Medical Education Centre for Research, Innovation and Training (MECRIT) and Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) is initiating the Fourth International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences starting from November 9. This year, the theme of the program is “Improving Quality and Patient Safety in Health Care”.
The main objective for holding the conference is to gather the researchers, academicians, clinicians, public health specialists and different health professionals to share their research and experiences in order to enrich their knowledge and learn about the new developments in the health sectors.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Chief Justice, Lyonpo Tshering Wangchuk in the presence of Health Minister, Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo as the guest of honor. He addressed the conference enthusiastically expressing his expectation for such an intellectual, stimulating, necessary and useful conference being initiated. He said, “The conference will certainly provide a platform for our health professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills, get insights into new developments and create a learning network which will facilitate in strengthening health care services in our country.” He added that the health is a tangible reality that directly affects the lives of individual, family and the nation at large.
Public health systems around the globe are operating in a huge and constantly changing dimension. At such a point of time, it is important to learn and discover for the wellbeing of the people
“The necessity for quality and safety improvement initiatives permeate healthcare” added the Lyonpo .Hence, the conference will provide a platform to acquire such knowledge and learn about the latest developments.
Bhutan has shown a significant development and progress in the health care services over the decades. However, the president of KGUMSB, Kinzang P. Tshering said that the nation is still behind the global standards. Thus, such conferences are necessary for discussion and development to upgrade the services from the health sectors to reach the standards of the world. Moreover, he added that the time has come to go from volume to value, that is to improve the quality of health services through the perspective of patient keeping them as the center who needs the care.
The conference will provide various workshop on medical errors, Zhinay (mindfulness-traditional approach), Ethical dilemma in health research in low income countries, Holistic Medical Education, and Adult and Neonatal Resuscitation. The conference will be opened for discussions to improve the health facilities and share knowledge among the professionals.
President Kinzang P. Tshering said, “These things will only be possible when we are conscious about the quality of the care and put patient in the center of our planning and service promotion, making health care safer with better outcome.”
The ceremony followed with the release of University Annual Report, Traditional Medicine Anatomy Book, Bhutan Health Journal and Conference abstract booklet.
On the keynotes addressed by former chief executive officer of Healthcare Accreditation Institute, Dr. Anuwat Supachutikul, talked about improving the health system with four transformation agendas as follows;
Review of daily activities
Qualitative Management System
Standard Guided Qualitative Management Systems
Performance excellence
In addition, he said, “the basic transformation are the ways of thinking, communicating and treating each other with care.”
The conference is organized in collaboration with Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, mainly the teaching hospital with the support from United Nation International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organizations (WHO) and Ministry of Health (MoH).
By Kinley Wangchuk