• UAE remains number 1 globally with highest number of accredited health facilities

• Government eyes improving national health indicator results

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced that the Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah was recently awarded an international accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI) after passing the rigorous assessments used to classify global institutions providing high-quality patient care. The JCI team conducted field visits to the hospital to evaluate its implementation of processes and procedures based on the internationally recognized standards for medical institutions. The award comes at a time where the UAE continues to maintain its number 1 ranking globally in terms of the highest number of accredited health institutions.

H.E. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said that the international recognition bestowed on the hospital is a major boost to the country’s efforts to become globally competitive and sustain a leading position in the international health industry as per the vision of the UAE leaders.

He added: “Under the wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the country is working towards ensuring that all hospitals in the country are at par with the international standards of innovation and excellence and best practices in the health industry. This goal is aligned with the objectives of UAE Vision 2021 and UAE Centennial 2071 focusing on building best-in-class medical care in the state.”

The UAE Government has launched a series of strategies and initiatives to establish its leadership in the medical field and keep up with latest global industry developments such as personal medicine, telemedicine, and digital health. These initiatives, including the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, are designed to establish advanced predictive models for patients, put in place strong health infrastructure, build national centers specializing in disease control and prevention, and enact legislations to control infectious and non-communicable diseases.

Undersecretary H.E. Dr. Muhammad Salim Al Olama said that Al Qassimi Hospital is one of the largest Ministry-run hospitals in the country, providing efficient services across disciplines and specializations. Thanks to the support of the country’s leaders, the UAE led by the Ministry is constantly enhancing the local health services to ensure patient safety by observing the best practices and the highest ethical, governance, and auditing standards. The hospitals also embark on research activities to improve the quality of health care, increase their competitiveness, and attract international confidence in their capabilities to deliver effective medical care.

He added that Al Qassimi Hospital’s international accreditation formed part of the Ministry’s efforts to provide comprehensive and integrated health care; build quality and safe health systems; and instil a culture of innovation in the sector to improve the results of the national indicators. International accreditations are essential to improving the quality management system in the country’s health facilities for the delivery of services that meet global protocols and standards.

For his part, H.E. Dr. Yousef Mohammed Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospital Sector, congratulated all the staff of Al Qassimi Hospital on this achievement as he commended them for providing high-quality services, bringing happiness to their patients, applying innovation in health information management, and implementing outstanding hospital governance.

Al Serkal added: “During its audit that lasted for several days, JCI’s team of assessors evaluated the hospital’s clinical services; patient care and safety; treatment plans; medical, technical, and administrative operations; infection prevention and control; follow-up procedures; and the condition of their emergency or internal wards. JCI reported satisfying and remarkable services in the hospital.”

Al Serkal concluded: “Al Qassimi Hospital admitted facing several challenges in implementing standards and protocols and essential programs during its preparations for the international accreditation. The Ministry has also developed medical protocols, including guidelines for stroke and cardiac arrest, based on the findings of scientific researches published by internationally recognized bodies. JCI reported that Al Qasimi Hospital’s Cardiology Centre is one of the best globally.”

Dr. Kalthoum Al Balushi, Director of the Ministry’s Hospitals Department, said the international accreditation can be attributed as well to the Ministry’s initiatives to raise the standards of health care services in the country by building world-class facilities with state-of-the-art equipment, supplies, and technological systems.

Dr. Arif Al Nooryani, Executive Director of Al Qassimi Hospital, said that the hospital management had formulated strong policies and procedures in nursing care, pharmaceutical management, laboratory services, nutrition programs, and patient safety, among others, as part of its preparations for the international accreditation. The JCI team praised Al Qasimi Hospital for its strong adherence to values and ethics; transparency; integrity; and the highest form of patient care to deliver the best medical outcomes.