Annual Quality Enhancement Gathering Held in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Annual Quality Enhancement Gathering Held in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Quality Improvement Convention 2025, held on August 9 at the InterContinental Dhaka, brought together over 200 healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, students, and partners to discuss the future of healthcare quality in the country.

The Convention, organised by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and development partners, marked the start of a broader movement towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development. Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant (Health) to the Chief Advisor, Government of Bangladesh, served as the Chief Guest of the Convention.

The Convention highlighted several key outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen health care quality across the country. Notable outcomes included:

• Gaps in the National Quality Framework (NQF) enforcement: The Convention identified significant shortcomings in implementing the NQF, stressing the need for stronger enforcement of quality standards, increased resource investment, and prioritization of ongoing healthcare worker training to sustain quality improvements.
• Facility-level innovations: The establishment of Quality Improvement (QI) teams in health facilities, adoption of evidence-based methods like the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, enhanced documentation, and a focus on patient-centered care were highlighted.
• Patient safety and people-centered care: Building a robust safety culture focused on infection control, strict adherence to safety protocols, and active leadership engagement to maintain accountability and improve outcomes were emphasized.
• Health financing and public-private partnerships: There was a call for increased budget allocations to QI initiatives, better financial oversight, and stronger government-private sector collaboration to expand equitable access to quality health services.
• Capacity building: Continuous professional development and training for healthcare workers were seen as fundamental to empower staff, improve service delivery, and maintain quality gains.

Regarding future steps towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Convention's outcomes imply that these improvements in quality, financing, leadership, and capacity-building are critical enablers for progressing towards UHC by ensuring quality services are accessible and equitable.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Md. Zainal Abedin Tito, Line Director of Hospital Services Management at DGHS, emphasised that quality healthcare is a daily commitment rather than a destination. The Convention served as a national platform to review progress, share insights, and foster new collaborations in healthcare quality.

The Convention featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and presentations by 15 finalists showcasing innovative quality improvement initiatives. Eleven Quality Improvement Champions were honoured at the Convention from across the country.

Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman stated that quality healthcare requires connected systems, empowered people, and responsive leadership. Dr. Md. Sarwar Bari and Md. Saidur Rahman, Secretaries of Medical Education and Family Welfare, and Health Services Divisions respectively, were special guests at the Convention.

As the Convention concludes, it underscores that achieving UHC in Bangladesh requires addressing existing gaps in the National Quality Framework enforcement through resource mobilization, strengthening health system leadership, embedding QI practices at facility levels, and fostering multi-sector collaboration. These findings align with expert commentary stressing connected systems, empowered people, and responsive leadership as essential to sustaining quality in health care.

[1] Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) [2] Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

1. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) played a crucial role in organizing the Bangladesh Quality Improvement Convention 2025.
2. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) collaborated with DGHS and development partners for the Convention.
3. The Convention brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, students, and partners for a broader movement towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development.
4. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) was a key focus of the Convention, marking the start of a broader movement in Bangladesh.
5. The Convention served as a national platform to review progress, share insights, and foster new collaborations in healthcare quality.
6. The urgency of strengthening health care quality across the country was emphasized during the Convention.
7. A need for stronger enforcement of quality standards was identified in the National Quality Framework (NQF).
8. Increased resource investment and prioritization of ongoing healthcare worker training were highlighted to sustain quality improvements.
9. Quality Improvement (QI) teams in health facilities and adoption of evidence-based methods such as the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle were emphasized.
10. Enhanced documentation and a focus on patient-centered care were emphasized during the Convention.
11. Building a robust safety culture focused on infection control and strict adherence to safety protocols was stressed.
12. Active leadership engagement was essential to maintain accountability and improve outcomes, as noted during the Convention.
13. There was a call for increased budget allocations to Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives at the Convention.
14. Better financial oversight and stronger government-private sector collaboration were advocated to expand equitable access to quality health services.
15. Continuous professional development and training for healthcare workers were seen as essential to empower staff and maintain quality gains.
16. Acknowledging that quality healthcare is a daily commitment, Dr. Md. Zainal Abedin Tito emphasized the importance of the Convention for reviewing progress and fostering collaboration in healthcare quality.
17. Dr. Md. Md. Sarwar Bari and Md. Saidur Rahman were special guests at the Convention.
18. Eleven Quality Improvement Champions were honoured at the Convention from across the country.
19. Keynote speeches, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and presentations showcasing innovative quality improvement initiatives were featured at the Convention.
20. Achieving UHC in Bangladesh requires addressing existing gaps in the National Quality Framework enforcement through resource mobilization, as underscored by the Convention.
21. Strengthening health system leadership, embedding QI practices at facility levels, and fostering multi-sector collaboration are critical for addressing existing gaps in UHC in Bangladesh.
22. Connected systems, empowered people, and responsive leadership are essential to sustaining quality in health care, in line with expert commentary.
23. Mental health was discussed as an important aspect of sustainable development and universal health coverage, touching upon matters like stress management, anxiety, and depression.
24. Men's health and wellness was highlighted during the Convention, addressing issues like prostate cancer, cardiovascular health, and fitness and exercise.
25. Women's health was a significant topic at the Convention, with emphasis on reproductive health, maternal health, and women's rights to quality healthcare.
26. The importance of eye-health, hearing, skin-care, and other specialized health concerns was recognized during the Convention, influencing the role of therapies and treatments for various medical conditions.
27. The impact of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancer on Bangladesh's population was addressed, emphasizing the significance of nutrition and lifestyle choices.
28. Environmental science and climate change were topics discussed at the Convention, impacting factors like air pollution, water quality, and the environment's role in disease transmission.
29. Manufacturing, finance, energy, technology, and various industries collaborated with healthcare sectors during the Convention to drive innovations in health care, creating opportunities for investment and partnerships in health and wellness and other related sectors.

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