(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat -
The Ministry of Health (MoH) represented by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance Center (DGQAC) marked World Patient Safety Day on September 17.
The event, which focused on the theme, 'Polypharmacy: One of Patient Safety Challenges' was held in collaboration with other civil and military sectors.
The event was held under the patronage of H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid al Sa'eedi, Minister of Health, and in the presence of H E Sheikh Khalid bin Omar bin Said al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service, at the Sheraton Oman Hotel.
A number of undersecretaries along with 270 participants from MoH as well as civil and military sectors attended the event.
The National Patient Safety Day aims to raise awareness on the concept of patient safety, the usage of international standards and implementing all means for its sustainability in order to spread the concept of patient safety among the community members and the health workers. It also seeks to provide the staff with the tools and techniques to maintain the culture of patient safety in their institutions.
H E Dr Sa'eedi honoured hospitals that implemented Patient Safety Friendly Hospital's Initiative (Supplied photo)
The event also included launching of the polypharmacy initiative to develop mechanisms in order to involve and enable the patients to handle their own medications safely.
Polypharmacy refers to the use of a large number of medications, commonly considered to be the use of five or more medications routinely with or without medical prescription. H E Dr Sa'eedi in a video speech said that patient safety is a national priority and it is important to ensure that no person is harmed in the healthcare facilities.
He said that Oman is committed to improving the quality of healthcare services. In a recorded video message, Dr Ahmed al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, called upon on all healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, community leaders, patients and families to demand safe, accessible healthcare.
Dr Akjimal Magtimova, WHO representative to the sultanate, said, 'Today we are celebrating World Patient Safety Day for the first time globally and in Oman for the second time, as Oman was ahead of time to establish its National Patient Safety Day on September 17, 2018, the date that was also kept for the worldwide commemoration of this day starting today [Tuesday].'
She added, 'We gather today to celebrate Oman's achievements in Patient Safety. In August 2018, MoH Quality Assurance Centre was designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Training, the result of tireless work over the years.'
Dr Qamra al Saririah, director general, DGQAC, stressed that patient safety is a serious public health issue worldwide and it
is estimated that one among ten patients in the developed countries is harmed in the hospital (inadvertently).
She added, currently, there is a growing recognition that patient safety and quality of care is a crucial dimension of Universal Health Coverage.
Dr Qamra pointed out that the MoH's vision focuses on developing an integrated healthcare system providing high-quality health services according to the best international standards.
Sur, Sinaw and Khasab hospitals were honoured at the event for implementing the Patient Safety Friendly Hospitals Initiative (PSFHI) in 2018.
The lectures touched upon inappropriate polypharmacy, common patient safety issues in the UK and suggested solutions, an overview of the Patient Safety Friendly Hospitals Initiative, maintaining patient safety through appropriate polypharmacy and others.
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