Do We Have the Spark?

Zdr Varst. 2022 Mar 21;61(2):73-75. doi: 10.2478/sjph-2022-0010. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Upgrading any system is challenging. Neglecting continuous monitoring and evaluation might impose solutions that worsen the situation. Primary orientation toward increasing productivity is the main reason for the tremendous decline in the accessibility of outpatient services in Slovenia since 2015, in addition to additional funds from the state budget. In the actual 'fee-for-service', providers are incentivised to deliver more expensive services, not first visits. Although the stakeholders are not to blame, it is high time for an orientation towards patients' needs: a breakaway from inefficient technical solutions, an acceptance of patients as active participants in decision-making, measurement of their treatment outcomes, and the adoption of already proven advanced payment models, such as population-based payments. The journey towards value-based healthcare must start!

Nadgradnja vsakega sistema predstavlja poseben izziv, opustitev stalnega spremljanja in vrednotenja pa lahko vse vgrajene vzpodbude pripelje do neželenega rezultata, celo poslabšanja razmer. Ob glavni usmeritvi k stalnemu povečevanju produktivnosti je prav to eden glavnih vzrokov za izjemno poslabšanje dostopnosti specialističnih ambulantnih storitev v Sloveniji po letu 2015 navkljub visokim dodatnim sredstvom iz državnega proračuna. Z veljavnim sistemom plačevanja po storitvi so bili izvajalci vzpodbujeni k zagotavljanju dragih storitev, kar seveda niso prvi pregledi. Nobenemu deležniku v sistemu ne gre očitati, je pa napočil skrajni čas, da se končno usmerimo k potrebam bolnikov: da se od neučinkovitih rešitev premaknemo k sprejemu pacientov kot aktivnih odločevalcev, merjenju rezultatov zdravljenja in sprejetju dokazano delujočih naprednih plačilnih modelov, kot so plačila, usmerjena na prebivalstvo. Začnimo potovanje k zdravstvenemu sistemu, kjer zdravstvena obravnava temelji na vrednosti!

Keywords: accessibility; incentives; payment models; value-based healthcare.

Grants and funding

This editorial was produced without external funding