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Chapter 26 - Improving the Quality and Safety of Health Care in Low and Middle Income Countries

What Works!

from Section 2 - Transforming Health Systems: Confronting Challenges, Seizing Opportunities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2022

By
Salma W. Jaouni ,
Mondher Letaief ,
Samer Ellaham  and
Samar Hassan
Edited by
Sameen Siddiqi ,
Awad Mataria ,
Katherine D. Rouleau  and
Meesha Iqbal
Sameen Siddiqi
Affiliation:
Aga Khan University
Awad Mataria
Affiliation:
World Health Organization, Egypt
Katherine D. Rouleau
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Meesha Iqbal
Affiliation:
UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston
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Summary

Poor quality of care is a leading cause of excess morbidity and mortality in low- and middle- income countries (L&MICs). Improving the quality of health care is complex, yet the health care sector has benefitted from many experiences in other industries and developed its own approaches to quality improvement (QI). It is challenging to identify what works in each situation, make the intended improvements, and ensure it is well measured and sustained. Yet there are several examples from L&MICs that offer a lot of learning and illustrate those factors that underpin successful experiences in QI. This Chapter looks at the evolution of QI in health care over time; the types of health care QI approaches, and their relationship with patient safety and UHC; the opportunities to address the commonly occurring health care quality and safety challenges, as well as what works or does not work in L&MICs.

Keywords

Patient SafetyUniversal Health CoverageHealthcare Quality Improvement ModelsAccreditationExternal EvaluationQualityQuality ImprovementSustainability and ContinuityL&MIC
Type
Chapter
Information
Making Health Systems Work in Low and Middle Income Countries
Textbook for Public Health Practitioners
 , pp. 401 - 420
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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