Dr. Ahson Siddiqi, CEO of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), said that unsafe medical care as a significant cause of patient deaths in hospitals, and emphasised on the importance of using evidence-based practices for improving safety and quality in care. He said this while during a Guest Lecture titled, “Quality and Patient Safety in Healthcare” hosted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, on last day. Dr. Siddiqui spoke about the principles of quality and patient safety, recognizing barriers in maintaining quality and safety in real world scenarios.
Dr. Siddiqi said we must recognise and acknowledge that the importance of patient safety and quality needs to be a fundamental learning at all stages of a health care professional’s training, from the undergraduate to post graduate training and throughout life.
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He explained that the current medical curriculum in different medical schools across the countries often focuses on teaching disease treatment rather than patient-centred care. According to Dr Siddiqi, treating patients effectively requires recognising their diversity and the uniqueness factors such as gender, beliefs, religion, language, and culture which must be factored in patient-centered care. He stressed the need for tailored care based on each individual’s needs, to ensure effective treatment.
Dr Siddiqi underscored the critical role of effective communication between healthcare providers and patients or their attendants, noting that research shows that poor communication by medical staff is a leading cause of complaints about the care process across varied healthcare systems. He urged all stakeholders – including boards, management, medical staff, nursing teams, and allied professionals – to collaboratively develop a safe and high-quality patient care system.
He also highlighted the importance of interdepartmental coordination in achieving quality healthcare and shared several real-life case studies of negligence and errors in medical care to illustrate his points.
Dr Syed Mairajuddin Shah, Chief Operating Officer, Off-Campus Hospitals at AKUH, emphasised the importance of creating a safer environment to improve the quality of outcomes for patients. “Ensuring patient safety is not just a priority but a shared responsibility across all levels of healthcare delivery,” he said. “By fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration, we can significantly reduce errors and enhance the quality of care provided to our patients.”
Dr Asim Belgaumi, Chief Medical Officer at AKUH, thanked Dr Siddiqi for his thought-provoking presentation, emphasising its potential to raise awareness among healthcare providers, including faculty, about the importance of empathy in patient care.
The lecture attracted a diverse audience of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, allied health staff, and administrators, all coming together to gain valuable insights and share perspectives.
