His excellency, Minister of Health and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Eng. Khalid bin Abdul aziz AlFaleh, has set a directional road map which he called "Sustainable Excellence" for the Ministry of Health and other bodies interested in reaching quality. His plan consisted of five basic integrated elements; applying qualitative quality standards, building institutional capacity, raising the spirit of ambition, strict adherence to values and work ethics, and applying a system of governance.
Eng. AlFaleh presented a lecture on that in the Fifth National Quality Conference, organized by SASO, under the slogan "Quality: A strategic choice for promoting sustainability and enhancing competitiveness". It was held at King Faisal Conference Hall, Riyadh Intercontinental Hotel yesterday.
Eng. Al Faleh started his session by agreeing on what this slogan suggests in all fields. Not only does he consider quality a strategic choice, but he says it is "an urgent national necessity". He also described the 21st century as being a huge racing circuit, a world of great pressures, innovative opportunities, quick, and complex. My colleagues and I aim that the Ministry of Health provides high quality services and becomes a leader among other ministries in the Kingdom.
Al Faleh pointed out that the Kingdom needs to raise the pace of development. This is in order to change from being an economy that depends on the abundance of natural resources to an economy that depends on the efficiency of production and services. From a global competitiveness perspective to reach the point of having a diverse economy and to compete globally focusing on innovation and creativity. To achieve this, we need to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of our institutions in the public and private sectors. Carrying the Commissioner's Royal vision for the project of National Strategy for Quality "wanting the products and services of the Kingdom to become a worldwide standard for quality and workmanship by the year 2020."
He noted that the Government of Saudi Arabia works day and night to achieve desired developmental changes, to be the best in everything and to become a model for leadership. If we want the Saudi economy to vary its sources, introduce quality jobs, and achieve success in its national institutions, then each one of us needs to raise the roof of aspirations to greater heights in the sector he works in.
His excellency pointed out that according to the Global Competitiveness Report , the Kingdom is ranked 60 among 144 countries in terms of staff training, 38 in terms of availability of latest technological developments, and 44 in terms of patents, while education is still below ambitions.
Furthermore, he talked about the story of success of the strategic transformation journey initiated by Saudi Aramco in 2011. The Saudi Aramco team managed to exceed the current roof of expectations. They moved from being in a high level to being in the top with even wider horizons. Their income sources and contributions to the national development have diversified. The depth of quality is greater now in terms of technical development, innovation, and human resources especially the contributions of the younger generation. Saudi Aramco has begun to turn dynamically from being the largest oil company to the first global company in the field of energy and chemicals. It now supports national development, innovation, job creation, and diversification of income sources more than ever before.
Al Faleh stressed on the importance of strict adherence to the values and ethics of work, especially integrity. When talking about values, we go beyond integrity to reach "respect", when respect is lost there will be a lack of confidence. If there is no confidence, cooperation and integration will be lost as well, which are two necessary things to achieve "quality" and "excellence".
His Excellency stressed that "quality" cannot be achieved in the absence of a proper governance system. One that includes checks and balances, delegation of powers, performance of audits and performance verification.
Al Faleh explained that the health sector in the Kingdom is facing several challenges, but at the same time has many advantages enough for it to reach global leadership and success. The Saudi health sector is a large system that consists of many medical cities and hundreds of hospitals and primary care centers in cities and villages all around the Kingdom for the beneficiary of millions per year. We are now working to enhance the quality system of health services within the ministry and all other health sectors. As we have the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of health care institutions which aims to raise the level of quality in health services. Furthermore, we also have world-class quality models which we are proud of, such as King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh, which has developed a number of magnificent achievements.
His excellency, the Minister of Health, concluded by saying: "creating a sustainable system of excellence in order to win competitiveness of our institutions in all the Kingdom's sectors, and creating a bright future for the country, are both compatible with the established teachings of our religion. We must keep on raising ambition and desire to increase achievements and successes that satisfy Allah and benefit people. As Allah says in the Holy Quran: So for this let the competitors compete, (83:26)."
The second day of the conference witnessed 4 sessions which included 12 lectures. The first scientific session was about quality and institutional sustainability, chaired by Dr. Khaled AlAwad, member of the Shoura Council. During the first lecture, Mr. Adil Dalal, global expert in the field of quality, pointed out the importance of developing leaders and making them innovators in all institutions and establishments. Eng. Morea Saif AlQahtani, Head of Operational Excellence department in Saudi Aramco, presented a lecture on performance excellence in Aramco. The first session was concluded by a lecture entitled Professionalism – our approach, presented by Eng. Mohammed Ali AlTamimi, Director of Strategic Planning and Corporate Excellence - Emirates Transport organization.
The second scientific session included three lectures on quality in the field of education, led by His Excellency Dr. Nayef bin Hishal AlRoumi, PEEC Governor. The third session included three lectures about quality and competitiveness. The fourth and last session consisted of three lectures about quality in the health sector.
The Fifth National Quality Conference, is organized by SASO during the period 13-15 Oct. 2015, under the patronage of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The conference carries the slogan "Quality: A strategic choice for promoting sustainability and enhancing competitiveness". The aim of the conference is to spread the culture of quality and institutional excellence among various business sectors and to emphasize the importance of implementing quality applications and their role in achieving sustainability in all aspects of life. In addition, to strengthen the role of creativity and innovation concepts and programs in the continuous improvement and development of national products and services. As an essential pillar in achieving the Commissioner's Royal vision for quality "wanting the products and services of the Kingdom to become a worldwide standard for quality and workmanship by the year 2020."