The dangers of managerial perversion: quality assurance in primary health care.
The promotion of primary health care (PHC) at the Alma Ata conference has been followed by a variety of managerial initiatives in support of the development of PHC. One of the more promising vehicles has been the implementation of quality assurance mechanisms. This paper reviews recent examples of this genre and argues that the thrust of both primary health care and quality assurance are in danger of being distorted by a rather antiquated approach to management.
Chase
E
E
Department of International and Comparative Education, Institute of Education, London, UK.
Carr-Hill
R
R
D018672:Community Health Planning; D003256:Community Participation; D006126:Group Processes; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006302:Health Services Research; D008332:Management Quality Circles; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards