PRESS RELEASE: Five Australian health services receive international recognition for their Covid-19 response

Five Australian health services have been recognised in the International Hospital Federation’s (IHF) Beyond the Call of Duty for COVID-19 recognition program.
Beyond the Call of Duty for COVID-19 acknowledges hospitals and health services around the world that proactively implemented outstanding and innovative actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV), Heathcote Health & Energesse, Pathology Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and SA Pathology were among the 100 health services from 27 countries that received international recognition for their responses to the pandemic.
DHSV was honoured for its COVID-19 action plan. DHSV CEO, Susan McKee said, ’Dental Health Services Victoria is privileged and honoured to receive special recognition by the International Hospital Federation’s (IHF) Beyond the Call of Duty for COVID-19 Program. It has been an extraordinary challenging year. This recognition is a tribute to our staff, consumers, and stakeholders, for their exceptional leadership, hard work, commitment and perseverance to keep everybody safe.’
Victorian health service, Heathcote Health, in partnership with Energesse, was honoured for its implementation of a digital pandemic management safety system, PMme, aimed at improving planning and preparedness.
Heathcote Health CEO Dan Douglass noted, ’The implementation of the PMme gave us that level of security which provided the very best protection for our community and staff.’
Pathology Queensland received recognition for its work in safeguarding and expanding the state’s COVID-19 testing capability. ‘Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working to safeguard and expand Queensland’s COVID-19 testing capability through the use of different testing platforms, and by ensuring that regional laboratories have the additional testing capability needed to meet demand,’ said Dr Petra Derrington, Chief Pathologist, Pathology Queensland.
Executive Director of Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Dr David Rosengren said, ‘It is an honour for Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to be recognised by the International Hospital Federation (IHF) for our COVID-19 response. Like the rest of the world, our dedicated team worked tirelessly to prepare for and respond to the impact of the pandemic. However, it is thanks to the efforts of the wider community to stay home, social distance and practice good hand hygiene that COVID-19 numbers in Queensland have remained low.’
SA Pathology was recognised for its high-quality pathology testing that supported the South Australian government’s COVID-19 response.
‘In what has been a challenging year across the globe, SA Pathology has proudly delivered the quality pathology testing that has enabled the South Australian government’s world-class response to the pandemic. Our remit has always been to serve our community and improve the health of all South Australians, and we are honoured to be recognised internationally for this work,’ said Dr Tom Dodd, Clinical Service Director SA Pathology and Mark McNamara, Executive Director SA Pathology, in a joint statement.
‘We are proud that these Australian health services have been internationally recognised for the outstanding work they have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our communities safe,’ said AHHA Chief Executive, Alison Verhoeven. ‘It demonstrates that Australian health services are international leaders in the provision of innovative, quality, health care to our community.’
Beyond the Call of Duty for COVID-19 is an IHF initiative sponsored by the Ashikaga – Nikken Group and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA).

More information on AHHA is available at ahha.asn.au. AHHA is the Australian member of the IHF. More information about the IHF is available at ihf-fih.org.
The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association is the national peak body for public and not-for-profit hospitals, Primary Health Networks, and community and primary healthcare services.