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September 6, 2018 – Universal health coverage is not enough to save lives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), according to a report by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Health. The expansion of access, they write, must accompany investments in health systems to ensure the quality of care.
The study found that an estimated 8.6 million deaths in low- and middle-income countries each year from treatable diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases, maternal disorders, and road accidents. Of these deaths, 3.6 million are due to inadequate access to care, but many more (5 million) are due to poor quality care. For example, a provider may spend too little time with a patient or not be qualified to diagnose his condition.
The study was published online on September 5, 2018 at The lancet in the framework of the World Health Commission on high quality health systems.
"Quality care should not be the responsibility of the elite, nor an aspiration for the distant future; it should be the DNA of all health systems, "said Commission Chair Margaret Kruk, Associate Professor of Global Health, in a statement. Lancet Press release. "The human right to health does not make sense without quality care."
In an interview with NPRKruk called for a transformation in the way the global health community supports LMICs. "We must stop inundating countries with quick fixes and brilliant solutions," she said.
Read it NPR article: What kills 5 million people a year? It's not just a disease
Learn more
Q & A: Margaret Kruk, improving the quality of health care in resource-poor countries (Harvard Public Health magazine)
Get high quality health care worldwide (News from Harvard Chan School)
– Amy Roeder
Photo: iStock
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