Tripoli, 23 May 2023 – WHO has just launched the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative in Libya. A total of 21 patient safety coordinators from public hospitals attended a one-week workshop in Tripoli from 13 to 17 May 2023 to learn about quality health care, infection prevention and control, and international patient safety standards. The workshop was funded using a generous contribution from USAID. 

Dr Sofyan Al-Khitouni, the Director of the Quality Control Directorate at the Ministry of Health, said that patient safety was a vital component of quality health care services. “Patient safety requires the involvement of a wide range of specialists, from hospital managers to doctors, nurses and pharmacists, as well as patients themselves. It also requires close cooperation with the legislative bodies responsible for setting public health policies. The Ministry is working closely with WHO to introduce this initiative across the country.” 

Ms Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO Representative in Libya said that this was the first workshop of its kind in Libya. “WHO’s ultimate goal is to improve the safety and quality of health care and help the Ministry set standards that ensure that patients, their families and health care workers are safe and protected from avoidable infection.”  

WHO plans to hold similar workshops in east and south Libya later this year. It will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to support the introduction of rigorous patient safety standards throughout the country.