The effect of economisation of operations on patient safety

Abstract

In health care we operate with limited sources on one hand, and with unlimited and increasing needs on the other. Thus, especially in the time of general economic and financial crisis, demands for better effectiveness, quality and responsibility for caring treatment of sources are not extraordinary. In the last years, therefore, we can notice an increasing tendency for transferring methods, tools and activities of economics or the market to health care. Many consider privatization of public health care useful, listing advantages such as positive attitude to work, sensible expense coordination, adjustment, creativity, responsibility for business success, et cetera. However, transferring marketing methods into health care, privatization and economization does not bring benefits to the patients. Generally, it results in reorganization of means and services between lower and higher classes of citizens, and indirectly to a lower safety for most patients. Despite all enumerated doubts, health care needs a new story written, one which will talk about a successful and effective management with the final aim of a higher quality of health services and patient safety.