Accreditation as a path to achieving universal quality health coverage.
As many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) pursue health care reforms in order to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), development of national accreditation systems has become an increasingly common quality-enhancing strategy endorsed by payers, including Ministries of Health. This article describes the major considerations for health system leaders in developing and implementing a sustainable and successful national accreditation program, using the 20-year evolution of the Thai health care accreditation system as a model. The authors illustrate the interface between accreditation as a continuous quality improvement strategy, health insurance and other health financing schemes, and the overall goal of achieving universal health coverage.
Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 20 University Road, 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA. kmate@IHI.org.
Kedar S
KS
Mate
Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 20 University Road, 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA. annelrooney14@gmail.com.
Anne L
AL
Rooney
Healthcare Accreditation Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. anuwat@ha.or.th.
Anuwat
A
Supachutikul
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, New Delhi, India. gyani@ahpi.in.
Girdhar
G
Gyani
D000068:Accreditation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003906:Developing Countries; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D058996:Quality Improvement; D013785:Thailand; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*