The largest conference in the Middle East dedicated to healthcare quality improvement and patient safety was held earlier this month, participated by nearly 2,500 healthcare practitioners from Qatar and across the region. 

The 8th Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, which was held virtually for three days, included the participation of international and local speakers who provided valuable lectures and scientific content to the forum under the theme, Igniting Change: Shaping the Future Together. The forum was organised by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

8th Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare

Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, in her opening address, emphasised the hard work of healthcare workers across the country and how it has enabled Qatar’s healthcare system to meet the increased demand for health services stemming from the nation’s growing population, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister added that as healthcare workers, they have been at the forefront of the government’s strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

By working together across the healthcare system, in partnership with many ministries and public and private organisations, and in collaboration with the community, our healthcare teams have been central to Qatar having one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates and one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world.

However, she said that their success in confronting COVID-19 did not happen by chance. She said that the work they put in, year after year, to increase capacity and improve the quality of care they deliver, placed the country in a strong position to confront the pandemic.

In the past 10 years across the public healthcare system, we have opened ten state-of-the-art hospitals, eight new primary healthcare centres and multiple new specialist facilities. Qatar’s healthcare system now has some of the most advanced medical technology in the world.

Dr Kedar Mate
Dr Kedar Mate

IHI President and CEO Dr Kedar Mate said they were delighted to team up with HMC to co-deliver a successful forum this year. He said they see many great and inspiring improvements in healthcare around the world, and they continue to be impressed with Qatar’s commitment to quality and safety. This has been even more evident during the fight against COVID-19.

The forum was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions but returned this year and showcased one of the largest and most wide-ranging programmes in the history of the event. More than 165 speakers from Qatar, Canada, the UK, Kuwait and Oman participated, and more than 90 posters highlighting quality improvement projects were presented in the forum’s poster competition.

For more information about the forum, visit hamad.qa


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