CDAA begins external audit for Quality Management System

Muscat: The Directorate General of Ambulance at the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority began today the external audit phase for the Quality Management System in accordance with the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001:2015. This comes within the framework of the authority’s efforts to enhance the quality and efficiency of the work system and to consolidate the principles of governance, continuous improvement, and institutional excellence.

The audit activities commenced with an opening session chaired by Lt. Colonel Hani Al Kiyumi, Acting Director General of Ambulance. This was followed by a visual presentation about the Directorate General of Ambulance, and then the commencement of audit procedures on the relevant departments within the Directorate General of Ambulance and the supporting departments associated with its operations.

The audit includes verifying the readiness of the Quality Management System, reviewing approved documents and procedures, and assessing the level of the system's actual implementation. This is in addition to evaluating the effectiveness of operations, the extent of achieving objectives, and following up on performance indicators, risk management, and opportunities for improvement.'

The audit encompasses the Medical Governance Department, the Medical Guidance and Supervision Department, and the Technical Affairs and Operations Department, alongside their associated support operations in the fields of procurement, equipment, technology, transport, and human resources.

The external audit comes as a culmination of the stages of preparing and implementing the Quality Management System at the Directorate General of Ambulance. These stages included documenting and developing procedures, identifying risks and opportunities, setting objectives and performance indicators, and executing internal audit programs while reviewing the system's effectiveness and its compliance with the requirements of the international standard.

The external audit represents an important phase in the journey of the Directorate General of Ambulance toward obtaining the certificate of conformity to the international standard ISO 9001:2015, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the Quality Management System and raising the efficiency of performance and the quality of ambulance services.