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The Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) has called for the establishment and strengthening of active Quality Improvement (QI) Programmes in all health facilities across the country.
MQHZ Director General, Dr. Quincy Mwabu, said many health facilities do not have active QI programmes despite Government policy recognizing quality healthcare as a cornerstone of an effective health system.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, Mwabu said the gap continued to affect patient safety, service delivery, and health outcomes in hospitals, health centres, and clinics.
He explained that Quality Improvement Programmes helped facilities to identify service delivery challenges and monitor performance.
“Quality Improvement Programmes enable health facilities to identify service delivery challenges, implement practical solutions, monitor performance, and continuously improve the quality of care,” Mwabu said.
He noted that in many facilities, Quality Improvement Committees were either inactive or not adequately supported to perform their functions.
“However, in many facilities, Quality Improvement Committees are either inactive or not adequately supported to perform their functions. This undermines efforts to provide safe, effective, and patient-centred healthcare,” Mwabu stated.
Mwabu said functional QI programmes should include trained personnel, regular clinical audits, patient feedback mechanisms, and continuous monitoring of quality indicators.
As Government works toward Universal Health Coverage, Mwabu urged key players in the health sector to prioritize quality improvement.
“As we support Government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving healthcare services, we urge the Ministry of Health, health facility managers, professional bodies, and cooperating partners to prioritize the establishment and strengthening of active Quality Improvement Programmes in all health facilities,” he noted.
“Every Zambian deserves healthcare that meets specific standards. Every Zambian deserves healthcare that is safe, timely, effective, respectful, and of the highest possible quality,” Mwabu added.
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