The value of medicine in improving the quality of care

Patients expect the provision of quality care from the healthcare system, whether they are in the public sector or the private sector. One method amongst many of ensuring the provision of quality care is through the use of medicine. This paper aims to answer the question: what is the value of medici...

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Main Author: Joao L. Carapinha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2007-12-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/521
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author Joao L. Carapinha
author_facet Joao L. Carapinha
author_sort Joao L. Carapinha
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description Patients expect the provision of quality care from the healthcare system, whether they are in the public sector or the private sector. One method amongst many of ensuring the provision of quality care is through the use of medicine. This paper aims to answer the question: what is the value of medicine and how is this related to the quality of the care that patients receive? To this end, the paper explores these concepts through a structured approach, firstly discussing the value and quality of care. By drawing on debates that have taken place in the international literature and applying these to the South African environment, an approach is provided to discuss the quality of care patients receive within the context of medicine consumption. Numerous tools are provided, including the three dimensions of quality and the different perspectives on quality. To improve the quality of care, consideration should be given to the regulatory framework, continuous quality improvement models, market competition and payment incentives. The paper has not aimed to provide readymade solutions for quality gaps in the healthcare system, nor does it pretend that a solution is easily achievable without concerted effort from all healthcare stakeholders. The paper makes a contribution to the growing body of knowledge accessible to healthcare stakeholders with which to discuss the value of medicine in improving quality of care.
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spelling doaj-art-304d2101febc40fa94bfdf1deb1424272025-08-20T03:46:57ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042007-12-01481010.1080/20786204.2006.10873473615The value of medicine in improving the quality of careJoao L. Carapinha0University of WitwatersrandPatients expect the provision of quality care from the healthcare system, whether they are in the public sector or the private sector. One method amongst many of ensuring the provision of quality care is through the use of medicine. This paper aims to answer the question: what is the value of medicine and how is this related to the quality of the care that patients receive? To this end, the paper explores these concepts through a structured approach, firstly discussing the value and quality of care. By drawing on debates that have taken place in the international literature and applying these to the South African environment, an approach is provided to discuss the quality of care patients receive within the context of medicine consumption. Numerous tools are provided, including the three dimensions of quality and the different perspectives on quality. To improve the quality of care, consideration should be given to the regulatory framework, continuous quality improvement models, market competition and payment incentives. The paper has not aimed to provide readymade solutions for quality gaps in the healthcare system, nor does it pretend that a solution is easily achievable without concerted effort from all healthcare stakeholders. The paper makes a contribution to the growing body of knowledge accessible to healthcare stakeholders with which to discuss the value of medicine in improving quality of care.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/521quality of carevalue of medicinepharmaceutical policyquality improvementpharmaceutical economics
spellingShingle Joao L. Carapinha
The value of medicine in improving the quality of care
South African Family Practice
quality of care
value of medicine
pharmaceutical policy
quality improvement
pharmaceutical economics
title The value of medicine in improving the quality of care
title_full The value of medicine in improving the quality of care
title_fullStr The value of medicine in improving the quality of care
title_full_unstemmed The value of medicine in improving the quality of care
title_short The value of medicine in improving the quality of care
title_sort value of medicine in improving the quality of care
topic quality of care
value of medicine
pharmaceutical policy
quality improvement
pharmaceutical economics
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/521
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