ISQua Accreditation & Mental Health were the focus of the 2018 Quality in Healthcare Conference held in December in Sarajevo

The sixth annual Quality in Healthcare Conference hosted by the Agency for Quality and Accreditation in Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AKAZ) took place on December 20th and 21st in Sarajevo.  The title this year was “BiH in the EU: Quality as Key to Joining the Circle of the Best.”

The sixth annual Quality in Healthcare Conference hosted by the Agency for Quality and Accreditation in Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AKAZ) took place on December 20th and 21st in Sarajevo.  The title this year was “BiH in the EU: Quality as Key to Joining the Circle of the Best.” It was kicked off with the promotion of a new information booklet, “Stories from the Centre,” presenting the personal experiences of service users and providers at mental health centres all around the FBiH.

The importance of international accreditation was a leading theme at the conference.  AKAZ is a member of ISQua and its primary healthcare standards are fully accredited with the international agency as of October 2018.  Elaine O’Connor, Head of International Accreditation Programme and Strategic Partnerships at ISQua, gave a talk on accreditation to an audience of healthcare professionals involved in quality and safety issues in healthcare from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region.

“I am happy to say that since October 2018 AKAZ and BiH have become part of ISQua’s International Accreditation Programme accreditation family. I know the process you passed was demanding and I congratulate you on reaching the goal and look forward to continuing cooperation,” said Elaine O’Connor.

AKAZ Director Ahmed Novo presented AKAZ’s activities for 2018, including obtaining ISQua accreditation for the Primary Health Care Standards.

“This places AKAZ among only 42 agencies from 32 countries of the world to have achieved accreditation.  This year’s conference, with more than 270 attendees from BiH and the region, is a success and shows that safety and quality is finally winning the attention it deserves, to the benefit of those working in our healthcare system and those using it – our patients. AKAZ will not stop there, however, as we are planning even greater achievements for our conference in 2019,” said the Director of AKAZ. 

A number of Field Reports by Almir Panjeta have been gathered in a brochure on “Stories from the Centre.” They showcase the work of the centres through the life stories of their beneficiaries and users, leaders and staff, and their unselfish contributions.  The brochure’s goal is to help reduce the stigma that continues to surround mental illness, as well as to promote confidence in the healthcare professionals working in the Mental Health Centres.

According to Panjeta, “When I started touring the Mental Health Centres in June, I embarked on a journey into the unknown and returned having been enriched with the experience of a lifetime. I met dedicated staff and beneficiaries at the centres. I talked with so many of them and heard their life stories, stories that are often difficult and traumatic, but nonetheless carry a positive message, a message of hope.”

The seventh annual Quality in Healthcare will be held on December 2019 in Sarajevo. You can find our more information on AKAZ at http://www.akaz.ba/

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Nourhan Kawtharani

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She aims to identify gaps and develop tailored interventions that address specific contexts rather than applying general solutions. Engaging with diverse professionals and perspectives during this educational journey will expand the application of these concepts across different cultural settings.

Nourhan emphasizes the importance of promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement within healthcare institutions, considering it a vital leadership responsibility to integrate quality and safety initiatives into the organizational culture.

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Elom Otchi

Elom is passionate about improving quality of care and patient safety outcomes.

In view of this, he has had the opportunity to work in various capacities with various organisations including AfIHQSA, WHO, UNICEF and others undertaking research, supporting the development of national quality policies and strategies, facilitating the establishment of quality governance systems across all the levels of the health sector and building capacity of national and sub-national quality leads/teams to institutionalize the practice of quality and patient safety across the continent.

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I would like to use this Fellowship as a learning platform and an opportunity to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to complement ongoing efforts by like-minded individuals and organizations to continuously advance improve the quality and patient safety in Ghana and the continent.

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Stephen Taiye Balogun

Stephen is a Senior Programme Officer at the Institute of Human Virology in Nigeria as well as Country Representative for Health Information for All (HIFA).

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We are looking forward to working with both Stephen and our 2020 winner Rhoda Kalondu over the next year.

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Dr Rhoda Kalondu

Rhoda is the Head of the Patient Safety Unit at Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi and wants to use this Fellowship to learn how to establish a culture of safety and develop systems for assessment and analysis at her institution, and more widely. As well as this, Rhoda intends to develop and execute an intervention to improve patient safety in Kenyatta National Hospital.

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Dr Subhrojyoti Bhowmick

I am an MBBS graduate from Calcutta University with a Gold Medal in Gynecology & Obstetrics.

I have completed M.D in Pharmacology from IPGME& R, Kolkata and have over 12 years of experience in the field of Clinical Research, Pharmacovigilance and Medication management in Hospitals.

I have completed certification in Clinical Research Administration & Project Management from Stanford University, USA and in Patient Safety from Johns Hopkins University, USA.

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