Conference Title: Patient Safety
Date: 06 February, 2017

A one day international conference on “Patient Safety” with the theme “What can go wrong and how?” was organized by Fazaia Medical College, Air University Islamabad on 06th February, 2017. It was followed by workshop on “Designing Reliable Health Care System in Pakistan on 07th February, 2017. The conference aimed at developing essentially required awareness and understanding of the mechanism that can enable the participants in designing reliable heath care processes that deliver safe and required quality outcomes.
The keynote speaker for workshop was Prof. Dr. Paul Barach from USA. He is an international leader of Patient Safety, quality improvement and system change. He stressed the idea of developing systems according to context. He also discussed the similarities between patient care and Aviation Safety and why this is high time for patient care providers to learn lessons from Aviation Safety.
The Chief Guest for the international Conference was Lieutenant General Asif Mumtaz Sukhera HI(M), Surgeon General of Pakistan. He elaborated the administrative heath care challenges and steps that are being taken to overcome those challenges. Other speakers included Prof. Dr. Salman Ahmed Tipu, Professor of surgery at Al-Nafees Medical College, ISRA University Islamabad. He highlighted the background of informed consent with regards to National Bioethical Committee. Prof, Dr. Matti Ur Rehman, Principal and Director Riphah Health Care Improvement and Safety, emphasized the different strategies for Patient Safety. Dr. Ali Raza, working as Clinical Coordinator at Zhara Beau Naqvi Foundation Welfare Trust Islamabad, shared various perspectives regarding Patient Safety related to new born screening programs in Pakistan. Mr. Samee Ur Rehman, M.D World Institute of Safety and Health, emphasized effective safety and health programs to reduce work related injuries and illness. Dr. Waqar Hussain, General Manager, MEDINOSTIC Health Care, advocated the issues of Patient Safety by developing centers of simulation medicine.

Workshop Title: Designing reliable healthcare that delivers safe and high quality outcomes
Date: 07 February, 2017
Facilitator: Prof. Dr. Paul Barach

The conference was followed by a workshop, attended by 50 participants from Pakistan: Army, Navy and Air Force, local and other faculties. These included Physicians, Social Scientists, Paramedical Staff and Nurses. It was a hands on workshop on Health Care Systems, detection of their flaws and management of various issues by designing robust heath care systems and policies.

Concluding Session

Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar on Tuesday 07th February, 2017 while addressing the concluding session appreciated the efforts of the organizers of this conference which was aimed at creating awareness and provided a platform for the stake holders to come up with standards of quality and Patient Safety in health care at national level.