The Punjab Healthcare Commission and UNICEF will collaborate in establishing maternity and obstetrics centres of excellence in the province, where the Minimum Service Delivery Standards will be implemented besides imparting training to the medics.
The areas of cooperation will also include standardisation of the healthcare establishments (HCEs), monitoring of the centres of excellence, and introducing performance audit.
The PHC and UNICEF delegates reached the consensus at a Meeting held recently. The UNICEF delegation was led by Dr. Ted Babe, Health Specialist UNICEF, while Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Chief Operating Officer PHC and headed the Commission’s senior management. The UNICEF delegation comprised MNCH Specialist Dr. Samia Rizwan, Health Specialist ROSA Dr. Sufang Guo and MNCH Officer Dr. Naila Shahid. The PHC senior management included Director Clinical Governance and Organisational Standards Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Salariya, Director Licensing & Accreditation Dr. Muhammad Anwar Janjua and Additional Director Quality Assurance Dr. Qamar Salman.
Dr. Ted Babe said Pakistan had been successful in reducing the child mortality rate because of the organisations like the PHC. While applauding the PHC, Dr. Samia said the Commission was a pride of the country, and the UNICEF intended to align itself with the PHC efforts. Dr. Mushtaq briefed the delegation about the MSDS, developed by the PHC for various kinds of HCEs.
Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan was of the view that now the major problem was the sustainability of the reforms for which a system should be in place by using the modern technology. He underlined the need for ensuring quality healthcare services through capacity-building. The PHC is a neutral autonomous statutory body mandated to develop and ensure implementation of the MSDS. Continuous quality improvement is an integral part of the MSDS. The Commission kept the health department informed about inspections, and shared information and the PHC was looking forward to work with the UNICEF.
