Dr al-Kuwari with other senior HMC officials at an event to celebrate the accreditation.

The department of laboratory medicine and pathology (DLMP) at HMC has become the first integrated laboratory network in Qatar to have its laboratories accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
Dr Hanan al-Kuwari, managing director, HMC, said CAP accreditation is a major milestone which supports the corporation’s commitment of delivering patient care that meets the highest international standards.
“Accreditation helps patients make informed decisions about their healthcare. When a healthcare organisation earns an international accreditation, the patient is assured the facility has met comprehensive, evidenced-based criteria benchmarked against international standards,” said Dr al-Kuwari.
“CAP accreditation is a major milestone for HMC, and Qatar, and an important step toward achieving the goal of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 to provide a comprehensive world-class healthcare system.”
Considered the ‘gold standard’ of laboratory accreditation, CAP certification demonstrates HMC’s high-standard quality assurance and quality control programmes; accreditation requires successful performance in stringent proficiency testing that encompasses record keeping, quality control of procedures, staff qualifications, facilities, safety programmes and overall management.
Addressing staff and members of the medical community during a celebratory event held in honour of the accreditation, Dr Ajayeb al-Nabet, chairperson, DLMP, said the department underwent an extensive evaluation prior to receiving the elite accreditation.
“Our team of pathologists, clinical scientists and technologists collaborate daily on tasks that directly impact the lives of our patients. Whether testing to confirm influenza, screening newborns for potentially dangerous metabolic disorders or testing to diagnose and monitor treatment for cancers, we strive to achieve the highest operating standards possible,” explained Dr al-Nabet.
“CAP accreditation ensures our testing procedures and results are as consistently reliable as possible. We are very proud of this accreditation and our patients can be assured they are receiving the best and safest care.”
Accreditation is granted only to laboratories that successfully apply rigid standards of quality in day-to-day operations, demonstrate continued accuracy in the performance of proficiency testing and pass a rigorous on-site laboratory survey.
As part of the accreditation process, inspectors examined HMC’s laboratory plans, policies and standard operating procedures. CAP inspectors also examined the qualifications of the department’s medical and technical staff, the laboratory’s equipment, safety programme, records and overall management processes.
“The CAP accreditation places HMC among an elite group,” said Ali al-Janahi, chief of Business Services at HMC. “It also opens doors for more global collaborations as our laboratories are now a reference centre for diagnostic testing and will be recognized for their high international standards.”
CAP, established in 1946, is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists. It is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance. CAP is an advocate for high quality and cost-effective medical care and has accredited more than 7,600 laboratories in 50 countries. The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Programme is comprised of more than 2,600 laboratory specific standards.