Ongoing NEWS

News and EVENTS

PRF and Peabody Health Philanthropies Explore the Future of EQIS for Sustainable Clinical Quality Improvement in Bangladesh

Dhaka, 3 September 2026 : Professor John Williamson Peabody, University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Los Angeles, the founder and President of Peabody Health Philanthropies (PHP) and Dr. Carolyn Chieng-Lin Chang, a practicing surgeon and advisor of PHP visited Bangladesh from 29 August to 3 September 2026 to review the progress of the E-Patient Quality Improvement & Standardization (EQIS) initiative and explore opportunities for its continued development and sustainability. The visit brought together the PHP and PRF teams, government representatives, professional and regulatory bodies, clinical leaders, and physicians from the five hospitals implementing EQIS. The programme included clinical site visits, an EQIS Advisory Board meeting with representatives from BMDC, BMRC, BCPS, DGME, BMU, OGSB, BNF etc., leadership discussions with leaders from the five implementing hospitals. Delegates also met Additional Director General (Planning & development), DGHS, Director Primary Health Care and other officials of PHC unit, DGHS, Project Director, Health & Nutrition Services Improvement & System Strengthening Project (HNSISSP) and other officials of the project, DGHS. During the visit, the experience of implementing EQIS across five hospitals through four rounds was presented and discussed. Participants highlighted the potential of EQIS to assess clinical knowledge, diagnostic skills, clinical decision-making, and patient care, helping identify gaps and inform quality improvement. Best performing participants were awarded with a certificate. The experience generated through implementation across the five hospitals was recognized as valuable for informing future programme development. A major focus of the discussions was the continuation and sustainability of EQIS beyond the current project. Participants explored opportunities for government engagement and potential integration of EQIS into CME and professional development programmes. Discussions also considered the potential role of periodic assessment of clinical competency and quality of care in future approaches to licensing and registration renewal, with EQIS identified as a possible tool. PRF remains committed to working with PHP, the MOHFW, professional bodies, academia and health-sector partners to advance sustainable, evidence-based approaches to continuous clinical learning and quality improvement, with the ultimate goal of contributing to better health outcomes for mothers, newborns, children, and communities across Bangladesh. PHP has initiated projects in Malawi, Vietnam, Kenya and Bangladesh, and also works with WHO and their operations extend across 30+ low-and-middle-income-countries throughout Africa and Asia, focusing on the care of pregnant women, newborns, and patients with heart disease. E-patient Quality Improvement and Standardization (EQIS) helps doctors improve their clinical decision-making through realistic clinical cases and personalized feedback. Projahnmo Research Foundation is implementing EQIS with the support from MOHFW in five hospitals in Bangladesh.
PRF Images
PRF Images