Quality of health care is effective

Quality of care is the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes.  It is based on evidence-based professional knowledge and is critical for achieving universal health coverage. As countries commit to achieving Health for All, it is imperative to carefully consider the quality of care and health services.  Quality health care can be defined in many ways but there is growing acknowledgement that quality health services should be:

• Effective – providing evidence-based healthcare services to those who need them;
• Safe – avoiding harm to people for whom the care is intended; and
• People-centred – providing care that responds to individual preferences, needs and values.

To realize the benefits of quality health care, health services must be:

• Timely – reducing waiting times and sometimes harmful delays;
• Equitable – providing care that does not vary in quality on account of gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socio-economic status;
• Integrated – providing care that makes available the full range of health services throughout the life course;
• Efficient – maximizing the benefit of available resources and avoiding waste.