The Ministry of Public Health inaugurated the scientific conference for the 10th Qatar Patient Safety Week Tuesday. The three-day conference features a wide range of local and international experts and specialists, as well as patient representatives. The main theme of the conference is "Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety."
Seventy-two local and international experts will speak at the conference, which is being conducted in a hybrid format, combining in-person attendance at the conference venue with virtual participation. The event is sponsored by Hamad Medical Corp (HMC), the Primary Health Care Corp (PHCC), the Military Medical City Hospital (MMCH), and The View Hospital.
The conference includes seven panel discussions that address various topics and concepts related to patient safety, along with ten lectures in which local and international healthcare institutions will present their successful experiences in improving the quality and safety of services provided.
In her opening address, Huda Amer al-Khtheeri, Director of Strategic Planning, Performance, and Innovation at the Ministry of Public Health, said: "Qatar Patient Safety Week is all about coming together to make healthcare better and safer for people in Qatar. This has always been a consistent feature in all our health strategies."
Al-Khtheeri added: "As we mark the 10th anniversary of Qatar Patient Safety Week, we reflect on a decade of commitment to advancing healthcare quality and safety. Together, we've made incredible improvements in patient safety. However, with the fast-paced advancements in healthcare, come new challenges to the safety of our services, our patients and our staff. For which, we need to keep the momentum going and proactively ensure that quality and safety are always integral to all that we do to deliver the best patient outcomes."
Dr Mariam Abdul Malik, Managing Director of the PHCC, emphasised the significance of Qatar Patient Safety Week's activities, which highlight the need for continuous efforts to improve patient safety. She shared these remarks during a panel discussion on the latest developments in patient safety, alongside a group of esteemed local and international speakers.
Dr Mariam Abdul Malik added: "We believe collaborative efforts are essential in fostering a stronger, more responsive healthcare system in Qatar."
In the keynote address at the conference, Dr Hardeep Singh, Professor of Medicine at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, spoke on "Reducing the Global Burden of Diagnostic Errors in Healthcare Through Science, Policy and Practice."
He said: "This year's theme of 'Improving diagnosis for patient safety' and focusing on getting the diagnosis right and making it safe highlights the critical importance of correct and timely diagnosis in improving patient safety and health outcomes."
Speaking on the topic of "Enhancing Patient Safety Through Diagnostic Stewardship: Best Practices and Innovations," Professor Souha Kanj, Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Infection Control Programme at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre, said: "Diagnostic stewardship is an integral part of antimicrobial stewardship. With the range of diagnostic tools available in the market, healthcare workers need to decide on the right test for the right patient at the right time to have a positive impact on patients' safety, avoiding over and underuse of diagnostic tools."
Michael Giuliano, President of Planetree International, highlighted the critical connections between person-centred care, patient experience, safety, and quality, which he described as key to the future of healthcare. He stressed that person-centred care is essential not only for improving diagnostic accuracy but also for enhancing the overall quality and safety of care for patients, their families, staff, and the broader community.
More than 20 organisations last night lit up their buildings in orange to show solidarity and commitment to improving patient safety. (QNA)
