The Medication Safety Programme aims to greatly reduce the number of New Zealanders harmed each year by medication errors in our hospitals, general practices, aged care facilities and across the entire health and disability sector.

Healthcare associated infection is one of the most frequent adverse events in health care worldwide. Up to 10 percent of patients admitted to modern hospitals in the developed world acquire one or more infections.

This programme aims to reduce the harm that people can suffer if they fall and hurt themselves - especially older people receiving care, whether in hospital, residential care, or in their own home.

Reporting adverse events (often referred to as incidents) assists health services to manage the risks of clinical care.

This programme establishes baseline measures and indicators which can be used to assess the quality of the health and disability system.

Consumer engagement involves consumers being actively involved in decision making about health and disability services at every level.

This programme aims to improve the quality and safety of health care services provided to patients undergoing surgery in hospital. It focuses on preventing adverse events which can harm patients.

The Commission has further programmes under development to improve the quality and safety of health and disability services.