BEIJING — China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Sept 16 pledged to enhance medical service safety and better protect patients' health rights ahead of the first World Patient Safety Day that falls on Sept 17.

The slogan of the day in China will be "Patient safety involves everyone", aiming to draw the attention of hospital staff, patients and their families as well as the public to patient safety and encourage them to make joint efforts, said Zhou Changqiang, an official with the NHC at a news conference in Beijing.

Patient safety focuses on the reduction of risks in medical services and hospitals that may cause preventable harm to patients. In May, the 72nd World Health Assembly endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to raise awareness about the issue and encourage global coordination.

The NHC has been improving standards regarding clinical diagnosis and treatment and set up a series of rules that health facilities and medical workers should strictly follow, Zhou said, adding that indexes related to patient safety such as inpatient mortality and pressure ulcer rates have been declining in China.