Abbreviations

Repeated Terms
​​Non-Communicable Diseases​ ​Chronic diseases that are not caused by infectious agents, such as Cardiovascular disease , diabetes, kidney failure and respiratory disorders
​​Health Governance It refers to a system adopted by healthcare establishments based on the highest medical standards​
Organ Transplantation A medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient to replace a damaged or missing organ.
Patient Referral The process of directing a patient to an appropriate specialist or agency for definitive treatment. It is usually done by lower-potential level to higher-potential level establishments (hospitals, medical centers, clinics, etc.)
Diagnostic Radiology It is the field of medicine that uses imaging exams and procedures to diagnose a patient
​Primary Healthcare Essential health care provided by primary health care centers. It is the patient’s first point of contact with the health system, and includes basic health care services such as health education, vaccination against preventable infectious
​Thalassemia An inherited blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. It results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia and death.
​Sickle Cell Disease A type of Hemolytic Anemia where the abnormal red cells break down while moving through the bloodstream. It describes a group of inherited red blood cell disorders and it is one of the most common type of anemia in the world.
​Preventive medicine Focuses on the health of individuals, communities, and defined populations. Its goal is to maintain health and to prevent disease, disability, and death.
​Mental Health It’s not just living without mental disorder state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to the community.
Pharmacovigilance It is related to the assessment, monitoring and prevention of adverse effects with pharmaceutical products
​Antibiotics Antimicrobial drug used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections.
Precursor Chemicals​ These are chemicals which can be used to make drugs.
SDG The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
Open Data Government data that is freely available for anyone to use, reuse, distribute or share with others without restrictions is called open government data.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. First identified in a cluster with pneumonia symptoms in Wuhan city, Hubei province of China
Precautionary measures Preventive measures aimed at ensuring the highest levels of disease and epidemic prevention.​
Epidemic The occurrence of more cases of disease than expected within a population in a geographic area over a set period of time.
Pandemic The worldwide spread of a new disease.
National Health Survey It is a national health study conducted every 5 years, during which health indicators are collected and studied across the community.
Palliative care Treatment that relieves the symptoms of a serious illness, but does not cure the disease itself.
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) An electronic record of health-related information on a person that can be created, gathered, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff within one health care organization.
Communicable disease Any disease caused by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens that is spread from person to person.
Clinical Research Clinical research is medical research that involves individuals to test new treatments and therapies.
Clinical Trial A research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes.
Confidentiality Protection of the identity of human participants and their individual responses from disclosure.
Health services research Research with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health professionals and the healthcare system, through changes to practice and policy. Health services research is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to healthcare, the quality and cost of healthcare, and, ultimately, health and well-being.
Quality of life Although this is a multi-level and amorphous concept, it can be broadly defined as encompassing the person’s perceptions of, and satisfaction with, physical health, psychological well being (for example, anxiety and depression), independence, social relationships, social and material circumstances and the external environment (the natural and built environments).
Nursing Informatics Use of information and computer technology to support all aspects of nursing practice.
Ambulatory Care Healthcare services rendered to persons who are not kept overnight in a healthcare facility.
Hospital Outpatient Care Care in a hospital that usually doesn’t require an overnight stay.
Acute Disease Disease characterized by a single episode of fairly short duration, usually less than 30 days, and from which the patient can be expected to return to his or her normal or previous state and level of activity.
Incidence In epidemiology, the number of new cases of disease, infection, or some other event having their onset during a prescribed period of time in relation to the unit of population in which they occur. Incidence measures morbidity or other events as they happen over a period of time.
Inpatient A patient admitted to a hospital, who is receiving services under the direction of a physician for at least 24 hours.
Wellness A dynamic state of physical, mental and social well-being. A way of life which equips the individual to realize the full potential of his/her capabilities and to overcome and compensate for weaknesses. A lifestyle which recognizes the importance of nutrition, physical fitness, stress reduction, and self-responsibility. Wellness has been viewed as the result of four key factors over which an individual has varying degrees of control: human biology, environment, health care organization (system), and lifestyle.
Joint Commission International (JCI) JCI is the recognized global leader in health care accreditation. JCI’s mission is to improve the quality and safety of health care in the international community.​