H.E. Dr. Mohammad Saif Al Hosani, MOH Undersecretary for Health Affairs launched yesterday (Sunday) the National Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Guidelines, with the presence of Directors General of Governorates’ Health Services, hospitals’ Executive Directors, SQUH’s Deputy DG for Health Affairs, Directors of Health Services of AFH and ROPH, in addition to Heads of Surgery and pharmacy departments, infection control officials, operation Theatre Supervisors, and Private Health establishments’ Representatives.  

A Committee of the Ministry’s experts who are specialized in Communicable Diseases, Infection Control, and Clinical Pharmacology formulated the Guidelines. The Guidelines aim at establishing a specific rule on the use of Perioperative Antibiotics Prophylaxis regarding the administration of doses timing, quantity, and types and generalize it to all Governmental and Private Health Establishments.

In his opening address, Dr. Saif Salim Al Abri, Ministry’s Director General of Diseases Control & Surveillance stated that this Guidelines will be the road map for all Health sectors in the use of Antibiotic. He further noted that a team from the Ministry has been formed to visit Central hospitals to introduce the National Guidelines and performance assessment of the hospitals shall be conducted after 3 months of this notification. In addition, a manual was set up for health institutes to do a personal performance assessment.      

The launching ceremony included a seminar displaying implementation method of the project and the legal aspects related to the undertaking of Guidelines.