A new collection of articles published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) emphasises the importance of focusing on the quality of healthcare services, not just access, as a cornerstone of universal health coverage. Disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the need to prioritise health service quality.
“People not only need access to healthcare, but they also need it to be effective, delivered by health workers who are supported in their work and treated with dignity,” said Blerta Maliqi, Unit Head for Quality of Care at the World Health Organisation (WHO) and a series contributor. “Health systems that provide quality treatment are constantly learning and adapting. This is critical to creating resilience and meeting people’s needs.”
The article “Prepared health systems provide quality care at all times” cites a 2020 survey of over 1000 maternal and newborn health workers across 71 countries. The survey found common concerns about quality of care during the COVID crisis, including decreased family involvement and emotional support for women.
The paper advocates for health systems to include quality in emergency response plans in order to preserve people’s health and rights, as well as a greater commitment to continuous learning and adaptation. A favourable example comes from the Western Cape, South Africa, where regular information flows and virtual learning assisted teams in addressing common difficulties and mitigating risks.
Improving the ability to consistently offer high-quality care—care that is effective, safe, patient-centered, timely, equitable, integrated, and efficient—is critical to universal health coverage. Nonetheless, an estimated eight million individuals in low- and middle-income nations die each year from diseases that may have been prevented with better treatment. Lapses in quality can potentially risk trust and dissuade people from accessing important health treatments, with consequences
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