Review of the Quality Assurance Program of Colombo District, Sri Lanka: A Reflective Writing

Abstract

Quality Assurance (QA) in health care is to maintain a high quality health care services, through monitoring of its’ the effectiveness. The QA program of Divisional Hospitals, Primary Medical Care units and Medical Officer of Health (MOH) units are monitored at the RDHS level.  Likewise, RDHS of Colombo district is responsible for all the above stated institutions in Colombo district.

All the above institutions have started 5S concept upto a certain extent. Work performance, clinic services, disease surveillance, supply chain management, health information system, performance reviews of MOH Units are functioning very satisfactorily. Even though the Out patient services, emergency services, Inpatient services, Supply chain management, diagnostic services, waste management, utility services are functioning well, there are significant deficiencies in every aspect in curative care settings.

I was satisfied about the achievements of preventive setting with regard to QA while I am not happy about the QA of curative care settings.

QA of curative care institutions are not up to the expected standards. It is  mainly due to poor leadership competencies and commitment of managers, mal - functioning of the Quality Management Unit of the RDHS office, inadequate supervision and performance reviews.

Monitoring of curative care institutions by the directorate of Primary Care Services is also not satisfactory, while monitoring of preventive care institutions by National Programs is substantially high, which has resulted in high QA in preventive sector.

It is recommended to strengthen the functions of the QMU of the RDHS unit; to introduce monthly institutional meetings; to perform quarterly review meetings at RDHS office, strengthening health information system, training of the staff, increase the number of supervisory visits by RDHS and performance appraisal and recognition of good work.