Access to affordable, quality healthcare is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the South African Constitution and affirmed by the World Health Organisation. A sustainable healthcare system is built on three pillars: access, cost, and quality. “Quality” encompasses the clinical care delivered by healthcare professionals across various settings, including private practices, clinics, hospitals, and emergency services.
HQA: Championing Healthcare Quality Measurement in South Africa
HQA, a non-profit and public benefit organisation, plays a pivotal role in measuring and reporting on healthcare quality in South Africa. Covering 84% of medical scheme members, HQA has developed over 200 health quality indicators across primary care, maternity and newborn care, chronic disease management, and hospitalisation.
“The importance of measuring quality in healthcare is key to the sustainability of the health sector. It is instrumental in ensuring patient safety by identifying and mitigating risks, leading to fewer medical errors and improved patient outcomes. It also drives cost efficiency by pinpointing inefficiencies and reducing unnecessary procedures,” comments Louis Botha, CEO of HQA.
Botha believes that healthcare quality measurement cultivates a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and transparency, enabling benchmarking against best practices and fostering enhancements in healthcare delivery.
“These efforts collectively contribute to a more effective, reliable, and patient-centred healthcare system,” he says.
The Importance of Healthcare Quality Measurement
Medical schemes, doctors, and hospitals can benefit significantly from HQA’s reports, which offer national benchmarks for comparing performance against both local and international standards. These insights promote a self-regulating environment. For instance, HQA’s 2023 report indicated a significant increase in diabetic care management, with 70.33% of patients receiving at least one HbA1c test in the past year, a substantial rise from 45.54% in 2010. However, areas such as breast cancer screening show room for improvement, with only 22.2% of eligible women receiving mammograms in the past two years.
These metrics not only help healthcare providers pinpoint areas for improvement but also empower patients by stating the quality of care they should expect.
Collaborative Approach and Future Directions
HQA’s collaborative approach, which champions voluntary participation and assures data security and confidential reporting, has been fundamental to its success. This ‘no blame, no shame’ platform enables participants to benchmark performance over time and against peers anonymously, encouraging ongoing enhancements for the benefit of healthcare consumers.
Supported by a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including major medical schemes, administrators, managed care organisations, pharmaceutical companies, doctor networks and hospital groups, HQA is expanding its clinical quality metrics to include outcome measures. This expansion aligns with recommendations from the Health Market Inquiry (HMI) Report and involves enhancing collaboration with healthcare facilities and practitioners.
HQA’s 2024 Industry Results Presentation and Clinical Quality Conference
HQA will be sharing the latest results at its 20th Industry Results Presentation and Clinical Conference, scheduled to be held virtually on 16 August 2024. This event will showcase data representing the majority of South African medical scheme beneficiaries. (Please see the programme, attached.)
By making more results publicly available, HQA not only empowers patients and the broader community but also reinforces a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in healthcare.
“Measuring healthcare quality will be vital as South Africa transitions to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) within a National Health Insurance system (NHI). By systematically evaluating the quality of healthcare, and health outcomes, we ensure that our healthcare services meet high standards, identify areas for improvement, and allocate resources effectively. Through these efforts, we can build a robust healthcare system that guarantees every citizen access to quality healthcare, ultimately promoting a healthier nation,” concludes Botha.
