Is Latvia Ready For The Value-Based Healthcare Era?

The Value Based Health Care (VBHC) has recently become the leading conceptual approach to health care in the world, but no value-based healthcare programme has yet been established in Latvia. Despite the critical interest in the implementation of VBHC programmes on the part of the health sector stakeholders, still the key persons in VBHC programmes are physicians. Goal of research: To clarify the views of physicians and young physicians on values-based health care fundamental principles and their vision for their further inclusion in Latvian health care. Method: The research uses data from a survey conducted among physicians and young physicians who practice at Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital.Results: 42% of physicians responded that patient surveys on the effectiveness of treatment for certain groups of patients could help to improve the results of treatment; 51% of physicians responded that patient surveys on their experience during treatment can help to improve their treatment results; much more cautious were physicians regarding the question whether comparing the results of treatment between physicians teams/hospitals could help to improve the results – 39% replied ‘Yes’ and 24% ‘Rather yes than no’; similarly cautious was the reply to the question whether the voluntary public availability of treatment results from a medical treatment facility could have a positive impact on the visibility of the service provider – 31% replied ‘Yes’ and 25% ‘Rather yes’; the convincing 82% of replies were to the question whether an exchange of experience and knowledge in the team of physicians helps to improve the results of treatment; the convincing majority of 86% of physicians believe that a multidisciplinary team of physicians can help improve the results of treatment; as a positive response, can be considered that 63% of respondents think that reforms in health care may be initiated not only by the Ministry of Health. The most interesting answer would be to the question of what management strategies should be developed in the healthcare system, where the first place, with 349 points, was taken by the answer “Cooperation with external partners (manufacturers, scientific centres, insurers, IT and other service providers)”.Conclusions: The results of the survey show that the application of VBHC principles will not contradict to views of physicians on traditional management models in health care and their role in it.Proposals: However, prior to starting the introduction of VBHC programmes in Latvian health care, there are grounds for launching discussions on the benefits of VBHC compared to the traditional management model. Policy recommendations: For hospital management and health sector supervisors to avoid resistance of physicians to implementing VBHC, the strategy should focus not on VBHC resource-efficient programmes but on patient-centred healthcare.