The International Hospital Federation (IHF) has announced the finalists of the IHF Awards 2021 which recognise the exceptional work of hospitals and healthcare providers around the world in key areas of service and delivery.
This year, 250 entries were submitted from 38 countries/territories – a record since the Awards were established in 2015. A total of 50 finalists have been shortlisted across six categories, from which the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be given, as well as honourable mentions to other exceptional entries in each category.
The rigorous judging process involved an extensive review by the Awards Committee, composed of health leaders from around the world. The scoring is based on five criteria: originality and innovativeness; intended impact; adaptability and scalability; scientific rigor; and clarity.
The six awards categories are:
- Dr. Kwang Tae Kim Grand Hospital Award – recognizing institutions (not individual projects) that excelled in several areas including, but not limited to, quality and patient safety, corporate social responsibility, healthcare leadership and management practices and supporting sustainability initiatives.
- American College of Healthcare Executives Excellence Award for Leadership and Management – recognizing excellence or outstanding achievements in strong leadership and management in leading a hospital or a health service provider.
- Austco Excellence Award for Quality and Patient Safety – recognizing excellence or outstanding achievements in promoting quality and patient safety.
- Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence Award for Green Hospitals – honoring hospitals and healthcare organizations promoting sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives.
- Seddiqi Holding Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility – recognizing excellence or outstanding achievements in advancing corporate social responsibility.
- Sultanate of Oman Excellence Award for Health Services During Crisis – recognizing achievements of hospitals and healthcare organizations in developing countries during a time of crisis.
Dr. Lawrence Lai, Chair of the IHF Awards Committee, spoke of his admiration for the quality of entries, “The IHF Awards were introduced in 2015 to recognize the exceptional work of hospitals and healthcare providers around the world in key areas of service and delivery. It is my privilege, as chairman of the Awards Committee, to be given the opportunity to review so many excellent submissions this year, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging. With so many excellent entries in these challenging times, it is indeed very difficult to select the winners. To me, all the submitted entries this year are winners!
With the overwhelming support of IHF Members and organizations in the Awards Programme this year, I am confident that the number and the quality of entries from around the world will continue to grow in the future.”
This year’s winners will be revealed on 10 November at 18:00 CEST as a highlight in the program of the 44th World Hospital Congress (WHC) at the Fira Montjuïc conference center, Barcelona, where the winning projects and programs will be announced to an audience of hospital and healthcare leaders from around the globe.
Ronald Lavater, CEO of the IHF, expressed his appreciation for all contributors to the success of this year’s Awards, “It’s a great achievement to receive a record number of entries in 2021 as well as to launch two new Awards categories. My thanks go to every hospital and health service provider who submitted an entry – there are so many impressive and inspirational projects that it’s our honor to recognize. I’m also very grateful to the members of the Awards Committee for their dedication to careful judging, and to the sponsors of the Awards for their support.”
