'Efforts should be made to inculcate culture of safe environment in hospitals where patients and visitors will not be looked upon as customers and will feel safe and secure,' he said.

According to the WHO estimates one in 10 people receiving health care will suffer preventable harm.

The minister said in India, there is not much research on incidence of the occurrence of preventable errors.

'We have not kept pace with the developments in this field and have to work now on war footing on this national initiative,' he added.

'Safety is everyone's business. So my idea of patient safety will be focused to 'patient first concept',' the minister said.

'Accountability should not be person-oriented but organisation-oriented. Learning from others mistakes will help us in preventing medical errors,' Azad said.