Santo Domingo is set to host a pivotal gathering for global healthcare stakeholders next month, as the third edition of the International Health Quality and Safety Forum prepares to bring patient safety to the top of the regional health policy agenda. Organized jointly by two leading Dominican health entities, CEMDOE and INTEGRA, the one-day event is scheduled for September 16, built around the core thematic focus “Safety as a System Strategy.”
Unlike fragmented approaches that frame patient safety as a narrow clinical concern, this year’s forum is designed to foster cross-sector dialogue that embeds safety protocols into every layer of healthcare operations. Attendees will include senior government health officials, private healthcare industry leaders, and recognized clinical and policy experts from both the Dominican Republic and across the globe. Over the course of the day, participants will dive into actionable strategies for integrating safety standards into the management, governance, innovation and large-scale transformation of healthcare organizations.
Key discussion topics will unpack the interconnected relationship between consistent safety practices, overall care quality and sustained public trust in national health systems. Attendees will also explore the critical responsibility of institutional leaders in building healthcare entities that can proactively anticipate emerging risks, draw actionable insights from past adverse events, and implement continuous iterative improvements to clinical and operational processes.
Beyond systemic safety frameworks, the forum will carve out dedicated space to address the future trajectory of clinical research within the Dominican Republic. Central to this conversation will be a focus on upholding rigorous scientific, ethical, regulatory and safety benchmarks that prioritize patient protection while generating the high-quality evidence needed to guide evidence-based care.
Organizers have also added institutional transformation to the agenda, inviting participants to unpack the persistent challenges of building healthcare systems that are more resilient to public health shocks, operationally efficient, and adaptable to shifting patient needs and global health trends.
Overall, CEMDOE and INTEGRA frame the third forum as a step toward advancing a holistic, system-wide vision of patient safety that extends far beyond individual clinical encounters. Through cross-sector collaboration and shared learning, the event aims to strengthen core health system management, rebuild and reinforce public trust in healthcare, support responsible medical innovation, and advance the long-term sustainability of Dominican and regional health systems.