His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Rabeeah revealed that International Advisory Board of MOH, that has been established 2 years ago, has accomplished more than 50% of its objectives.
HE stated in a press release after heading the 4th meeting of the International Advisory Board of MOH, held in his office in the Ministry’s Divan, attended by the Ministry deputies and members of the Board, that MOH is discussing other matters for next year along with other developmental programs. All the decisions made by this Board will be referred directly to the executive committees.
Many topics were discussed in the meeting. One of the most important topics is focusing on quality programs and Evidence Based Medicine, which helps in clarifying the concept of clinical work performed by teams with various specialties as well as the development of medical work in hospitals and health centers, by using evidence based programs in addition to developing this concept in the private sector.
The meeting has also focused on the importance of following Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. The members have agreed on MOH plan for accrediting hospitals whether by the morning program or by American Hospital Accreditation Commission to accredit some of MOH hospitals, which is a huge step to enhance the quality of services in the Kingdom.
Moreover, the meeting discussed primary health care development programs and briefed the Board about future plan for the Ministry along with some recommendations.
The meeting underlined the importance of developing information technology programs as they are important in raising the level of performance, coordinating and connecting all health sectors and administrative and financial development programs.
The Board is satisfied with the mechanism of implementing the national plan for integrated and comprehensive health care, which contributes in developing health sector’s infrastructure, including certificates for 21 MOH hospitals from Central Board of Accreditation for Healthcare Institutions.His Excellency Dr. Al Rabeeah reviewed the main updates in the health services sector. HE stated that the Ministry will expand its services and increase the number of available beds in various regions of the Kingdom through operating 40 hospitals during the next two years.
Dr. Al Rabeeah notified that the Ministry will continue its efforts toward developing the infrastructure of information technology, which will contribute significantly in achieving a quantum leap in the investment of technology in the administrative and technical health field. HE added that the national project for integrated and comprehensive will include a fair distribution of health services at all levels of primary health care, public hospitals, specialized hospitals and fourth-level health services, explaining that the plan aims to develop, in particular, the expertise and skills of all health field manpower by asking health practitioners to attend seminars, conferences and workshops in their own fields.
Furthermore, The Minister of Health has formed the International Advisory Board of the Ministry of Health, where its membership list includes Executive Affairs Deputy Minister, Dr. Mansour Al Hawasi, Deputy of Planning and Development, Dr. Mohammad Bin Hamza Khoshaim, Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine, Dr. Ziad Memish, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Dr. Andrew Padmos, Dr. Delos Cosgrove President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, US, Dr. James H.Ware Professor of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, USA, Executive Director of a Medical Group, Dr. Philip Cuellar, Head of the Department of Anesthesia at the University of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Bruno Bisont, Vice Chairman of Harper University Hospital, US,Dr. Fouad Beydoun, Member of the Executive Board of Inter Health Group, Canada, Dr. John Rudey, Associate Professor and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Administration of the University of Oklahoma ,US, Dr. Stephen Walston, in addition to Community Health Sciences Expert of Queen's University in Canada and the adviser for health planning, health policy and health and information administrative systems within and outside of Canada, Dr. Peter Quan.
Nevertheless, the Board was established in order to benefit from the most prominent international experience, scientifically and practically, where it will be an essential source of benefit to the Ministry in preparing, planning and implementing all its current and future projects. The national project for integrated and comprehensive health care is one of the projects that the Ministry aims to use it to promote the level of health care provided to citizens, reaching the highest international standards.