Policy Brief: Issue 36 Indicators for Primary Care Services: Importance, issues, and approach towards development

In the Universal Health Coverage scheme, primary care services are very important as these are the basic health services which all citizens should have access to regardless of their health conditions. Thus, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in 2014 initiated the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), which uses financial mechanisms to incentivize hospitals to provide quality primary care services based on the designated indicators. However, current research has shown that the QOF should be amended and revised in many areas. One of these areas is the development of quality indicators so that they are appropriate and reflect the actual quality of services provided and are accepted by all stakeholders.