EVALUATING HEALTHCARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Quality Improvement (QI) programs are increasingly used in Pakistan’s public hospitals to reduce preventable harm, improve patient experience, 
and optimize scarce resources. This article proposes an evaluation approach tailored to public-sector realities—high patient volumes, variable 
supplies, workforce constraints, and fragmented data systems. Drawing on global quality frameworks and practical QI methods (e.g., PDSA cycles), we 
present a mixed-method evaluation model that measures changes in clinical processes, patient outcomes, and service efficiency while documenting implementation fidelity and context. Key evaluation domains include governance, infection prevention and control, medication safety, patient-centered care, and data-driven performance monitoring. The proposed framework supports hospital leaders and provincial health departments in identifying what works, why it works, and how to scale effective interventions sustainably across districts.