15 Sep 2011
The 28th international conference of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) with the theme "Patient safety: Sustaining the Global Momentum" was officially opened in Hong Kong today (September 15). Some 2,000 delegates from around the world from a wide variety of background including policy makers, regulators, accreditors, quality improvement leaders, innovators and researchers, health care professionals, hospital managers attended the Hong Kong conference. The theme carries the notion that patient safety is a global initiative extending throughout the entire continuum of health care and is in line with World Health Organization's call for global learning in health care safety.
The prestigious conference is staged for the first time in Asia. In addition to talks and presentations, there will also be workshops, site visits and a trade exhibition. It is jointly organised by ISQua and the Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR Government. The opening ceremony today was officiated by the Honorable Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chief Secretary for Administration, and attended by Ma Xiaowei, Chinese Vice Minister of Health, and Dr York Chow, the Secretary for Food and Health. It will last until September 17.
"We are pleased with the record attendance and the extra-ordinary support we have received in Hong Kong by the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and the Hong Kong Government. We expect the health and safety knowledge we will be sharing among all the local and international delegates will enable all of us to continue improving health care for those we serve." Mr Philip Hassen, the President of ISQua, said.
The Director of Health Dr PY Lam, conference co-chair, said the conference would provide a forum to share experiences on health care safety and quality, and to interact with experts and leaders in the field.
"I am confident that the conference will bring about improved patient safety in Hong Kong," Dr Lam said.
ISQua is the world's leading independent, non-government organisation which works on quality practice and performance improvement across the entire continuum of health care worldwide. ISQua has accredited many globally renowned health care accreditation organisations including the Australian Council on Health care Standards, which is the accrediting agent for the Pilot Scheme on Hospital Accreditation in Hong Kong.