Quality health services for children
Thank you for asking this pertinent question. I find the use of the word quality to be context specific, for instance; equity, affordability, safety and efficiency can be used to measure the quality of care but all this are based on comparative measure (standards) which are often the minimum requirements. This minimum requirements may actually not be any closer to quality.
For me, quality is the health outcomes of each individual clients and how those outcomes affect their lives going forward. I am not saying patient cannot have unfavorable outcomes such as death, if they die was that death preventable or not, if not did they die having made informed decisions, were they still feeling appreciated as human beings not just another case of a condition.
I will agree with David (SA), quality shouldnt just be ticking boxes, or maintain accreditation standards, or maintaining status quo, all stakeholders should be involved in improving quality. But I know change is not something that come easy in health care nor supported or encouraged by the leaders, it is always difficult for junior members to answer the questions on what is wrong with what we are currently doing without being penalized, silenced or ostracized.
Thank you
Samuel
CHIFA Profile: Samuel Matula is a Doctoral student/ Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Botswana. Professional interests: Pediatric health management in low resource settings with a focus on pain management and health outcomes research.
email: matulats AT yahoo.com
