More focus on quality, patient safety sought

Thiruvananthapuram: A two-day national conference on hospital administration held here has called for placing quality and patient safety at the centre of the health delivery system, as improvements in these areas can promote a better work culture in institutions and improve public confidence in the system.

The conference was organised by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) and the Kerala chapter of the Federation of Hospital Administrators.

There is, at present, no data on patient safety in the country and while the system of accreditation has had a few corporate hospitals moving forward to be more accountable, public sector hospitals are less amenable to institutionalising quality and patient safety, according to Shakti Kumar Gupta, Head, Department of Hospital Administration and Medical Superintendent, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Patient safety capacity in the country should be built and while ensuring a standard of safety and security to patients, there should also be clear and concise policies on handling issues related to patient safety, Dr. Gupta said.