Sheikha Moza attends Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare opening session

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, attended Saturday the opening of the Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare.The Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, now in its 10th year, is a collaboration between Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the US-based Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI). It is the biggest event dedicated to healthcare quality improvement in the regionHE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health; Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, regional director for Europe, World Health Organisation (WHO); Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean; Kedar Mate, president and chief executive officer, IHI; and Dr Don Berwick, president Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement were present on the occasion along with several health ministers from many countries.Held at Qatar National Convention Centre, more than 2,500 healthcare professionals from Qatar and the region are attending this year’s three day forum both in-person and online.Delivering the opening remarks, Dr al-Kuwari highlighted the positive and transformative effect the Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare has had on Qatar’s healthcare landscape over the decade."Today we celebrate our commitment to excellence and our wonderful journey which has led Qatar to being recognised as a global benchmark for excellence and innovation. But more importantly today we re-affirm our unwavering ambition to deliver the best care possible for every patient, every time,” said Dr al-Kuwari.The minister went on to highlight that the partnership with IHI was born out of the aspirations of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the first National Development Strategy (2011-2016) set by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and the guiding principles of Qatar’s first National Health Strategy developed and launched by Her Highness Sheikha Moza, in her capacity as chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Supreme Council of Health and Vice Chairperson of the Supreme Committee of Health at that time.The opening ceremony also featured addresses by Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, deputy chief medical officer, HMC and co-chair of the forum; Kedar Mate and Dr Don Berwick. They highlighted the importance of a sustained commitment to quality and safety in healthcare to deliver the best patient outcomes.The other speakers at the 2024 forum included Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu, chief nursing officer of the World Health Organisation and Jason Caldwell, world record breaking ocean rower and endurance athlete.The 2024 edition of the forum is focused on five learning tracks for the attendees: Quality and Safety; Population Health; Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare; Applied Improvement and, Person-Centred Care.Over the last 10 years, the forum has driven quality improvement and transformation across the healthcare landscape and has seen 26,000 attendees over the decade of the event; 444,000 professional education learning hours for healthcare professionals and 800 expert speakers form Qatar, the region and internationally.There is also an accompanying poster presentation and an exhibition at the forum which will conclude Sunday.