DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday inaugurated the scientific conference for the 10th Qatar Patient Safety Week. The conference is being held over three days and 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 Corporation (HMC), the Primary Health Care Corporation (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."
During the conference, an artistic sand drawing performance was presented by artist Shaima Al Muhairi, depicting the ten-year journey of Qatar Patient Safety Week since its inception in 2014.
Dr Mariam Abdul Malik, Managing Director of the Primary Health Care Corporation, 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 stated, " 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.”
Dr Singh went on to add that the conference aims to understand and identify the most common diagnostic errors and their impact on patient safety and health, while developing effective strategies and frameworks to reduce the occurrence of these errors by leveraging modern technology.
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 Program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, 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.
The conference also covered several important topics related to raising awareness and emphasising the importance of correct, timely, and safe diagnoses as well as their pivotal role in improving patient safety. It highlighted the prioritisation of diagnostic safety in patient safety policies and practices at all levels of healthcare, which are in line with national and global patient safety action plans. Experts presented research papers and delivered presentations on the latest developments and best practices for accurate and safe diagnostics, which contribute to enhancing patient safety. Additionally, the conference explored ways to strengthen cooperation between policymakers, healthcare leaders, professionals, and all relevant stakeholders.
Later on Tuesday, more than 20 organisations will light up their buildings in orange to show solidarity and commitment to improving patient safety.It is worth noting that Qatar Patient Safety Week is a national annual event organised by the Ministry of Public Health since 2014, with the aim of promoting the concept of patient safety among healthcare workers across various categories, as well as healthcare recipients. This event encourages sustainable collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health, healthcare providers, the community, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure safer healthcare in the State of Qatar.
