19 Jun HRH2030, Partners Launch Bylaw for Health Professional License Renewal in Jordan
On May 9, 2018, HRH2030 joined government officials and healthcare professionals to launch the health professional relicensure bylaw. The bylaw, drafted with technical and operational support from HRH2030, requires healthcare professionals to renew their licenses on the basis of continuing education in order to maintain a high quality of care in Jordan’s health sector.
“[The bylaw] will urge health professionals to participate in training programs to stay updated in their areas of specialty. This will reflect positively on staff performance and excellence, thus contributing [to] enhancing the level of health service provision.”
— High Health Council Secretary General Dr. Mohammad Tarawneh, speaking on behalf of Minister of Health Professor Mahmoud Al Sheyyab
The bylaw launches with broad-based support from health professionals in Jordan. A survey conducted among health professionals revealed that 88 percent believe that continuing professional development should be mandatory in their field, and 91 percent believe that it ensures better patient care.
The passage of the bylaw will help Jordan remain at the forefront of healthcare provision in the region. In line with HRH2030’s commitment to improving health systems and outcomes, implementation of the new bylaw will enhance human resource standards and improve health service delivery throughout the country, leading to safer care, shorter hospital stays, lower infection rates, and more satisfied patients. These improvements will bolster the well-being of the people of Jordan, ensuring that they have the good health to contribute to and strengthen their communities. As USAID Acting Mission Director Nancy Eslick remarked, “Today’s investment in health workers will pay dividends. It will build a stable future — a healthier, safer, and more prosperous Jordan.”
An open-forum discussion and response session after each panel of health professionals held at the launch gave attendees an opportunity to provide insight from their own experiences and discuss concerns about implementation of the bylaw.
To support the effective implementation of the bylaw, HRH2030 is conducting research on factors affecting the effectiveness, practices, and accessibility of continuing professional development in Jordan, the findings of which will inform the design and implementation of an accessible national continuing professional development system. In doing so, HRH2030 is helping Jordan develop the tools and skills it needs to make continuous sustainable improvements to its health sector.
Photo: Dr. Ismail Matalqa (second from left), director general of the King Abdullah University Hospital, addresses the role hospitals will play to implement the new license renewal bylaw during a launch event for the new regulation in Amman. Credit: HRH2030, May 2018.