Doha, May 09 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is working to strengthen national capacities in healthcare-associated infection surveillance and support the implementation of a unified national programme based on standardized criteria and scientific evidence.
The Ministry said that strengthening surveillance systems is a key pillar of effective infection prevention and control programmes, as it enables healthcare institutions to detect risks at an early stage, monitor trends and key performance indicators, and implement targeted interventions that contribute to improving patient outcomes.
In this context, the Ministry recently organized a national workshop on healthcare-associated infection surveillance, with the participation of around 100 healthcare professionals from governmental, semi-governmental, and private sectors, including infection prevention and control specialists, quality and patient safety leaders, as well as frontline representatives from nurses, physicians, microbiologists, and pharmacists working in hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and diagnostic and treatment facilities.
The workshop reviewed the main components of the national surveillance programme and implementation roadmap, focusing on surveillance objectives and methodologies, standardized data collection tools, and strengthening the ability to analyze and use infection prevention and control indicators such as surgical site infections, device-associated infections, hand hygiene compliance, and exposure to blood and body fluids.
It also highlighted evidence-based best practices for infection prevention, reinforcing the link between surveillance and the implementation of effective preventive measures.
Experts from the Ministry of Public Health and Hamad Medical Corporation delivered comprehensive scientific sessions covering standardized surveillance definitions and methodologies, as well as approaches to data collection and reporting. The workshop also included interactive discussions, simulations, and practical exercises based on real-life scenarios, helping to enhance participants' ability to apply acquired knowledge in daily practice and bridge the gap between theory and practice.
The organization of this national event reflects the growing commitment within the healthcare sector to reinforcing infection prevention and control practices, as well as the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in supporting national healthcare quality initiatives.
The Healthcare Quality Department at the Ministry of Public Health continues to organize specialized capacity-building workshops aimed at reaching a wider range of healthcare professionals and supporting them in advancing surveillance practices. These efforts contribute directly to building a safer and more sustainable healthcare system in the State of Qatar, where patient safety remains a top national priority. The Ministry stressed that healthcare-associated infection surveillance is not merely a reporting tool, but a fundamental pillar of patient safety, noting that strengthened surveillance systems significantly reduce infection burdens, improve quality of care, and ensure a safer healthcare environment for both patients and healthcare workers. (QNA)