Three hospitals receive WHO recognition for patient safety

Three hospitals in Oman - Nizwa, Rustaq and Al Masarrah - have been certificated by World Health Organization (WHO) for implementing the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Framework (PSFHF).

The Ministry of Health (MOH), through its Directorate General of Quality Assurance Centre (DGQAC), received the recognition at a ceremony presided over by H E Dr Ahmed al Mandhari, MOH Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation, recently. The event was also attended by Dr Jean Jabbour, WHO Representative to Oman, and Dr Qamra al Sariri, Director General of DGQAC, besides representatives of the awarded hospitals and WHO expert consultants.

The certification is the result of the hospitals' successful final evaluation by WHO experts for the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Dr Qamra said that Oman has been acknowledged as a leader in the advancement of patient safety, continuously amending its standards and practices in this critical area. Since the end of 2015, Oman has been proactive in adopting the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital initiative, striving to align with international safety standards in healthcare services.

Dr Qamra elaborated on Moh's goal to extend this initiative across all government and private hospitals as part of Oman's Five-year Plan in the health sector. To date, the initiative has been launched in 31 healthcare facilities, including 16 that have received international recognition as patient safetyfriendly institutions. Efforts are on to incorporate these standards in primary care, ensuring comprehensive implementation across Oman's health centres.

“The initiative aims to foster safe healthcare practices, providing a robust framework and standards for hospitals to enhance patient care safety. It also focuses on evaluating hospital performance in patient safety, improving staff competency in this field, and involving patients in activities that elevate healthcare quality,” Dr Qamra said.