The quality-of-care agenda in fragile conflict-affected and vulnerable settings

摘要

Inadequate quality of care claims between 5.7 million and 8.4 million lives each year in low- and middle-income countries.1 Access to quality care could prevent 2.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease, 1 million newborn deaths, and half of all maternal deaths annually; yet many settings lack even basic infrastructure such as water in health facilities.2 In 2018, three global reports affirmed the need for improving quality of care as countries pursue universal health coverage.1–3 While a significant body of knowledge exists on how to address quality, action is still required to accelerate global progress,4 particularly in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings, home to almost a quarter of the world’s population.5 Studies estimate that such settings account for 60% of preventable maternal deaths, 53% of deaths in children younger than 5 years, and 45% of neonatal deaths.6 Furthermore, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has highlighted the challenges the most vulnerable face in realizing their right to quality health care.