OECD’s work on health care quality and outcomes indicators: Implications for the Croatian healthcare system in the light of the ongoing accession process
Autori:
Damir Ivanković, Niek Klazinga, Jasna Mesarić
Sažetak
Summary
The current process of Croatia’s accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a unique opportunity to describe the activities of this international organization in the field of healthcare and review the expected implications for the Croatian healthcare system. The review focuses in particular on the work of the OECD in the field of indicators of quality, safety and health care outcomes and is based on scientific and grey literature as well as the author’s many years of experience in working with the OECD. The OECD is recognized for its efforts in collecting, analyzing and reporting data on health quality, safety and outcomes globally. The OECD’s work in the field of health includes comparative data analysis, assessment of the quality of health care in member countries, measurement of health care outcomes, and analysis of the efficiency and equity of health systems. The implications for the Croatian healthcare system in the light of the accession process are manifold and relate to the healthcare system, institutions, medical staff as well as patients. In this process, before and after accession to the OECD, by adhering to international standards, learning from best practices and improving data culture, Croatia can work towards achieving better quality of health care, improved health outcomes and a more efficient health system. In this process, it is important that policy-makers and stakeholders in Croatia address the challenges that may arise during this process in order to ensure a successful transition to OECD membership and related benefits for the health sector.