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Evaluation report on hospitals finds gaps

DUBAI — Poor nursing services and incomplete infrastructure prevent facilities under the Ministry of Health from achieving international healthcare standards, according to an assessment report issued recently.

The report has pointed towards certain ‘gaps’ the ministry needs to fill in order to achieve international standards.

The assessment of healthcare facilities, commissioned earlier this year by the ministry, is an attempt at acquiring international accreditation and improving the quality of health services in the country over the coming years. Reportedly, the ministry has spent Dh10 million on the assessment.

However, no ministry official was available to comment, and neither were any further details on the report made available.

In January, a specialised US-based firm was appointed to initially review the status of 14 hospitals, 67 primary health centres, three dentistry centres, 10 preventive health centres, four nursing schools and the blood bank over six months.

The first such accreditation programme for the ministry establishments was undertaken by the World Health Organisation-approved International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). According to a press release issued by the ministry on Monday, the company visited a ‘number’ of healthcare centres and hospitals including the blood transfusion and research centre in Sharjah around two to five times.

The healthcare facilities were also judged on the standards of interior environment, compatibility to emergency and disaster situations, human resources management, infection and patients’ safety control, information and medical records department, healthcare department, medical and technical staff, building safety, nursing treatment and services, quality assurance, medical reports documentation and patients’ rights.

During the launch of the programme in January, Minister of Health Dr Hanif Hassan had said achieving excellence in healthcare was an ongoing process.

“We have several hospitals under the ministry and health authorities while several others that are private. Therefore, we need to pursue excellence in health care and work harder,” he had said.

He said the newly formed Federal Health Authority had approved the project for ministry hospitals and health centres which will also help end disparity in provision of healthcare services to the public.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com