King Faisal Hospital re-accredited

The Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has accredited King Faisal Hospital Kigali for the second time prior to the expiry of the previous certification.

Monday, January 28, 2013
King Faisal Hospital, Kigali, has been given a fresh nod of approval by health service monitors. The New Times/ File

The Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has accredited King Faisal Hospital Kigali for the second time prior to the expiry of the previous certification.Dr David Nzanira, the facilitator of the accreditation process, said the hospital has been compliant to the policies and procedures of providing quality services in the region. "We have released the results of the accreditation process and the decision to issue the certificate is underway,” Nzanira said. He added that results show that the hospital has so far attained 97 per cent of the requirement. For a hospital to be accredited, it needs to meet at least 90 per cent.The certificate of the accreditation will be delivered in two months.COHSASA is a body that assists a range of healthcare facilities in Southern Africa to meet and maintain quality standards. It tasks healthcare professionals to measure themselves against the standards and monitor improvements using quality methods, internationally-accredited standards and a web-based information system.Providing lacking servicesThe preliminary results of the of the second accreditation were received by King Faisal Hospital’s acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Alex Butera.  Dr Butera said there is still need to work harder to provide services lacking in the hospital. "I convey my heartfelt gratitude and I applaud the government for supporting the hospital to improve its quality. We will endeavor to keep the quality of the services,” he explained. COHSASA defines quality accreditation as, "recognition by external expects, indicating that a health service facility substantially guarantees a quality service by complying with nationally and /or internationally agreed standards for quality health services.” In 2006, the hospital scored only 41 per cent, less than half of the 90 per cent minimum requirement for accreditation. However, the hospital made remarkable improvement in 2011, garnering 99 per cent to earn a two-year accreditation certificate.