{
  "id": 8046469,
  "title": "Saudi Arabia cuts chronic disease mortality by 40%, lifts life expectancy to around 80",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/saudi-arabia-cuts-chronic-disease-mortality-by-40-lifts-life",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-17T15:10:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/664653/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-cuts-chronic-disease-mortality-by-40-lifts-life-expectancy-to-around-80"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Saudi Arabia marks World Patient Safety Day 2026 on September 17, highlighting advancements in healthcare quality, prevention, and patient safety. Key accomplishments include a 40% decrease in mortality linked to chronic diseases, an increase in life expectancy from 74 to 79.7 years, and a Healthcare Services Quality Index of 70.4% in 2025, surpassing the target of 60%. These improvements showcase the country's shift towards preventative, early detection-focused care, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program. Patient safety is portrayed as a shared responsibility, extending beyond hospitals to encompass patients, families, and communities. The Saudi Patient Safety Center is spearheading awareness and educational initiatives, including a workshop on patient and family engagement in care planning and an event at the Sports Boulevard in Riyadh focused on preventing non-communicable diseases and adopting healthy practices. Director General Dr. Ali bin Tala'a Asery underscores that patient safety is crucial for a high-quality healthcare system and emphasizes the need for continuous, integrated care throughout individuals' lives, promoting prevention, early detection, and shared decision-making.",
  "summary": "RIYADH — Saudi Arabia commemorates World Patient Safety Day 2026, observed on September 17 under the theme “Safe Care for Life,” amid national health indicators reflecting significant progress in healthcare quality, prevention, and patient safety. Key achievements include a 40 percent reduction in chronic disease-related mortality, an increase in average life expectancy from 74 to 79.7 years, and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
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  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}