World Patient Safety Day falls on 17 September every year, and this edition focuses on keeping care safe for people with noncommunicable diseases. Health services can cause harm, and a large share of that harm is preventable, which is the problem the annual observance targets. The date also pushes stronger collaboration among the stakeholder groups inside healthcare, from policy bodies to bedside clinicians. A faster pace on corrective measures is part of the message, since known risks often linger for years before they are fixed. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease mean repeated contact with clinics, labs and pharmacies, and every contact is a chance for something to go wrong. Iranian media marked the date from Tehran, where officials frame the anniversary as a standing reminder to patients and providers alike.