16 Jun 2014

The director of health services says the recently developed National Health Quality Standards will not only help provide a set of minimum basic requirements for provision of quality and safe healthcare services but will also serve as a road map for further service improvements.

Dr Khumo Seipone said at the National Health Quality Standards dissemination forum in Kanye last on June 13 that the standards were particularly important to service users as they placed them at the centre of the health care system.

“They focus on dignity, respect, efficiency and safety. We are gathered here today to raise awareness about their existence to the leadership of the community and various health organisations and other key stakeholders because we recognise and appreciate that you are key in promoting the use of these standards,” Dr Seipone stated. 

The journey to establish the standards commenced in 2011 and was an initiative of the Ministry of Health to improve the quality and safety of health services.

Launched in January 2014, the Ministry of Health hoped to use these standards to meet the expectations and health needs of its clientele.

Dr Seipone said due to huge strides achieved by government in terms of providing health facilities which were also within reach over the years, the society was no longer complaining about non-availability of hospitals, clinics or any such facilities.

Contemporary Botswana, Dr Seipone noted were more concerned about the quality and safety of the services they receive hence the initiative to up the health quality standards by her ministry.

“They complain of issues such as attitudes of some of the healthcare workers, cleanliness and safety of our health facilities, long queues and waiting hours. Other areas of concern include among others, inefficient clinical governance, inadequate infection, prevention and control measures, medical errors and many others,” Dr Seipone indicated.

Dr Seipone said the recently established standards would not only provide a framework for self-assessment and external review and investigation but also build a quality and safety culture that would enhance the reputation and credibility of Botswana’s healthcare system. 

The credibility of the healthcare system, she said was critical in influencing the public seeking services provided by the system.

“A good reputation is therefore imperative in order to fulfil our aspirations to provide competitive health services at district, national and internationally accepted levels,” she said adding that best international health practices would results in pertinent spin-offs such as medical tourism.

“Heightened tourism activities across Botswana pose a challenge to the country healthcare system to rise to the occasion and improve on the quality and safety of services rendered to the ever growing health needs of the public and the tourism industry.”

She underscored that successful implementation of the standards requires the entire healthcare sector, whether public or private to take account of the quality and safety of all their services.

Giving an overview of the National Health Quality Standards, Ms Baile Moagi from the Department of Health Inspectorate said the standards would provide a road map for improving the quality and safety of healthcare by way of outlining what quality and safe health service should be like in relation to patient safety, patient experience and clinical effectiveness. ENDS