The Health Accreditation and Oversight Authority and the Mental Health Secretariat discuss ways to enhance cooperation

Egypt is witnessing an increasing interest in developing thehealthcare systemto ensure the provision of safe and effective medical services to all citizens. The quality of health care and patient safety are considered among the country’s main priorities, as they are closely linked to achieving comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on enhancing the capabilities of health facilities and applying modern standards that raise the level of services provided.

With increasing awareness of the importance of mental health as it is an integral part of public health, the state’s efforts are also moving towards providing an integrated therapeutic environment that meets the psychological and mental needs of citizens. This trend comes within a comprehensive vision to enhance prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, which contributes to improving the quality of life and building a healthy and stable society.

Enhancing cooperation between the Authority and the Ministry of Health

In this context, the General Authority for Health Accreditation and Control “GAHAR”, headed by Dr. Ahmed Taha, held an expanded meeting with the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment at the Ministry of Health and Population. To discuss mechanisms for accelerating the accreditation of mental health facilities and developing standards regulating their work, ensuring the provision of safe and integrated therapeutic and rehabilitative services to patients.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ayman Abbas, Head of the Central Administration of the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment at the Ministry of Health and Population, where ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides to qualify health facilities to obtain accreditation according to the standards issued by “Jahar” were reviewed.

Technical support and training programs

Work plans and technical support, training and institutional evaluation programs were also discussed, which aim to rehabilitate health facilities and meet accreditation requirements, thus contributing to raising the efficiency of the services provided and achieving the highest levels of quality and safety for those who visit the facilities.

The head of the authority stressed that developing the quality of mental health services represents one of the important axes in the path of developing the health system in Egypt, noting that accrediting health facilities is the most effective tool for ensuring adherence to quality and patient safety standards and improving the level of health services provided to citizens.

Accelerating accreditation procedures and developing standards

Dr. Ahmed Taha explained that the Authority is working in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population to accelerate the procedures for registering and accrediting hospitals and mental health centers, while providing the necessary technical and training support to help them implement quality standards, which contributes to improving the experience of service recipients, ensuring the protection of patients’ rights, and enhancing citizens’ confidence in the psychological care system in Egypt.

Dr. Ahmed Taha indicated that the Authority was keen to issue specialized quality standards for mental health services in accordance with the latest international practices, while working to develop them continuously to keep pace with changing health and psychological challenges, in a way that enhances the quality of care provided and preserves patients’ dignity and rights.

Accreditation of addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers

In a related context, the head of the authority stressed that efforts to develop standards also extend to addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers, given the pivotal role these centers represent in confronting the challenges of addiction, noting that accrediting these centers according to precise scientific standards contributes to ensuring the provision of integrated and safe treatment and rehabilitation services and enhancing the chances of recovery and community reintegration for patients.

He added that providing integrated health care for mental health patients requires applying a precise system of quality standards that ensure integration between the psychological, physical and social aspects of treatment, while achieving effective coordination between different specialties in a way that contributes to improving therapeutic outcomes for patients.

Supporting facilities in comprehensive health insurance governorates

Dr. Ahmed Taha stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to support mental health facilities in the governorates of the second phase of the comprehensive health insurance system, while working to enhance the culture of quality and patient safety within health facilities, as an essential part of the daily professional practice of health service providers.

He pointed out that developing mental health services represents one of the important pillars in building an integrated health system capable of meeting the needs of citizens, as well as improving the quality of mental health services that contributes to enhancing societal stability and raising the quality of life, and supports the state’s efforts in building a society that enjoys physical and psychological health.

Facilities Accreditation and Awareness Initiatives Plan

For his part, Dr. Ayman Abbas, Head of the Central Administration of the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, stressed the administration’s keenness to raise the level of mental health services in Egypt, explaining that accreditation of health facilities represents an essential tool for ensuring the quality of health care and improving the work environment within health facilities.

He pointed out that the plan to accredit mental health facilities includes a number of vital hospitals in the governorates of Port Said, Cairo, Alexandria, Sohag, Sharkia, Minya, and Damietta, pointing out that the Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Hospital in Port Said has already succeeded in obtaining the accreditation certificate from the General Authority for Accreditation and Health Control, with work continuing to accredit the remaining facilities according to a specific timetable.

He added that cooperation with GAHAR through technical support programs, training, and awareness campaigns contributes to enhancing the culture of quality within mental health facilities, and consolidating the concept that the Authority represents a supportive partner for developing performance and improving the quality of services provided to patients.

In conclusion,The Earth Guards Foundation confirms that the efforts of the General Authority for Health Accreditation and Supervision and the Ministry of Health in accrediting and developing mental health facilities highlight the state’s commitment to raising the quality of services and ensuring the safety of patients, in order to achieve the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), good health and well-being, and enhance the tenth goal, reducing inequalities, by providing equal services to all Citizens.

You also see that accrediting facilities and improving the work environment for health workers contributes to enhancing professionalism and trust between the community and service providers, and is linked to the eighth goal, decent work and economic growth, and the eleventh goal, sustainable cities and local communities, which makes these efforts a comprehensive investment in individual health and community stability for current and future generations.