The Angolan government has taken a significant step towards enhancing patient safety with the training of over 140 health professionals and managers from various provinces. This initiative, led by the National Hospital Directorate and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to improve the quality of hospital services. The training, which took place on October 29-30, was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
The training focused on reinforcing competencies in quality management, patient safety, and hospital performance monitoring. The goal is to implement continuous improvement mechanisms and pave the way for future certification and accreditation of health services. According to the WHO, this initiative aligns with the National Development Plan 2023-2027, which prioritizes strengthening quality and hospital accreditation programs.
The opening ceremony was attended by Secretary of State for Hospital Affairs Leonardo Europeu Inocêncio, who emphasized the importance of involving managers and professionals in improving healthcare services. He stressed that quality care and patient safety should be top priorities in all healthcare units, ensuring more effective, safe, and humanized services. Inocêncio also highlighted the initiative's alignment with the National Development Plan.
WHO's head of the Health Systems Strengthening Program in Angola, Tomás Valdez, noted that improving care should focus on patients, ensuring greater efficacy and efficient use of available resources. The training was preceded by technical visits to three tertiary hospitals and a municipal unit in Luanda, conducted by WHO and National Hospital Directorate specialists. These visits identified best practices, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in healthcare delivery.
The training was attended by National Hospital Director Francisca Quifica and brought together directors-general, clinical directors, nursing heads, and other health professionals. A roadmap was proposed to guide governance, standardization, training, and monitoring of hospital services. This roadmap is currently awaiting validation. The initiative aims to enhance patient safety, reduce avoidable risks, and advance the certification of priority hospital services.
The Angolan government has prioritized patient safety and quality healthcare, recognizing the need for continuous improvement. The training of over 140 health professionals is a significant step towards achieving this goal. The WHO and Ministry of Health have pledged their support for this initiative, which is expected to have a positive impact on healthcare services in Angola.
The trained professionals will play a crucial role in implementing the proposed roadmap and driving improvements in patient safety and hospital services quality. The Angolan government has demonstrated its commitment to enhancing healthcare services, and this initiative is a key part of that effort. The impact of this training will be closely monitored, and further initiatives are expected to be implemented to sustain improvements in patient safety and healthcare quality.
Key points
- Over 140 health professionals in Angola have been trained to improve patient safety and hospital services quality.
- The training was conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health.
- The initiative aims to enhance patient safety, reduce risks, and advance the certification of priority hospital services.
