WHO, World Bank and the OECD have called on countries to develop a national quality policy and strategy. In response to this call, the WHO Regional Office for Africa along with the Integrated Health Services (formerly Service Delivery and Safety) Department at WHO HQ, organized a three-day regional workshop to strengthen the capacity of Ministries of Health in setting their national directions on quality. Representatives from eight countries gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe on 27-30 August to undertake a detailed examination and gain an in-depth understanding of each of the essential elements of the WHO national quality policy and strategy process.
The moment allowed for sharing of country experiences on national approaches, providing a mutual support forum to collectively develop solutions and troubleshoot challenges. Countries at the workshop have committed to improve quality across the health system through articulated roadmaps, aligned with broader efforts on national health sector strategic planning and UHC.