Supportive Supervision for Quality Improvement in Iraq

The project's primary objective is to introduce high-quality health services within all health institutions and facilities, with a focus on the primary health care sector. This sector represents the first point of contact for individuals within the health system and bears the bulk of the burden. Supportive Supervision for Quality Improvement is a key concept in the PHCPI project. It is a self-assessment process conducted by health center staff and quality improvement teams, which includes regular feedback from community groups and stakeholders and periodic visits from external supervisors. The Technical Advisory Group provides continuing medical education credits and is a continuous process that occurs during routine work and through online mentoring. The PHCPI project, in collaboration with the MOH, is working to implement successful Supportive Supervision by providing informational materials and technical support, as well as online courses, workshops, and on-the-job trainings. The PHCPI project focuses on guidelines, training, and quality improvement teams to support Supportive Supervision. The project has conducted several training courses in Baghdad and Erbil to train supervisors on Supportive Supervision and quality improvement concepts. Additionally, workshops and on-the-job training courses have been implemented in all Iraqi governorates to train local health staff and form quality improvement teams within primary health care centers. The project has also conducted follow-up workshops for supervisors in Baghdad and Erbil every two to three months to build upon lessons learned and recognize achievements. Throughout implementation, the PHCPI project has been able to reach 360 clinics throughout 18 provinces in Iraq. Furthermore, 56 supervisors were trained on Supportive Supervision, while 1,205 primary health care staff members became part of primary health care center quality improvement teams. The project's Supportive Supervision program has improved communication between primary health care center supervisors and staff, leading to great improvement in the identification of gaps in services provided by primary health care centers. Active participation of primary health care staff in finding and implementing solutions is now more common and integrated than previously practiced. The ultimate goal of the PHCPI project is to improve clinical services through successful managerial and administrative oversight. The project has helped Iraqi primary health care centers to recognize the importance of Supportive Supervision for quality improvement, enhanced healthcare, and ultimately, better health outcomes. The project's efforts have contributed to the development of a system that can take on a wider range of responsibilities, aligning with the global trend of introducing quality into health care systems.