SQHN begins accreditation of healthcare facilities’ standards

The Society for Quality Healthcare In Nigeria (SQHN) has started accreditation of healthcare facilities nationwide to ensure quality healthcare service delivery in the country.

Dr Olujimi Coker, Chairman of the Accreditation Committee, made the disclosure during the official virtual launch of SQHN standards and standards guidebook for health facilities recently in Lagos.

Coker said that accreditation of health facilities in Nigeria became necessary in order to strengthen public confidence in the healthcare institutions, to checkmate medical tourism.

He said the accreditation was aimed at enhancing the quality, growth and development of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

According to him, one of the constant complaints of people is the low standard of healthcare service delivery in hospitals nationwide.

He explained that SQHN standard was one of the standards approved by the International Society for Quality in healthcare (ISQua).

According to him, , SQHN is the first in Nigeria to attain such status, making Nigeria the first in West Africa to have hospital standards’ accredited by ISQua.

ISQua is an international body which grants approval to Accreditation Bodies in the area of healthcare to promote uniformity of accreditation programme of member countries.

Coker said the standards that were developed comprised Patient-centred standards, Organisation-centred standards and Maternal and Child health standards.

“Quality healthcare should be everyone’s business.

“For three years (2014 – 2017), lots of works were done to collate international and local standards with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international bodies.

“Emphasis are on patient safety, improving clinical outcomes, client satisfaction, medical management and diagnostic services.

“The goal is to have all health organisations,/institutions strive to achieve and comply with these standards for quality healthcare delivery,” he said.

Speaking, Dr Ajibike Oyewumi, the Clinical Director of Lagoon Hospital, Lagos, said there was need for proper understanding of the components of the standards to be able to achieve and comply with it.

Unveiling the SQHN Standards and Standards Guidebook, Oyewumi urged health facilities and organisations to embrace it.

According to her, the standards are useful and applicable to all facilities for healthcare professionals wanting to deliver quality healthcare services and promote patient safety.

“The standards are designed to be applied to all forms of healthcare facilities, including but not limited to hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, primary and secondary healthcare institutions.

“The standards will guide efficient and effective management of a healthcare organisation; guide the organisation in delivery of patient care services and efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of those services.

“It will enhance the growth and development of healthcare organisation, assures on the currency of their practices and promote a sustainable state of wellbeing.

“Of course, where there are no standards; there is no measurement and there is no efficiency. It is important that we deliver quality healthcare services to our people,” Oyewumi said.

Oyewumi explained that the size, structure and scope of practice of a health facility were the determinants of the cost for its accreditation, urging health organisations to go for their accreditation.

Dr Oseji Mininim, National President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) called for collaboration and support of all in the implementation of the standards.

Mininim said the motive was to make quality healthcare services realisable in Nigeria.

“We hope for your support in the implementation of these standards. We enjoin everyone to get a copy of the standard guidebook to fully understand what the standards entail.

“Let more health facilities be accredited; because having many accredited hospitals will go a long way to curb outdoor medical tourism,” she said.