The Ministry of Public Health organized a virtual scientific conference on “Safe Care for the Mother and Newborn Care” to celebrate the 7th Qatar Patient Safety Week in solidarity with the World Patient Safety Day.
About 2200 participants attended the conference including many scientific sessions led by consorted group of local and international experts and specialists in the field of patient safety.
“The 7th Qatar Patient Safety Week confirms Qatar’s commitment to providing safe and high-quality care to the entire population,” said H.E. Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari, the Minister of Public Health.
Her Excellency added “This year’s theme of Safe Maternal and Newborn Care is one of our priorities in the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 in Qatar, where we have identified ‘Healthy women leading to healthy pregnancies’ as one of the seven priority population groups within the strategy that is being implemented across the health sector. These plans are carefully designed to ensure that the existing services and resources are aligned, and that new services and resources are developed when needed, to best meet the needs of mothers and newborns.”
Her Excellency stressed the importance of raising awareness by all stakeholders on maternal and newborn safety issues, to help ensure safe and high-quality care for mothers and newborns.
The conference discussed many important topics, including key aspects of quality and safety during pregnancy and childbirth, risk management during periods of increased demand for health care services, lessons learned during Covid 19 pandemic, how telehealth will reshape health care delivery, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the flexibility and sustainability of the health care system in light of the growing demand for health services. In addition to discussing the principle of “value-based care”, and how this can help achieve high quality, safe and effective care under the current circumstances.
Huda Amer Al Katheeri, Director of the Strategic Planning and Performance Department at the Ministry of Public Health said: “Almost two years have passed since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, which has been a challenging time for healthcare systems and has delayed the delivery of some basic health services in general in many health care systems around the world, particularly health services for women and newborns”. She stressed that Qatar Patient Safety Week, organized by the Ministry of Public Health aims to provide an opportunity for all healthcare institutions to build partnerships, enhance all aspects of patient safety and address priority areas to provide high quality and safe health care to patients.
Dr Najat Khenyab, the National Lead for healthy women leading to healthy pregnancies, said: “Comprehensive plans have been developed to improve services for women and children. The strategy aims to improve the ability to monitor the causes of obstetric complications, provide national protocols and guidance on maternity care, including infertility and caesarean section, provide midwifery care services and integrated maternity services at various stages of pregnancy, childbirth and after birth.”
Dr Tahir Mahmood, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Scotland, former President of the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and International Consultant to UNFPA, spoke about the key aspects of quality in providing prenatal, during and postnatal care and improving women’s experience in maternity services. He clarified that improving women’s care requires a full-system approach in establishing the pillars of clinical governance in all care pathways. Dr. Karen Day, health information researcher at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, spoke about assessment of remote health services. Mr. Kedar Mate, President and CEO of the Institute for HealthCare Improvement and President of the Lucian Leape Institute, spoke about the resilience and sustainability of the health care system in light of the growing demand, stressing that as the current challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and other pressures on health systems continue, working together is required to build healthy systems for the future.
On the occasion of 7th Qatar Patient Safety Week, the Ministry of Public Health launched a virtual awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness among health care providers and the public using various media platforms. Awareness messages were broadcasted on social media to raise awareness on patient safety and focus on the theme of this year’s celebration.
A survey was conducted on the level of satisfaction of the public on the virtual health services provided in Qatar during Covid-19 pandemic, in collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health and the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).
Many cultural landmarks and public places in the country were also lit in orange color on September 17th, including the Ministry of Public Health building, the Women’s Wellness and Research Center at Hamad Medical Corporation, the Workers’ Health Center in Mesaimeer, Qatar Red Crescent Training and Development Center and Medical Sector Building, Al-Thumama Health Center, Aspetar Hospital, Al Ahli Hospital, Al Emadi Hospital, Doha Clinic Hospital, Aster Hospital, Naseem Medical Center, Four Seasons Hotel, the Torch Hotel and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zeid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, representing solidarity with celebrating the World Patient Safety Day. This year, the orange color symbolizes the central role of patient safety in the countries’ efforts to achieve universal health coverage and maternity and neonatal safety.
Qatar’s Patient Safety Week is a national initiative launched by the Ministry of Public Health to raise awareness and spread patient safety concepts among all healthcare providers as well as the public in the State of Qatar. This year’s Patient Safety Week aims to engage healthcare leaders and providers in developing effective and innovative maternity and neonatal safety policies, strategies and measures, strengthening communication between leaders, health care providers and patients, by educating and raising awareness, as well as, calling for urgent and sustainable action by all stakeholders to expand efforts, ensure safe maternal and neonatal care, particularly during childbirth, and adopt best practices in the healthcare facilities to protect all women and newborns from avoidable risks during childbirth.
Source: Ministry of Public Health