November to witness intensified awareness efforts to enhance quality healthcare

AMMAN — The Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) announced on Thursday that it would intensify its efforts to promote quality healthcare across the Kingdom’s facilities.

The month of November was selected, according to HCAC Chairman Amjad Aryan, because the first anniversary of the “Change Day Initiative” falls during the month, while the Third Quality Health Care Conference and Exhibition will be held on November 23-25.

The Change Day Initiative, which was implemented for the first time last year on November 14 in cooperation with Hikma Pharmaceuticals, encourages healthcare service providers’ personal commitment to improving health services through additional efforts and without incurring extra costs.

HRH Princess Muna renewed her pledge from last year, committing to “support legislation that enhances specialised roles of nursing to improve the services provided to the Jordanian community”, according to Aryan.

At a meeting with the media the official further highlighted the council’s potential and its dedicated efforts to improve the level of services provided at public and private medical facilities.

Health Minister Ali Hiasat commended the “simple” moves that service providers can do which are of a “significant” positive impact on the level of services and patient satisfaction.

“Resistance to change could be a challenge, but the aspiration for improving the quality of health services is the major drive for change,” the minister said, calling on service providers to register their pledges and apply them.

He added that the ministry’s pledge for Change Day is the further incorporation of quality measures on an institutional level, adding that the ministry is “in the process” of acquiring the HCAC’s quality accreditation for its facilities across the country.

Elaborating on the three-day quality conference and exhibition to be held next month, Conference President Rami Farraj, who is also Chairman of the Royal Health Awareness Society, said the event is to feature over 25 international quality experts.

“Over 350 doctors, nurses and medical administrative staff from local private and public entities are participating,” he said, adding that the event will be carried out under Royal patronage.

The conference will discuss best practices in improving quality, bridging the gap between quality care and patient experience, using data to make quality decisions, quality in primary healthcare, practical experiences, and what exists beyond accreditation, Farraj said.