<p>I<span style="text-align: justify;">n December 2022, the Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Karimabad, the Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Centre, Hyderabad, and the Aga Khan Medical Centre in Gilgit achieved a remarkable milestone by being the first hospitals in Pakistan to achieve the acclaimed SafeCare Level 5 certification. Today, we prou</span><span style="text-align: justify;">dly announce that two more hospitals in the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) network, the Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Garden, and the Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children, Kharadar, have now earned this prestigious certification. With this new accomplishment, all AKIUH Off-Campus Hospitals now proudly hold the distinction of being SafeCare Level 5 certified.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The SafeCare initiative, a collaborative endeavour between PharmAccess, Joint Commission International (JCI), and the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA), aims to elevate healthcare standards in low- and middle-income countries. It addresses the persistent challenge of limited access to high-quality care by incorporating internationally accredited standards and providing a rigorous framework for assessing and enhancing healthcare quality.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The evaluation process, conducted during the SafeCare audit from 15 to 16 August 2023, at the Aga Khan Hospital for Women Garden, and from 17 to 18 August 2023 at the Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children, Kharadar, meticulously tested the hospitals' compliance with the protocols aligned with SafeCare's patient care standards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A team of dedicated auditors thoroughly conducted the SafeCare assessment. At the Aga Khan Hospital, Garden, two on-site assessors and two online observers participated in the audit process and at the Aga Khan Hospital, Kharadar, two on-site assessors, one virtual assessor, and multiple virtual observers participated in the audit. The conclusion drawn from these assessments is truly exceptional; both hospitals have not only met but also exceeded all 13 Service Elements, 170 Standards, and 680 other measurable criteria, which serve as the stringent prerequisites for attaining the highest level of SafeCare certification – Level 5.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Earning Level 5 certification is a remarkable feat, achievable only by institutions that consistently demonstrate high-quality standards across the full spectrum of SafeCare Service Elements. This certification signifies that our hospitals have consistently upheld exceptional standards across various aspects of patient care, safety, and overall healthcare service delivery. Moreover, it reflects our commitment to not merely meeting but surpassing stringent benchmarks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The SafeCare certification reaffirms the position of the Aga Khan University Hospital and its health care network as leaders in the healthcare industry. It serves as a resounding endorsement that health services offered by AKUH adhere to internationally recognized quality and safety standards for patient care. Moreover, it stands as a powerful testament to the unwavering dedication of our hospitals and their staff to deliver the highest standards of healthcare services to our patients.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our journey toward excellence in healthcare is an ongoing mission. While these certifications mark a significant milestone, our commitment to patient safety and delivering quality care remains an ever-continuing endeavour. The Aga Khan University Hospitals will persist in their relentless efforts to provide safe and high-quality healthcare services to its patients.
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