(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The National Health Strategy (NHS) 2011-2016 is 61% complete, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Abdulla bin Khalid al-Qahtani announced yesterday at the annual forum of NHS.
"The NHS has focused on the need for integrated care in the public heath sector of Qatar," he explained in the keynote speech at the event with the theme "Together for Integrated Healthcare."
"The future of healthcare delivery in Qatar is through strong co-ordination," stated the Minister while stressing the idea of integration by quoting the World Health Organisation's definition of integrated care.
"Integrated care is a concept bringing together inputs, delivery, management and organisation of services related to diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation and health promotion. Integration is a means to improve services in relation to access, quality, user satisfaction and efficiency," al-Qahtani pointed out.
"The NHS stands at 61% complete, a giant step forward from last year. To deliver a comprehensive, world-class, health system is a great endeavour. But it is the goal to which we are all committed, and towards which we are all moving."
The minister also highlighted that the e-health project will bring all the partners closer together.
"Hospital configuration and quality policies are showing the importance of working together; we must move beyond artificial boundaries between providers. But above all, there must be a dialogue between colleagues, organisations, and with patients and the public. We must listen, capitalise on the interest and enthusiasm of the patients and public , make the public part of the health system," he emphasised.
During the forum, two international speakers from New Zealand highlighted the benefits of integrated healthcare by explaining their model of operation in their respective provinces. David Meats, chief executive of the Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards explained the process undertaken in the Christchurch community to develop robust integrated care partnerships at local level.
Benedict Hefford, director of Primary and Community Services at Counties Manakau, Health New Zealand, outlined their proactive care planning and co-ordination programme which uses an innovative validated stratification tool to identify every patient's relative risk of unplanned hospital admission.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion in which representatives of all the major public health organisations discussed ways to integrate the services and make it patient-centred.
"We have the tools, we have a plan, and we are sticking to it. Every year, it will be hard, and will get harder, but there is proof that we are making progress. So now we must take advantage of every opportunity to make things easier; integration, communication, technology are the keys," added al-Qahtani.
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