Health CAS Dr. Rashid Aman launches Society for Quality Healthcare – Kenya to boost health services delivery

The Ministry of Health’s Chief Administrative Secretary, Dr. Rashid Aman, has today inaugurated a new membership body for healthcare and allied professionals that is set to play a part in ensuring safe and high quality healthcare in Kenya. The Society for Quality Healthcare- Kenya (SQHK) will advise on activities aimed at promoting quality of health services and patient safety in the country and back continuous improvement of care given to patients.

The organization will achieve this through supporting development of policies and standards, mainstreaming of quality and safety in healthcare training and professional medical education, and supporting performance assessment and accreditation. The membership will encompass trained healthcare professionals, health facilities and administrators, training institutions, policy makers and patients’ representatives with an interest or involvement in healthcare quality and safety.

Speaking during the World Patient Safety Day celebrations, the Health CAS, Dr. Rashid Aman, said the new body will complement the ministry’s efforts in accelerating the attainment of equitable, accessible and quality healthcare for all.

“I am happy to announce that our healthcare professionals have taken a step toward achieving safety of all patients through formation of The Society for Quality Healthcare- Kenya. This is a key milestone for our health sector as it is supporting the Ministry’s overall efforts in building a progressive, responsive and sustainable health care system which will accelerate the attainment of the Big 4’s ‘Universal Health Coverage’ agenda,” the CAS said during the virtual event.

According to a 2019 report by International Finance Corporation (IFC), Africa which has about 11% of the world’s population carries over 24% of the global disease burden due to lack of access to quality healthcare services and inefficiencies in the system. The Covid-19 pandemic brought to sharp focus some of the gaps in many healthcare systems. The CS offered unlimited support to SQHK as it is addressing some of these shortcomings in the system.

Dr. Lydia Okutoyi, President SQHK notes: “Patients expect that when they encounter the health care system they will have safe, effective and compassionate care. While Kenya has made strides to improve access to health care services for her growing population, there is still a mismatch between the demand and supply of quality health care. We intend bridge this gap by implementing solid research-backed strategies that will ensure that patients will get care consistent with the global best practices”.