Six health facilities identified for training in the 5S-Kaizen total quality management (TQM) approach three years ago will now be guided by an implementation guideline.
This follows the launch of the document yesterday by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said they had been working closely with JICA since 2019 for the implementation of the “TQM project”.
He said the 5S-Kaizen-TQM volume one implementation guideline document served as the first manual of its kind in Fiji’s health facilities.
He said six pilot health facilities were trained on the 5S approach in 2019 and have been practising the 5S activities for improvement of working environment, productivity, safety and reducing mistakes.
“Now that the situation of COVID-19 infection is decreasing, it is time to move to the next level of quality improvement through the Kaizen approach for providing health care services in normal times,” he said.
JICA resident representative Mayumi Amaike said the 5S was originally developed by the manufacturing industry in Japan in the 1950s, and had been applied to various service industries including the health sector.
“Dissemination of the approach must be carried out in a standardised manner to ensure that the level of knowledge and skills among health workers is maintained for an effective approach,” she said.
The six pilot health facilities are CWM Hospital, Nausori Maternity/Health Centre, Valelevu Health Center, Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services Centre, Labasa Hospital and Sigatoka Hospital.
