Executive Short Course

Patient Safety in Humanitarian Crises: Addressing Healthcare-Related Incidents

This course has been developed to support healthcare professionals operating in low and middle-income countries in managing healthcare incidents. Despite the dedication and skills of healthcare professionals, incidents in the healthcare field remain unfortunately a reality.

When things go wrong, it is important not to blame the individuals involved but to look deeper into the root causes of the incident and learn from a process/system perspective. Participants will gain a solid understanding of the key concepts, strategies, and tools necessary to reduce and prevent risks, mistakes, and harm to patients during healthcare delivery in humanitarian settings.

The course is delivered in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) and the Geneva University Hospitals.


The course is fully booked, applications are closed.

Course Outline PDF
  • Application Deadline The course is fully booked, applications are closed.

  • 2-13 December 2024

  • 2 weeks
  • Online
  • English
  • 2 ECTS (certification awarded upon successful completion)

  • Full price: CHF 1'700
    Partner rate (ICRC, MSF): CHF 1'360 (20% discount)
    Special Rate: CHF 850. Available exclusively to nationals or staff from local/national NGOs, CBOs, government, INGOs, or IOs in low/middle-income countries (OECD DAC list) with salaries aligned to local living costs. Proof required.

    Application form for partial tuition waivers

Patient Safety

Admission requirements:

  1. A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a Swiss or foreign university;
  2. At least two years of relevant professional experience;
  3. Excellent command of English (see below)

Documents required:

  • CV (Resume)
  • Cover letter (explaining what is the reason why you apply for this course and how will the acquired skills help you in your career)
  • Employer’s funding agreement, if applicable
  • Highest educational qualification obtained
  • Work certificate or official document of your current job position
  • Proof of English language competence to be dated less than 2 years (see details below)
  • Portrait photo (ID format)
  • Scanned copy of the passport

Language Requirements

The minimum required English level is B2. Providing a language certificate is mandatory, except in the following cases:

  1. If you are a native English speaker, please provide a copy of your passport as proof.
  2. You have been studying in English for at least three years: please provide a certificate from your institution, your transcript or your diploma.
  3. If you have worked for at least five years in English with MSF or ICRC, please provide a copy of the English test you have undertaken internally with your employer.

Recognized Tests and Scores:

    • Cambridge English First (FCE) 160-179
    • Cambridge English Preliminary (PET) 160-170
    • B2 Business Vantage
    • IELTS 5.5-6
    • TOEFL iBT 72-94
    • TOEIC Listening & Reading 785
    • TOEIC Speaking & Writing 310
    • PTE Geneval Level 3
    • PTE Academic 59-75
    • Duolingo : 110
    • EF SET (CEFR) : B2

More information about the admission process is available on our application page.