The Lancet Global Health Commission on High Quality Health Systems: countries are seizing the quality agenda

Abstract

The health needs and expectations of populations around the world are changing, and health systems need to change with them. As disease burdens shift from infectious to noncommunicable diseases, as citizens grow to expect more from their health systems, and as leaders set ambitious global goals for health, health systems are struggling to keep pace.1-3 While improving access to and utilization of care were important for reducing infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health, it is increasingly clear that skilled, integrated, and longitudinal health care is needed in addition to improved access and utilization to address emergent chronic and complex conditions.4-6 In others words, quality is more essential than ever.