InterQuality

International Research on Quality in Healthcare

Led by the Medical University of Warsaw and implemented by a consortium of eight partners from the European Union and the United States in addition to the coordinator, the InterQuality project investigates the effects of financing systems on the quality of healthcare. Based on administrative and survey data, InterQuality seeks answers to how the healthcare systems are financed in Europe, what are their shortcomings and strengths, and how the healthcare financing reforms are communicated to the public by the main actors, namely the governments.

The rationale behind InterQuality is the acknowledgement that increasing healthcare spending often does not improve quality, efficiency or availability of medical services. The existing health financing reforms undertaken in Europe have encountered serious technical and political difficulties. It is therefore very much needed today to develop scientifically proven tools to help make decisions regarding the selection of appropriate financing mechanisms in different areas of the healthcare system.

The knowledge gained from the research will provide a valuable input for European countries to choose the right financing mechanisms in different areas of their healthcare systems, according to their needs and resources, and to pay not more, but smarter.

Objectives

1. Investigate ways of funding and incentive systems affecting the quality, effectiveness and equity of access to health care in four areas:

• Pharmaceutical care
• Hospital care
• Ambulatory care
• Integrated health care

2. Develop practical integrated models of health care financing
3. Determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the developed models for the determinants of the health systems in the countries of the project partners.

To achieve these goals the study will address the following specific areas of research:

• Incentive Measures
• Clinical aspects: quality, clinical efficacy, and safety
• Economics: cost control, cost effectiveness, resource utilization
• Equality of access.

Expected Results

• An extensive literature review on the effect of financing schemes on the quality, efficiency and availability of healthcare services
• Guidelines, a set of adopted tools and outcome measures for further projects on healthcare quality evaluation
• Results of effects of patients’ education programmes on efficiency, quality and equity of healthcare
• Proposed model of more effective healthcare financing
• Policy recommendations and guidelines on the best models of healthcare financing

Partners and Roles:

• Medical University of Warsaw, Poland (WP2: Values/Benefits, WP3: Pharmaceutical care, WP8: Scientific coordination & Conclusion development, WP9: Management)
• Hanover Medical School, Germany (WP6: Integrated care)
• The Research Unit of Health Economics, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
• University of Catania, Italy (WP4: Hospital care)
• Urban Institute Washington, USA (WP1: Incentives and payment models)
• University of York, UK (WP5: Outpatient, Home care)
• SOPHARM, Poland
• Standing Committee of European Doctors
• European Patients’ Forum (WP7: Dissemination)

EPF’s Role

EPF is involved as an associate partner and will lead the work related to dissemination of project progress and results. Its responsibilities are the preparation of the project website and logo, promotional materials, and overall dissemination strategy.

EPF will ensure that the emerging evidence and project outcomes are shared with the target groups and, through wider dissemination, support the strengthening of healthcare financing system. More specifically, EPF’s responsibilities are the following within the InterQuality project:

• to provide a dissemination strategy and carry out its implementation,
• to create the project website for promotion and better accessibility of the project outcomes,
• to raise awareness of the project progress and results amongst policy and decision makers, healthcare professionals and managers, payers, patient and citizen’s associations at European and national levels,
• to maintain communication with external audiences,
• to disseminate the results of the project during the final conference.