Quality improvement initiatives by Aga Khan Health Service in the mountains of northern Pakistan

Improving health care quality in a resource constraint environment in an emerging economy that is in a hard-to-reach geographic terrain can become a challenge especially when it has to follow the international standard which AKHS, P envisions to implement across the nation in all of its health facilities. Healthcare of the nation is a responsibility which is shouldered by both the government and the private sector. Private-sector, however, remains under pressure as its resource size is limited and it remains subject to stringent regulation and quality control requirements regardless of whether it is in the remotest corner of the country where proper land routes are either lacking or not safe. This article shares the unique experience of AKHS, P in achieving ISO 9001:2008 International Quality Management System Certification. Particularly at one of the "world's highest valleys -situated at Gilgit Baltistan at an altitude of 13,083 ft. above sea level in Northern Pakistan. The experience was unique in terms of demonstrating and recording how a quality management system can be implemented in one of the most difficult to reach areas where compliance to international quality standards was previously unthinkable.