On its International Day... Khoja: Despite the great challenges, “patient safety” is a priority for the health system
The Secretary-General of the Arab Hospital Federation, Professor of Public Health, Family and Community Medicine, Professor Tawfiq Ahmed Khoja, confirmed that safety is a basic principle in patient care and a crucial element in quality management, as quality is considered the safety of health services and the basis for developing the health system in all countries of the world, where the vision is based. The health system is committed to providing high-quality health services in accordance with the best international standards, in line with the requirements of quality assurance and control systems.
Coinciding with World Patient Safety Day, which falls on September 17 of each year to ensure patient safety and the priority given to it in the field of providing health care services, Khoja said: The world faces many health challenges, and it is no secret to everyone that the responsibility for patient safety has doubled with the Corona pandemic. And its repercussions, which strengthened and multiplied the responsibility for patient safety under a unified health vision and system.
He pointed out that the World Health Organization chose this year 2023 as the slogan “Patients have a role in their safety,” in appreciation of the pivotal role that patients, their families, and their caregivers play in promoting safe care, reducing harm, and preventing avoidable deaths. World Safety Day also focuses on Patients to engage patients in health care is a key strategy to deliver people-centred health services, reduce the burden of avoidable harm, strengthen health systems, enhance health worker performance, reduce health care costs, raise patient satisfaction, and improve quality of life and health outcomes.
Khoja concluded by saying: The Kingdom is one of the first developed countries in the field of patient safety and is always working to develop standards and practices related to this matter, as it has sought for many years to implement the Patient Safety Friendly Hospitals Initiative as an embodiment of the efforts made by the Ministry of Health and other health institutions in developing... The health system pays attention to the quality of medical services provided and patient safety controls. The establishment of the Saudi Patient Safety Center in 2017 emphasized the importance of patient safety, and with the aim of providing health care services free of harm, as this center works as a main expert in the national patient safety strategy with a focus on To give a voice to the community and healthcare providers.
