Amman, Nov. 25 (Petra) – Under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and in the presence of Princess Muna Al Hussein representing His Majesty, the eighth Healthcare Quality Conference and Exhibition opened on Tuesday in Amman, organized by the Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC).
The opening was attended by several princes, representatives of health bodies, international organizations, and experts from Jordan, the Eastern Mediterranean region and beyond, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to boosting the quality of health services and strengthening its standing as a regional hub for knowledge and innovation.
The conference’s keynote speaker, Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite, founding director of the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University and former ISQua president, presented his vision for the future of health systems and for advancing quality and safety, drawing on extensive academic experience that includes more than 900 publications and 17 books.
During the opening session, HCAC vice chair, Dr. Ruwaida Al Maaitah, stressed the importance of the conference and the council’s role in promoting a culture of quality and patient safety.
Conference president Reem Abu Hassan highlighted the significance of the scientific program, which covers innovation, digital transformation and challenges facing regional healthcare systems.
The event brings together more than 40 speakers from 15 countries, with participants from several Arab and regional states, including Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Sudan, Turkey and Syria, reflecting its role as a leading platform for cooperation and knowledge exchange.
The conference is convened in cooperation with the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), marking its first expanded regional presence, giving the event a global knowledge dimension.
More than 1,000 participants are attending to exchange expertise under the theme "Patients Always at the Heart," through specialized scientific sessions on quality of care, digital health, artificial intelligence, patient safety and accreditation systems.
The conference includes specialized scientific sessions, continuing professional development workshops, an exhibition featuring health-sector institutions and companies, and a scientific poster competition showcasing quality improvement initiatives.
Fawzi Al Hammouri, president of the Private Hospitals Association and CEO of the "Health for Gaza" initiative, moderated the first session, titled "Health Sector Resilience and Safe Care in Conflict Zones," stressing the importance of protecting the health sector under international law.
He noted that the Geneva Conventions and UN Security Council Resolution 2286 guarantee the protection of health facilities and workers.
He said Gaza’s health sector had witnessed an unprecedented level of violations over the past two years, with more than 1,700 health personnel killed and around 360 detained, while 25 of 38 hospitals went out of service due to 825 attacks, alongside restrictions on the entry of medicines and medical supplies.
The conference concludes on Wednesday with the announcement of key recommendations and outcomes supporting the development of health systems in Jordan and the Eastern Mediterranean region and the advancement of service quality and patient safety.
//Petra// AF
