Sharjah24: The Kuwait Hospital Sharjah of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) received the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation which is considered the gold standard in health care worldwide. With this achievement, MoHAP remains the major contributor to the UAE's global leadership in the number of internationally accredited healthcare facilities.

This recognition is yet another testament to the efficiency of the country’s health system and the ministry’s success in ensuring business continuity and providing high-quality health services. It also demonstrates the ministry’s balanced management of challenges and risks, through proactive planning to achieve the appropriate response, thanks to the availability of sophisticated infrastructure and state-of-the-art medical technology.

This prestigious distinction was achieved following a comprehensive virtual survey by JCI experts who evaluated the advanced hospital’s devices from flexible and interactive cameras to professional audio equipment, in addition to its commitment to applying the best international practices in terms of the quality of clinical services, patient safety, and competence of medical and administrative staff, in accordance with the best international standards and protocols.

Enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness

His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al-Owais, the Minister of Health, underlined that the Ministry is moving forward with resolve and determination to have all of its health facilities internationally accredited and to continue the provision of health services as per the international quality standards, thanks to the unlimited support of the wise leadership. This also comes in line with the plans and aspirations of the UAE Government to become more flexible and faster in making decisions and coping with international developments.  

Al-Owais made it clear that the innovation thinking would help ensure the preparedness for the future, the proactive planning to reach the highest levels of performance, the maintenance of the efficiency of the country’s various sectors, and guarding of state's gains at all levels.

“The rising number of our internationally accredited health facilities is yet another testament to the prestigious position and outstanding level of healthcare services in the UAE. This comes as part of our painstaking efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of our health system as per the highest international standards, thus boosting the UAE’s competitiveness among the best countries in the world in healthcare quality, according to the UAE Centennial 2071,” he concluded.

Establishing innovative health system

His Excellency Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Director-General of the Emirates Health Services Establishment, who virtually attended the procedural process of this accreditation, said: “This achievement comes as part of the Ministry’s strategic plans for having all the hospitals and health centers accredited by 2021 to cope with the highest global standards and protocols in leadership and innovative solutions.”,  thanking the management and staff of the hospital for their outstanding efforts in providing top-notch healthcare services that led to this significant achievement which the ministry cherishes.

“This accreditation is the result of MoHAP’s efforts to apply the unified national standards for hospitals adopted by the UAE government to achieve best practices in the provision of services, the safety of patients and health care providers, hospital design, and health information systems, including medicines, the rights of patients and their families, the country's linguistic diversity, the rights of people of determination and senior citizens of both genders,” he noted.

“The business continuity plans we have developed to maintain the quality and standards of our health services, despite the challenges of the pandemic, is another testament to the diversity and resilience of the ministry's sectors in their response to these emergencies, through the implementation of a full-fledged and comprehensive strategy at all levels. Such efforts had a positive impact on the provision of healthcare, the control of the repercussions of Covid-19. This comes in line with the UAE government plans to be more adaptive to future challenges and to be more ready for the management and governance of the recovery phase,” he concluded. 

JCI Accreditation Standards

Dr. Kalthoum Al Baloushi, Director of MoHAP’s Hospitals Administration explained that the JCI’s expert surveyors have virtually evaluated all medical, technical, and nursing departments at the Hospital to ensure that all policies, procedures, and protocols are fully and properly implemented, noting that these standards are based on best experiences and practices, approved scientific research, and recommendations of international health institutions to improve quality, implement the precautionary measures, and get the most out of telemedicine services to protect patient safety, and achieve the preventive agenda.

The JCI standards for the accreditation of health facilities include 14 main standards branched out to sub-criteria covering all health services. This includes patient safety, access to hospitals and accident departments, standards for patient assessment and diagnosis, treatment plan development and drug management, standards for patient rights and education, standards of senior management and responsibilities, infection control, quality and continuous improvement, human resources standards, employee evaluation, the safety of health facilities and medical devices, and standards for medical records management and health information.