The Directorate General of the Royal Hospital, represented by the Department of Quality and Patient Safety, officially launched today (Sunday), in the Grand Meeting Hall, the Hikmah Initiative, under the theme “Every Decision is a Choice”.

The launch ceremony was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Saeed bin Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, in the presence of Dr. Amid bin Khamis Al Araimi, Director General of the Royal Hospital; Dr. Suad bint Salim Al Ismaili, Director of the Department of Quality and Patient Safety at the Hospital; as well as several officials, medical and allied health staff, and employees of the Hospital.

H.E. Dr. Saeed bin Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs commended in his speech the efforts made by the Hospital’s officials and staff in developing and implementing this initiative. Al Lamki emphasized that the initiative does not aim to reduce care or limit services, but rather to enhance the quality of care and maximize its impact by minimizing low-value practices. 

At the outset, Dr. Amid Al Araimi, Director General of the Royal Hospital, indicated that the Hikmah initiative stems from a firm belief that the volume of interventions provided does not measure excellence in healthcare, but rather by their appropriateness for the patient and their real impact. The essence of the initiative lies in supporting evidence-based clinical decision-making to ensure that every test, treatment, and follow-up delivers added value in providing the right care to the right patient at the right time. Al Araimi concluded by stating that the initiative establishes an institutional approach that enhances value in healthcare and places the patient at the center of every decision, thereby fostering a healthier and more sustainable future. 
Dr. Suad bint Salim Al Ismaili, Director of the Department of Quality and Patient Safety at the Hospital, presented an overview of the initiative, noting that it aims to improve the quality of healthcare by reducing unnecessary practices and enhancing the efficient use of resources. She added that the initiative will be implemented in phases, beginning with assessment and design, followed by piloting and scaling, and ultimately reaching sustainability, with clear performance indicators in place to measure impact. 

The initiative at the Royal Hospital is a strategic institutional transformation program at the hospital level aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare, improving patient flow, reducing waste, and optimizing the efficient use of resources, while ensuring environmental sustainability.
The initiative also supports the important role played by the Royal Hospital as a national tertiary and quaternary referral center by ensuring the right care is delivered to the right patient, at the right time, and in the most appropriate setting, thereby achieving the highest possible value and enhancing sustainability across the health system.