Quality Monitor (in German only) is the yearly publication of Health City Berlin, the Initiative Qualitätsmedizin (IQM) and the Scientific Institute of the AOK (WIdO) which focuses on quality of health care. The 2019 edition highlights government initiatives on hospital reform and quality reporting in Europe, the implementation of the quality agenda of the Hospital Structure Act in Germany and new findings on the relationship between frequency of treatment and treatment quality.

This policy brief reports that dementia has expanded for the past five years in OECD countries. An increasing number of people are affected by dementia, and countries are struggling to cope with the disease. To address this situation, the OECD provides policy makers three recommendations to improve the care of patients with dementia, mobilize stakeholders and improve the quality of life of patients. 
As part of a possible collaboration with the OECD, the IHF would like to explore the consequences for regular acute healthcare services attending an increasing number of patients with complex comorbidities including severe dementia and could call on its members to identify practices implemented for detecting dementia, how is dementia identified by health service providers, assessment of several dementia severity levels, dementia rating scale use. The IHF would like to start with an initial assessment on dementia identification and treatment among our members to follow up with identifying and redesigning (best) approaches for patients with dementia as a comorbidity while treated for other pathologies in regular acute care settings.

Published in November 2018, the GBD study is the most comprehensive worlwide observational epidemiological study. It enables understanding of the changing health challenges facing people across the world, examining historical trends and comparing populations.

Salim Hasham presented on the topic 'Adopting Forms of Governance in providing Health Care System provision to ensure a Distinguished Service for the patient', as IHF Special Representative for Africa. One of the key strategic governance issues addressed was that the recruitment and building of talents should consider competency and capability in health care management and not clinical excellence only. The panel discussion referred to training modules for healthcare executives developed as part of a collaboration between IHF and WHO-EMRO. 
Mr. Hasham suggests IHF to participate to ARADO (Arab Administrative Development Organization) annual conferences to promote healthcare management compentencies to healthcare executives. 

Below is the event information brochure with photos of sessions. 

Populations and health services can be dramatically affected by disasters, nearly a quarter of which occur in the Region of the Americas. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 emphasizes the importance for developing risk reduction plans to protect people. They focus particularly on people with disabilities, who are more vulnerable to disasters and usually excluded from disaster risk management policies. In response to these emergencies and disasters preparedness of health facilities should be enhanced to ensure they remain accessible and functional in disasters. Therefore PAHO developed INGRID-H, a methodology to enhance the level of inclusion of people with disabilities in hospital disaster risk management.

Publication also available in Spanish. 

The Scientific Committee welcomes abst​​​​​​​racts on best practices, innovations, projects, programs and researches from around the world that cover health resilience, investment and innovation.
Authors of accepted abstracts will get special discounted Congress registration fees, will be considered for publication in the IHF Journal and presentation in an IHF Webinar or compete in the Best Poster Award. For more information on the ​​​​​​​theme and sub-themes, submission process and other guidelines click below. Don’t delay - submit your abstract now and join us in Muscat, Oman in November! 

FHF represents almost all the French public healthcare sector. It promotes public hospitals and social care public institutions through a major annual event, the Paris Healthcare Week, through trainings for healthcare professionals and through campaigns. Also, healthcare professionals can rely on FHF resources to get advice on issues they face in their daily work. Finally, FHF partners with public authorities to elaborate proposals and assist the implementation of reforms in the hospital sector. 

​​​​​​​More information on FHF and the French healthcare system in the full bulletin below.

In France, the central government is responsible for the national strategy and the financing of health care facilities. Population health and health care are delegated to regional health agencies which represent the government. Statutory Health Insurance provides health coverage for all residents. Hospitals are funded by statutory health insurance (80%), volontary insurance and direct patient payment. Special funds are allocated to public and non-profit hospitals to cover research and teaching, and the provision of emergency services, organ harvesting and organ transplantation. About 65% of hospital care are public. Other health services facilities include services for mentally ill people, public care services and ambulatory centers.

The French Hospital Federation represents the majority of public healthcare facilities in France. It also plays a role in elaborating and implementing reforms in the hospital sector. Some of its proposals are consistent with the reforms proposed by the current French President aiming at overhauling the French health system. However, these ameliorations do not tackle the financial difficulties hospital is now facing. Another challenge globally encountered is to ensure that the largest number of citizens benefits from healthcare improvements. In this context, IHF is expected to place greater emphasis on patient-centered care in the sharing of global good practices among members, to be closer to its members to better understand their needs and enhance peer collaboration, and to be able to deliver a good insight into world health. In addition, IHF is asked for being a knowledge exchange hub where members from all the world share best practices and experiences. To this end IHF should expand and diversify its membership. 

Detailed interviews of Cédric Arcos (left photo) and Alexis Thomas (right photo) are reported in the full bulletin below. 

The Brazilian Hospital Federation has been representing the hospital sector for more than 50 years. It participates in the decision making process for the sector and also works together with other actors such as national agencies (ANS and ANVISA) and the Ministry of Health. It supports better working conditions and service quality provided by health services providers. 
FBH acts as a voice for its members, improves the efficiency of health services and promote knowledge sharing through events and publications.

Find more information on its achievement, the Qualification Program, its current priorities and its supportive role to hospitals and their leaders in the full bulletin below.