Data on medical quality
For many years politicians, health authorities and patients’ organisations have been asking for the publication of data on the quality of the treatment provided in Swiss hospitals, as envisaged by law (Article 58 of the Law on Health Insurance [KVG]). For many years only very little or no data on medical quality have been published. Only after comparis.ch, in the Summer of 2007, published the results of a country-wide inquiry which it arranged to be carried out on its behalf, did H+ (Swiss Hospital Association) and the Federal Office of Health announce concrete projects.
The publication of data on medical quality should provide the general population with information on the level of quality achieved in the medical sector. The measurement and recording of the quality of medical treatment are costly procedures which are methodologically complex and susceptible to error. The publication of correct data is to be welcomed; the publication of incorrect or inappropriate data, on the other hand, can lead to unnecessary uncertainty on the part of the general population and in the opinion of the SAMS is problematical from both the technical and ethical points of view.
In view of the competition that is already beginning with regard to providing the «most rapid» and «most comprehensive» publication of data on medical quality, the SAMS has set up a working-group headed by Prof. Johann Steurer from Zurich, which it has charged with the task of drawing up appropriate «Standards for the publication of data on the quality of medical treatment» and addressing in particular also the ethical aspects.
