The Director General of the Executive Board of the GCC Health Ministers Council Dr. Tawfik Khoja said that it is possible that too much attention is being given to the swine flu (H1N1) virus, saying that it is a virus like others, such as dengue fever and tuberculosis. He also stated that there has been an increase in medical errors in the region. Khoja made the statements during a press conference held here Wednesday as part of the preparation for the Arab and Gulf Healthcare Quality and Safety Conference that will be held under the patronage of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, from Oct. 27-29 at the Hilton Hotel here, under the theme « Deep in the Challenges of Patient Safety ». “I think that the issue of swine flu has been given more attention than it really deserves,” Khoja said. He added that health officials usually work on the whole health system not on a single issue. “Swine flu is a virus like hundreds of other viruses, such as dengue fever and tuberculosis. We should not neglect all other health issues and concentrate on one disease no matter how acute it is,” Khoja said. Commenting on the conference, Khoja said that the meeting will be of great importance to everyone interested in improving the quality and safety of healthcare, including policy makers, hospital leaders, regulators, accreditation bodies, quality improvement organizations, managers, practitioners, providers and patients. He counted the reasons why the conference is to be held saying that it is necessary to become a part of the world patient safety movement by connecting with world experts and the world alliance for patient safety. “Moreover, it will help to sharpen the skills in patient safety solutions, risk management and evidence-based practice, through participation in the pre-conference workshops,” he added. He also added that another aim is to enhance communications and networking among delegates and leaders with world class experts in patient safety. “We also aim to stay updated with the latest regulatory and accreditation requirements as related to patient safety,” he explained. He added that we all need health care to be available in the nearest health center in every location in our countries. Dr. Khoja pointed out that the biggest challenge facing projects for patient safety is that related to medical errors. “Medical errors are increasing not only in Arab countries but in all the world. The GCC Health Ministers' Council has put this issue at the top of its list of quality priorities,” he said. In explaining why medical errors occur, he blamed the dependence on modern technolgy. He said that the world witnesses 230 million surgical operations every year, at a rate of one major operation for every 25 persons. “Medical interference depends mainly on human beings and sophisticated technological tools. Mistakes can be made causing serious damage,” he noted. He pointed out that medical errors are behind 44,000 to 98,000 deaths in the United States. This is, according to Khoja, more than the deaths caused by traffic accidents, breast cancer and AIDS. He added that a UK Health Adminstration report has found that medical errors occur in 10 percent of cases admitted to hospital, meaning that there are annually 85,000 cases affected by medical error. Khoja also highlighted the economic effect caused by such errors. “Studies estimate that the total cost of medical errors in the US is from $17billion to $29 billion. This clearly shows how important the issue really is,” he added. He hoped that the conference would bring out necessary recommendations that could help shape strategic plans to reinforce patient safety in the health system through scientific methods that can assist in enhancing health care services.
