Doha: 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.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Ministry emphasized that enhancing surveillance systems is crucial for effective infection prevention and control programmes. These systems enable healthcare institutions to detect risks early, monitor trends and key performance indicators, and implement targeted interventions that contribute to improving patient outcomes.
In line with these efforts, the Ministry recently organized a national workshop on healthcare-associated infection surveillance. The event attracted around 100 healthcare professionals from various sectors, including infection prevention and control specialists, quality and patient safety leaders, and frontline representatives from nursing, medicine, microbiology, and pharmacy. Participants hailed from hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and diagnostic and treatment facilities.
The workshop focused on reviewing the main components of the national surveillance programme and its implementation roadmap. Key areas of discussion included surveillance objectives and methodologies, standardized data collection tools, and the ability to analyze infection prevention and control indicators such as surgical site infections, device-associated infections, hand hygiene compliance, and exposure to blood and body fluids.
Additionally, the workshop highlighted evidence-based best practices for infection prevention, strengthening the connection between surveillance and the implementation of preventive measures. Experts from the Ministry of Public Health and Hamad Medical Corporation led comprehensive sessions on standardized surveillance definitions and methodologies, as well as data collection and reporting approaches. The event also featured interactive discussions, simulations, and practical exercises based on real-life scenarios to enhance participants' application of knowledge in daily practice.
This national event underscores the healthcare sector's commitment to reinforcing infection prevention and control practices and the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in supporting national healthcare quality initiatives.
The Healthcare Quality Department at the Ministry continues to organize specialized capacity-building workshops aimed at reaching a broader range of healthcare professionals. These efforts are part of building a safer and more sustainable healthcare system in Qatar, where patient safety is a top priority. The Ministry emphasized that healthcare-associated infection surveillance is a fundamental pillar of patient safety, significantly reducing infection burdens, improving quality of care, and ensuring a safer healthcare environment for both patients and healthcare workers.