The Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has introduced a new four-year award to give appropriate recognition to healthcare facilities in its quality improvement and accreditation programme that show consistently high standards over a period of time. Up to now facilities that meet standards required by the COHSASA programme have been awarded two-year and three-year accreditation awards.
The Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has introduced a new four-year award to give appropriate recognition to healthcare facilities in its quality improvement and accreditation programme that show consistently high standards over a period of time.
Up to now facilities that meet standards required by the COHSASA programme have been awarded two-year and three-year accreditation awards.
A hospital that earns accreditation for the first time receives a two-year accreditation and this can be extended to three years if a validation visit conducted by COHSASA 15 to 18 months after accreditation shows that standards are being maintained and that the quality improvement programme is not only being sustained but also improved. To reward those that have maintained excellent standards and accreditation over a number of years, with no outstanding areas of non-compliance, will be awarded accreditation for four years. A condition of the award is that hospitals will be required to undergo a mandatory interim survey after two years. In addition, any hospital receiving the new award will be subject to review if there is any substantiated complaint or allegation that it is not maintaining the accreditation standards.
COHSASA has implemented the first phase of the Malawi quality improvement and accreditation programme and the pilot programme for three hospitals and three primary health care clinics has begun. The aim is to develop Malawi standards, a system-strengthening process for hospitals and clinics, and piloting of accreditation in both public and non-state facilities.
COHSASA is helping the Botswana Ministry of Health to develop standards and guidelines for hospitals and primary healthcare clinics.
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