USAID conducts workshop on international accreditation standard and requirements for Jordanian hospitals

The workshop centered on familiarizing hospital representatives on the process of obtaining and securing international accreditation for local hospitals through the Joint Commission International (JCI).

Healthcare expert, Professor and Associate Dean Assaf Al Assaf, MD, from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma, US, conducted the workshop.

Al Assaf provided the representatives with an orientation on the JCI accreditation program, discussed the specific requirements of JCI standards and their measurable elements and methods, provided practical approaches on how to comply with and measure these standards, and discussed methods of monitoring compliance, and concluded by providing a general overview of the on-site hospital surveying and accreditation application processes.

The Medical Services Sector is an important and vibrant sector in Jordan and hospitals are considered as an important segment of the medical service providers where the patients can receive a wide range of services.

In total, Jordan has 101 hospitals of which 58 are privately run. It is estimated that medical services provided to foreign patients generates around $650-700m in revenue to more than 120,000 incoming patients per year.

One of the main objectives of the national strategy for the Jordanian Medical Services sector is to target and increase the number of in-coming patients and revenues generated from their treatment and stay in Jordan. By ensuring the standards of Jordanian hospitals through accreditation programs, Jordan can become more competitive on an international level, in the medical tourism sector.

USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) is a five year broad economic development initiative implemented by BearingPoint, Inc. and a sizeable team of international and Jordanian partner firms.

By both supporting improvements in the business environment and providing assistance to expand innovation and productivity in Jordanian businesses, to support the main objective of building up the private sector as a powerful engine of economic growth.