|
Event
2nd International Healthcare Quality Conclave
New Delhi
September 12, 2008
Working towards their sole objective of promoting quality
and safety, Indian Health Care Quality Forum (IHCQF) organised second International
Health Care Quality Conclave in New Delhi.
The theme of the conclave was 'Enabling safety in Healthcare
Organisations' under which it covered topics like patient safety, healthcare
workers safety and environment safety. About 300 national and international
delegates participated in the conclave. . IHCQF witnessed a broad participation
from all parts of the healthcare system, including national, regional groups
representing public and private purchasers, physicians, hospitals, and other
healthcare providers, accrediting bodies, supporting industries and organisations
involved in healthcare research or quality improvement.
The conclave was organised by Indian Health Care Quality
Forum in partnership with Quality Council of India (QCI) and Joint Commission
International (JCI). A special highlight of the event was a special session
on healthcare safety under the aegis of 'Partners in Safety' campaign, a joint
initiative of IHCQF and Becton Dickinson (BD India). In this session, a panel
discussion was organised on the issue of healthcare worker safety. The focus
of the panel discussion was to create awareness on needle stick injuries among
healthcare workers and address the risk faced by them. This panel discussion
saw active participation from leading luminaries of the healthcare industry
like Dr Ajit Nagpal, Chairman, Governing Council, Batra Hospital, New Delhi;
Dr DK Sharma, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr Nita Munshi, Head, Infection Control, Ruby
Hall Clinic, Pune; Dr Sanjeev Singh, Senior Medical Administrator, Amritha Institute
of Medical Sciences, Kochi; Dr Suryanath Gudidevuni, Chief of Medical &
Information Services, Care Hospital, Hyderabad; Daljit Singh, President, Strategy
& Development, Fortis Healthcare; Dr Paul Chang, MD, JCI, Asia Pacific region,
Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Indraprastha Hospitals, New
Delhi and Dr P K Dave Chairman NABH. A handbook on healthcare safety was unveiled
by Ms Preetha Reddy, Managing Director Apollo Hospitals.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Y P Bhatia, Chairman, International
Quality Healthcare Forum said, "We are delighted to join hands with BD
India to promote healthcare workers safety and run 'Partners in Safety' campaign.
Needle-stick injuries have become a serious concern in our country and I request
all important stakeholders in healthcare delivery to participate in a non competitive
way towards ensuring safety in healthcare delivery, which is the common goal
of all."
BD India's MD Ram Sharma said, "Needle-stick injuries
are wounds caused by needles that accidentally puncture the skin. Needle-stick
injuries are a hazard for people who work with hypodermic syringes and other
needle equipment. These injuries can occur at any time when people use, disassemble,
or dispose of needles. When not disposed of properly, needles can become concealed
in linen or garbage and injure other workers who encounter them unexpectedly.
Owing to the nature of their occupation, healthcare workers are exposed to blood
borne infections including HIV due to injury through 'sharps,' such as needle-stick.
Healthcare worker safety is a crucial area of concern when needle stick injuries
are leading cause of workplace related injuries for healthcare workers."
Accidental punctures by contaminated needles can inject hazardous fluids into
the body through the skin. He further added, "Even small amounts of infectious
fluid can spread certain diseases effectively. Accidental injection of blood-borne
viruses is a major hazard of needle-stick injuries, especially the HIV virus,
hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The risk of transmission after exposure to HIV-infected
blood is about 0.3 per cent whereas it is estimated to be up to 100 times greater
for hepatitis B virus (30 per cent) and could be as high as 10 per cent for
hepatitis C virus.
EH News Bureau
|
