A cooperation protocol for a professional diploma to prepare and graduate qualified cadres to provide health care services between Ain Shams University and the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation

Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Ahmed Taha, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation, signed a cooperation protocol to grant a professional diploma to graduate qualified cadres to provide healthcare services, in the presence of Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, Prof. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Tarek Youssef, Executive Director of Ain Shams University Hospitals, Prof. Sahar Moussa, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Prof. Dalia Al-Qurashi, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, and the Vice Deans of the faculties and Hospital Directors.

The protocol aims to prepare and graduate qualified human cadres to provide safe, high-quality healthcare services by the accreditation standards issued by the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation and internationally accredited by the International Society for Healthcare Quality (ESCWA). This is done by preparing the Egyptian program GAHAR EGY-CAP (specialist) accredited in qualifying health care facilities for accreditation to qualify trainees on how to apply the health care accreditation standards issued by the Authority.

The professional diploma is also one of the requirements necessary to apply for the GAHAR EGY-CAP test, as the student who passes the scientific and practical tests is awarded a professional diploma certificate presented by Ain Shams University and approved by the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities by the applicable systems and regulations. This certificate is considered one of the requirements necessary to apply for the GAHAR test. EGY-CAP.

Following the signing of the protocol, a symposium was held entitled The Authority’s Role under the Comprehensive Health Insurance System.

Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, confirmed that the cooperation protocol is a step forward in the file of developing health care at Ain Shams University Hospitals, pointing out that the university is taking pioneering steps towards enhancing the quality of medical services, as it pays great attention to the accreditation of its hospitals and commitment to quality and accreditation, and the university also seeks to improve patient experience and enhance the position of university hospitals as a leading center in the field of health care at the local, regional and international levels.

Prof. Ahmed Taha, Chairman of the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation, pointed out that providing the medical sector with qualified human cadres to apply quality from technicians and experts in various fields of medical service has become an urgent necessity so that the dream of health facilities from all sectors of the health system obtaining GAHAR accreditation can be realized. This will contribute significantly to accelerating the pace of implementation of the comprehensive health insurance system, appreciating the great position of Ain Shams University hospitals and centers in the health system and in promoting scientific research in medicine. He continued that the Health Accreditation and Control Authority has launched the GAHAR EGY-CAP certificate as the first specialized certificate accredited by The Egyptian Health Council prepares and graduates specialists in qualifying health facilities for accreditation according to GAHAR standards, while Prof. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, explained that the mission of Ain Shams University Hospitals is to provide integrated, advanced, and safe health care accessible to all, taking into account quality standards, and to provide distinguished educational, research, and training services that are compatible with professional ethics, the health of workers, society, and the environment.

He also confirmed that some Ain Shams University hospitals had obtained accreditation, such as Women’s Hospital, which obtained Foundation level accreditation in the previous accreditation program in 2015, as well as the Cardiothoracic Surgery Hospital obtaining Basic level accreditation in the previous accreditation program in 2017, in addition, Al Batinah Hospital obtained Basic level accreditation in the previous accreditation program in 2018.

Prof. Tarek Youssef, Executive Director of Ain Shams University Hospitals, explained that Ain Shams University Hospitals received, according to statistics for the year 2022-2023, about 2 million patients annually, and the total number of patients attending emergency departments reached 194,440 patients, while the total number of visitors to outpatient clinics reached 502,005 patients. The total number of admissions to internal departments reached 121,850 patients, the total number of surgical operations reached 27,800, and the total number of endoscopies reached 9,170.

Following the symposium, the attendees visited the geriatric hospital and the surgical hospital.