Qatif Health Center wins second place in the Kingdom for pharmaceutical innovations – IHOP7
The Qatif Health Network achieved a significant national accomplishment, adding to the Eastern Province's record of successes in the health sector, by securing second place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the finals of the 7th Innovative Visions for Hospital Pharmacy Practices Conference (IHOP7). This important event, organized by the Ministry of Health in Riyadh, recognized the ongoing and dedicated efforts to develop the pharmaceutical care system and enhance the quality of services provided to patients.
Details of the winning project: From the gap to leadership
This well-deserved recognition came through the network's Pharmaceutical Affairs Department, which participated with a strategic improvement project entitled "From the Gap to Leadership: Smart Transformation in Pharmaceutical Planning and Sustainability." The project outperformed strong competitors from ten major healthcare sectors that qualified for the finals, reflecting the strength of the scientific and practical methodology employed by the network.
The context of health transformation and Vision 2030
This achievement cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the transformation underway in the Kingdom's healthcare sector. This project aligns perfectly with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, one of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programs, which focuses on promoting public health and disease prevention, facilitating access to healthcare services, and improving the quality and efficiency of those services. The shift from traditional methods of managing pharmaceutical inventory to smart systems is a cornerstone of the Ministry's strategy to ensure pharmaceutical security and enhance spending efficiency.
Work methodology and operational impact
The winning project was based on a meticulous methodology developed over three years, focusing primarily on optimal strategic planning for pharmaceutical inventory. This methodology included implementing precise and continuous performance monitoring mechanisms (KPIs) to ensure the uninterrupted availability of medications for patients. This initiative yielded tangible results, most notably:
- Reducing Zero Stock Items: The network succeeded in reducing the percentage of unavailable drugs (Zero Stock) by a very high percentage, which ended the suffering of patients in searching for drugs and ensured that they received treatment plans in a timely manner.
- Increased beneficiary satisfaction: The smart transformation has contributed to a remarkable increase in satisfaction rates according to the globally recognized “Press Ganey” index, which is the gold standard for measuring patient experience.
- Spending efficiency: The project has enhanced financial spending efficiency through a precise balance between the average purchase value and the number of available drug items, thus reducing drug waste.
Strategic importance and exemplary model
This event holds significant importance that extends far beyond the local scope of the Qatif network; it represents a model applicable to various healthcare clusters across the Kingdom and the region. The network's success in intelligently managing pharmaceutical supply chains contributes to strengthening national health security and provides a roadmap for other healthcare facilities to improve patient experience and reduce operational costs. These results garnered widespread praise from the conference's judging panels and experts, who affirmed that the Qatif experience represents an inspiring success story in pharmaceutical resource management.
