphasising that patient safety is a shared responsibility, the speaker explained that every person is either a patient or a caregiver at some point in life and should actively participate in healthcare decisions. Statistics presented during the session, such as 1 in 10 hospitalised patients experiencing medical harm and a significant proportion of preventable outpatient harm, reinforced the importance of awareness and informed decision-making.
The session further explored the common causes of patient harm, including poor communication between patients and healthcare providers, self-medication, ignoring symptoms, incomplete disclosure of allergies or ongoing medications, and blindly following health advice from social media. The speaker encouraged participants to maintain essential medical information such as family medical history, blood group, allergies, prescriptions, and current medications. Students were advised to ask doctors questions regarding prescribed medicines, possible side effects, alternative treatments, and follow-up procedures, while also accompanying elderly family members during medical consultations whenever possible.
The talk also highlighted the role of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Electronic Health Records (EHRs), wearable health devices, and digital prescriptions in improving patient safety. However, the speaker stressed that technology alone cannot eliminate medical harm without empathy, effective communication, and patient education. The session concluded with a pledge encouraging students to become responsible caregivers, maintain health records, spread awareness within their families, and adopt safe healthcare practices to reduce preventable medical harm.
About the speaker:
Ms. Rimi Thapa is a strategic communication and healthcare awareness professional associated with the Patients for Patient Safety Foundation (PFPSF). She works towards promoting patient safety, health literacy, and responsible healthcare practices through public awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. With experience in strategic communications and healthcare advocacy, she focuses on empowering patients and caregivers to make informed healthcare decisions and reduce preventable medical harm. Through PFPSF, she actively supports the movement for safer, more transparent, and patient-centred healthcare in India. More can be read at https://www.linkedin.com/company/patients-for-patient-safety-foundation-pfpsf-india/ and