KARACHI:A World Health Organization (WHO) team visited Sindh Healthcare Commission SHCC) office in Karachi with an objective to support development and implementation of the Quality and Patient Safety programme in the country.
The WHO team comprising Dr Matthew Neilson (WHO) Consultant, Dr Donna Lorrae Forsyth Director Mission of Patient Safety LHS, Dr Zulfiqar Khan National Professional Officer, Dr Samra Salim, Dr Zakiuddin Ahmed Project Director, Riphah Institute of Healthcare Improvement and Safety (RIHIS) and Dr Sara Salman Head of Office WHO Sub-Office Sindh visited SHCC.
CEO SHCC Dr Minhaj Qidwai attended the meeting with SHCC team comprising Director Complaint, Director Monitoring and Evaluation and Deputy Director Clinical Governance.
The aim of WHO visit to Pakistanis was to bring together a group of international quality, patient safety, and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) experts along with senior WHO staff, who would perform a review of the existing policies and strategies within Pakistan to identify gaps, challenges, as well as avenues of improvement.
In the meeting, WHO team stressed the need to develop the standardized program for patient safety in Pakistan and to initiate community engagement programs to create awareness. CEO Sindh Healthcare Commission Dr Minhaj Qidwai explained challenges that are being faced by SHCC team in improving healthcare system in Sindh. He discussed various areas where WHO experts need to focus on implementing patient safety programs.
Qidwai also attended the meeting held in Islamabad on the patient safety.
He proposed formation of a national coordination council for the implementation of this initiative.