NHRA seeks international healthcare accreditation

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) has announced that it will start the procedures for seeking international accreditation. It is part of NHRA’s mission to improve healthcare services after the success of the national accreditation programme for hospitals and medical centres.

NHRA Chief Executive Dr Maryam Athbi Al Jalahma said: “The Authority has begun its efforts to obtain international accreditation from the ISQUA External Evaluation Association (IEEA). This association provides external assessment and accreditation services in the field of health and social care and the development of standards worldwide through its three international accreditation programmes.”

Dr Al Jalahma explained that NHRA has contracted with MB3 Healthcare Ltd, which has a long experience in the field of healthcare accreditation and a great record in supporting many organisations in their aim to obtain international quality standards. NHRA will review and update the standards in accordance with regulations and laws, international best practices and special principles for developing health and social care standards.

Dr Al Jalahma added: “In line with our mission and vision, NHRA has continued the process of evaluating the performance of health institutions since the implementation of the national accreditation programme. Currently, we have succeeded in accrediting 17 hospitals and 24 medical centres. “The analysis of hospital accreditation standards revealed many areas of improvement for the Authority to help healthcare facilities obtain and maintain accreditation, and thus continuous improvement of the quality of services provided in the health care sector in the Kingdom.”