PM opens largest patient safety conference in the Middle East

Doha: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani opened the largest patient safety conference in the Middle East, with the participation of over 3,000 healthcare professionals at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), yesterday. 

The seventh Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare is being held under the  theme ‘Patient Safety First.’

Over three days, including pre-conference sessions held on Friday, the Forum highlights the quality and safety aspects of the healthcare services that are provided to patients across Qatar. The event is being organised by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). 

Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, addressing the opening session said that the growth of Qatar’s healthcare system has placed at the same level with the world’s best-performing health systems.

“Since we came together at last year’s Forum we have opened Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, Sidra Medicine formally opened, and the Naufar Center has became operational. Additionally, in 2018 we opened four new health and wellness centers providing high-quality care to our patients much closer to where they live. This increase in capacity and advances in quality have transformed our health system into a regional leader that is comparable with the world’s best,” she said. 

“We’re more proactive in the early detection of treatable disease than ever before. The Primary Health Care Corporation  has screened more than 50,000 people for bowel and breast cancer. A number of HMC services, such as cardiac care, the stroke program, and ambulance response times – are all consistently exceeding international best practice benchmarks. The World Health Organisation has ranked Qatar in the top 25 percent of the world for access and quality. 

“The World Bank puts Qatar in the top quartile for Universal Health Coverage, and the Legatum Prosperity Index ranks Qatar as the fifth best for health in the world. These achievements are down to the hard work and dedication of people right across our health system and the emphasis the leadership of the State of Qatar has placed on healthcare,” the Minister for Public Health added. 

The dignitaries toured the ‘Knowledge Zone’, the conference exhibition area, following the opening of the Forum. The exhibition has 15 exhibitors and many posters on safety and quality. The exhibitors include the Ministry of Public Health, HMC’s Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute (HHQI), Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar Armed Forces, Qatar Red Crescent, Sidra Medicine, Qatar University, and the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). 

The forum covers key areas such as patient safety, quality improvement, population health, workplace effectiveness and value, and flow and access. More than 120 speakers from the West, Qatar and the region discuss and share knowledge on patients safety and other areas during the Forum. 

“The theme of the Forum is an acknowledgement that patient harm can happen and how can we can reduce or completely eliminate the harm that patients may go through during treatment at hospitals,” said Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, deputy chief medical officer and a co-chair of the forum addressing a press conference. 

Patient safety is how hospitals and other health care organizations protect their patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

“Any big treasury hospital has the potential of having accidents or harm that can happen to patients. We do measure at all facilities, we put checks in place to prevent mistakes, and reduce infection. Some of our facilities have reached zero incidents in some areas. For example, In 2018 some facilities have reached post operative infection,” added Dr Al Khal.