Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Sunday inaugurated the 11th Qatar Patient Safety Week (QPSW) Conference, organised by the Ministry under the theme: “360° Quality Care: Advancing Safety Through Systemic Change”. The three-day conference brings together more than 3,000 professionals from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), healthcare sector institutions, academia and relevant partners, with a distinguished group of local and international experts speaking at the conference.
According to Qatar News Agency, Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare Regulatory Affairs at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Ghanim Ali Al Mannai, highlighted that the conference reflects the shared commitment to strengthening the concept of quality and safety across the healthcare system. This initiative supports the achievement of health strategies aimed at improving the health and well-being of the community while excelling in service delivery and patient experiences.
In his opening address, Dr. Ghanim Al Mannai emphasized the collective responsibility and commitment to ensuring high standards of safety and quality through collaboration and partnership among stakeholders, including officials, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the essential role of patients and their families. He noted that the theme “360° Quality Care: Advancing Safety Through Systemic Change” underscores the Ministry’s commitment to adopting a holistic approach to improving healthcare quality and patient safety.
Dr. Al Mannai stressed the Ministry’s dedication to developing and implementing national policies and strategies for healthcare quality and patient safety, focusing on areas such as medication safety, reporting of medical errors, infection prevention and control, in accordance with international best practices. Efforts include combating antimicrobial resistance and raising awareness through training programs and national events to strengthen healthcare services’ quality and safety.
The conference aims to foster a culture of healthcare quality and patient safety at the national level by encouraging dialogue among leaders and decision-makers, raising awareness about the importance of quality and safety, and exchanging best practices with local, regional, and international experts. It also seeks to address current challenges, propose solutions, strengthen community participation, and support scientific research in this field.
Professor Jason Leitch from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in the USA delivered a keynote address, highlighting Qatar’s healthcare system as one of the world’s leading systems in providing safe and effective care. He stressed the importance of four key transformations in building resilient health systems: digital transformation, community health, healthcare workforce education, and fostering compassion in care delivery.
Through workshops and sessions, the conference explored important themes, including quality and safety systems development, leadership in healthcare quality, partnerships with patients, digital solutions, and learning from incidents for continuous improvement. Discussions featured local, regional, and international speakers alongside contributions from patients.
A portion of the conference was dedicated to discussing healthcare safety and quality in fragile, conflict-affected environments, reflecting Qatar’s commitment to global health issues, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Patient Safety Week is an annual event launched by the Ministry to promote healthcare quality and patient safety among professionals and service users, fostering sustainable collaboration to ensure safer healthcare in Qatar.