The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic cooperates closely with WHO in the field of breast-feeding support and bonding. At national level, since 2019, we continuously monitor how health establishments, which include gynecology and neonatal departments, adhere to the principles of so-called "Baby friendly hospital initiative" (BFHI), which means children friendly hospital.
In order to improve the quality of health care provided to the mother and her child in the obstetrics of MZ SR developed The national project "Promoting the training of health workers in support of breastfeeding and relationship and conducting clinical audits in the area of Baby friendly hospital initiative (BFHI)" - approved by the Commission at the Monitoring Committee for the Slovensko Programme 2021 - 2027 for Objective 4 (Socially and More Inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights) of EU Cohesion Policy on 09.11.2023.
MZ SR started clinical audits of the review and evaluation of the quality of healthcare provided (according to § 9b (1)). a) and b) to § 9d of Act No. 578/2004 Coll. on Health Care Providers, Health Care Professionals, Health Organisations) in the field of implementation of the Standard Procedure for the Enforcement of Prevention: Care of Mother and Newborn according to the principles of Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) – Support of Relationship and Lactation, and Internal System of Patient Safety Assessment with Institutional Healthcare Provider Dr. Vojtech Alexander Hospital in Kežmarok.
The team of auditors consisted of invited experts - neonatologist, gynecologist and obstetrician and representative of the international organisation of professional lactating consultants IBCLC and two representatives of the relevant Health Section of MZ SR. Dr. Vojtech Alexander's Hospital in Kežmarok was very well prepared for the audit and she worked well together. At the end of the audit, the health professionals of the gynaecological and neonatal centres examined presented the benefits of the audit, in particular to the recommendations made by the auditors for improvement in the areas of expertise, process and practical.
By clinical audit, the team of auditors shall process the results of the examination of the medical facility in question according to the statutory requirements. In 2024 MZ SR will carry out two further clinical audits, followed by 12 clinical audits every year.