Azlan Othman
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar commended Pengkalan Batu Health Centre on its second accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI), with the Gold Seal of Approval Award for standards of basic healthcare.
During a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony at the Pengkalan Batu Health Centre yesterday, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham expressed hope that the accreditation would serve as a benchmark and incentive for government health centres and hospitals, in striving to provide safe and high-quality health services.
“Therefore, it is hoped that the Pengkalan Batu Health Centre will be able to share its experiences and knowledge with other health centres, on the process of achieving this accreditation,” he said.
He added, “In 2017, the Pengkalan Batu Health Centre was accredited by the JCI, also making it the first government health centre in Brunei Darussalam to be recognised. To maintain the standards of the facility and to ensure safety and quality of treatment is always given priority, JCI will renew its recognition every three years.
“On November 13, 2020, the Pengkalan Batu Health Centre underwent another evaluation process. In the process of achieving JCI accreditation, I understand there are 158 standards that need to be adhered to, which are comprehensive and covering all aspects of health services.
“These include patient safety, community involvement, clinical procedures, patient clinical outcomes, medicine use and management, infection prevention and control, quality improvement, staff education and competencies, as well as health and safety facilities management.
“All these aspects have been evaluated by JCI, and Alhamdulillah, this health centre has successfully met the required standards. The achievement of the JCI accreditation is also in line with the mission of the Ministry of Health (MoH), which is to provide high-quality, comprehensive, effective, efficient, responsive, fair and easily accessible healthcare system for all in the country.”
Earlier, Acting Director of Health Services at the MoH Dr Hajah Rafidah binti Haji Gharif delivered a speech, in the presence of Permanent Secretary at the MoH Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Management) at the MoH Haji Maswadi bin Haji Mohsin as well as officers and staff from the ministry.
JCI is a world-renowned organisation that recognises accreditation for international health facilities which prioritise patient safety and provide high-quality healthcare.
JCI accreditation is a gold standard for health facilities, where obtaining the recognition means that an institution has successfully undergone a strict evaluation process and met performance standards, in addition to high eligibility criteria in relation to the safety and quality of treatment.
The accreditation also indicates the dedication of an institution in improving the quality and safety of healthcare. Undergoing the JCI accreditation assessment is intended to foster a culture of safety and quality in basic care centres, while also providing assurance that the employed standards, processes and training are at the highest international benchmark.