Page 7 - Aspire Newsletter APRIL 2022 Vol 7 / Issue 2

ACCREDITATION
Creating uniformity of services across wide cultural and sociological diversity in our region
The ASPIRE Accreditation Committee is tasked with helping to regulate Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatments across countries of the Asia Pacific region.
As reported in the last edition of our newsletter, the aim is to promote and facilitate uniform quality standards of infertility services through auditing and accreditation of clinics and certification of embryologists and clinicians.
There is wide cultural and sociological diversity in the region, as there is in health care provision, with regulation of ART services varying significantly.
Australia and Singapore are extremely well regulated, whereas most countries in southern Asia and the Indian sub-continent are working in isolation. In these latter locations, regulatory bodies either do not exist or are unable to monitor the standards of treatments provided by various clinics and health care professionals.
The ASPIRE Accreditation Committee’s objective is to enhance standards of care and services in clinics that are considered to be lagging behind. As the first step in achieving this vision, the committee has launched a series of certification courses that are conducted as webinars in light of COVID-19 restrictions.
These webinars help health care professionals working in the field of assisted reproduction to achieve proficient standards that demonstrate their level of knowledge and skills, and their commitment to excellence.
Relevant courses help close knowledge gaps where they exist, and ensure clinics stay abreast of latest developments and procedures in assisted reproduction.
The committee is working very closely with ASPIRE’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to conduct these certificate courses.
Keeping fertility specialists and patients abreast of latest developments and procedures in assisted reproduction
As outlined in the President’s Report, two certificate courses have been successfully completed to date – the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, 6th Edition and the Basic Course in Early Pregnancy Management for Nurses.
Participants in the six webinar modules of the WHO course came from 14 different countries, a very pleasing representation.
The ASPIRE Accreditation Committee aims to provide further educational programs for ART clinicians and embryologist along with nurses and technicians in our field.
The challenge of achieving these goals is not insignificant, but the committee members – with valued guidance from the ASPIRE Executive Board – are committed to achieving the vision with positive results across the region.
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