Muscat, The Arab Healthcare Development
Annual Forum (AHDAF), which is the 19th annual forum of the Arab
Hospitals Federation (AHF), began at the Oman Convention and
Exhibition Centre today. The opening ceremony was held under the
auspices of Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sa’eedi, Minister of Health
with the presence of Arab Health Ministers and Representatives.
The annual forum, which is held under the theme Partnering to
Develop the Healthcare sector, is being organised by the AHF, in
collaboration with the Arab Ministries of Health, as well as number of
associations and health service providers in the Arab world.
Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sa’eedi, Minister of Health
presented speech during which he highlighted the tangible
accomplishments achieved in the health sector in the Sultanate during
a short period of time. The effective health system in the Sultanate has
controlled many diseases and above all some of these diseases were
completely eradicated.
Dr. al-Sa’eedi stated that this had led to changing the
epidemical map in the Sultanate, thus the challenges facing the local
health sector remain in the chronic disease as it is the case in the
developed countries.
The opening ceremony was commenced by an address
delivered by Prof. Tawfik Khoja, AHF General Secretary that underlined
the theme of the forum. He pointed out that partnership in health
sector is one of vital pillars that all nations in the globe strive for
advancing perfect health future for their people and that the Arab
health sector is part of this system.
Prof. Khoja added that partnership in this sector represents a
key theme of the health transformation themes along with other
important approaches such as institutional transformation, quality
assurance, medical/health person centered care, information
technology, and health leadership.
Each year, the Arab Hospitals Federation (AHF) grants awards for
distinguished personalities and hospitals that have made outstanding
achievements and contribution to advance the health sector in the Arab
world, provide patient centered safe care and high quality services for
lower cost to all the Arab citizens.
The recognition awards were distributed during the opening
ceremony in front of a high-level audience, starting with distinguished
personalities. The ceremony announced that the Excellence Award for
Safety and Patient Centered Care was granted to Dr. al-Sa’eedi,
Minister of Health.
Princess Ghida al-Talal, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at
King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center (KHCF) was awarded the
Arab Woman Distinguished Award in Healthcare for 2018 and was
received by Zuhair al-Nsour, Jordanian Ambassador to the Sultanate.
The Arab Health Personality Award in Preventing Diseases was
granted to Dr. Jawad Awad, Palestinian Minister of Health whereas the
Pioneer Leadership Award in Healthcare for 2018 was to the late Dr.
Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director where his son Dr. Anas Fakhri
received on behalf of him, and Dr. Bahr Idriss al-Qasim, Sudanese
Federal Minister of Health was given the Leadership Award in
Supporting the Arab Healthcare Sector for 2018. The Excellence Award
for Health Improvement for 2018 was granted to Abdul-Rahman
Mohamed al-Owais, UAE Minister of Health.
The voting awards of the year 2018 for the best Arab Health
institutions were announced during the opening ceremony that
included five awards. Dubai Healthcare City in UAE was awarded the
Excellence Award in Public Private Partnership whereas the Excellence
Leadership Award in the Development of Arab Profession went to
Mouwasat Medical Services Company in KSA.
Moreover, Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar was granted
the Excellence Award in Health Operational Performance, and the
Excellence Award for Smart Hospitals was for King Abdullah bin
Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, KSA.
The Arab Pioneering Award in Specialized Medical Care went to
Obeid Specialized Hospital, KSA.
The honouring was followed by a Panel discussion on visions
and strategies in the Arab Ministers of Health to develop the healthcare
sector chaired by Prof. Tawfik Khoja, AHF General Secretary.
At the end of the ceremony, the chief guest of the event and
attendees toured the specialised health exhibition, It displayed the
latest services incorporated in the Arab hospitals, in addition to
pharmaceutical and health requirements.
The forum aimed at highlighting the need of all the stakeholders in
the Arab Healthcare sector to sit together and creating a cooperative
platform in which ideas can become tangible solutions.
AHDAF includes a two-day conference session with highly
selected presentations from all over the world, including interventions
by renowned experts and speakers addressing many subjects
including Visions and Strategies to develop healthcare sector,
Universal Health Coverage, Accreditation, Quality and Safety,
Leadership and Talent Management, Healthcare Technology
Management, and Health Tourism.
Source: Oman News Agency