Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi survey

Background There are substantial issues with the quality of care (QoC) received by persons living with chronic conditions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). One possible channel to improve QoC is through financing, specifically purchasing arrangements for health services. Thi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bruno Meessen, Megumi Rosenberg, Grace Marie V. Ku
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Global Health Action
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2518667
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839635026540494848
author Bruno Meessen
Megumi Rosenberg
Grace Marie V. Ku
author_facet Bruno Meessen
Megumi Rosenberg
Grace Marie V. Ku
author_sort Bruno Meessen
collection DOAJ
description Background There are substantial issues with the quality of care (QoC) received by persons living with chronic conditions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). One possible channel to improve QoC is through financing, specifically purchasing arrangements for health services. This has been actively explored in high-income country settings, generating a growing body of scientific knowledge. Objective To understand the potential and the constraints of using purchasing arrangements as a way to improve QoC for chronic conditions in resource-constrained settings. Methods A Delphi survey was conducted with 49 international participants with content expertise in chronic care management, health financing, or both, and context expertise in resource-constrained settings including in Small Island Developing States or Fragile and Conflict-Affected States, to assess the possible contribution of purchasing arrangements to QoC for chronic conditions with respect to specific types of care providers (e.g. patients and relatives, community health workers, public health centres), decentralized coordination bodies and purchasing agencies in such settings. Results There was a high level of consensus among the Delphi panel in favour of considering purchasing arrangements as one of the levers to improve QoC for people living with chronic conditions. Specific directions for action were identified along with their caveats. Conclusions The challenge of improving the quality of chronic care in resource-constrained settings is extensive and requires immediate attention. Leveraging purchasing arrangements is one promising channel to strengthen quality chronic care in such settings.
format Article
id doaj-art-033d2c0c43da47c8a7e19f3d9a27a89c
institution Matheson Library
issn 1654-9880
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Global Health Action
spelling doaj-art-033d2c0c43da47c8a7e19f3d9a27a89c2025-07-09T13:40:42ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802025-12-0118110.1080/16549716.2025.25186672518667Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi surveyBruno Meessen0Megumi Rosenberg1Grace Marie V. Ku2World Health OrganizationWorld Health OrganizationInstitute of Tropical MedicineBackground There are substantial issues with the quality of care (QoC) received by persons living with chronic conditions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). One possible channel to improve QoC is through financing, specifically purchasing arrangements for health services. This has been actively explored in high-income country settings, generating a growing body of scientific knowledge. Objective To understand the potential and the constraints of using purchasing arrangements as a way to improve QoC for chronic conditions in resource-constrained settings. Methods A Delphi survey was conducted with 49 international participants with content expertise in chronic care management, health financing, or both, and context expertise in resource-constrained settings including in Small Island Developing States or Fragile and Conflict-Affected States, to assess the possible contribution of purchasing arrangements to QoC for chronic conditions with respect to specific types of care providers (e.g. patients and relatives, community health workers, public health centres), decentralized coordination bodies and purchasing agencies in such settings. Results There was a high level of consensus among the Delphi panel in favour of considering purchasing arrangements as one of the levers to improve QoC for people living with chronic conditions. Specific directions for action were identified along with their caveats. Conclusions The challenge of improving the quality of chronic care in resource-constrained settings is extensive and requires immediate attention. Leveraging purchasing arrangements is one promising channel to strengthen quality chronic care in such settings.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2518667quality of care for chronic conditions
spellingShingle Bruno Meessen
Megumi Rosenberg
Grace Marie V. Ku
Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi survey
Global Health Action
quality of care for chronic conditions
title Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi survey
title_full Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi survey
title_fullStr Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi survey
title_full_unstemmed Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi survey
title_short Improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource-constrained settings: insights from an international Delphi survey
title_sort improving the quality of chronic care through purchasing arrangements in resource constrained settings insights from an international delphi survey
topic quality of care for chronic conditions
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2518667
work_keys_str_mv AT brunomeessen improvingthequalityofchroniccarethroughpurchasingarrangementsinresourceconstrainedsettingsinsightsfromaninternationaldelphisurvey
AT megumirosenberg improvingthequalityofchroniccarethroughpurchasingarrangementsinresourceconstrainedsettingsinsightsfromaninternationaldelphisurvey
AT gracemarievku improvingthequalityofchroniccarethroughpurchasingarrangementsinresourceconstrainedsettingsinsightsfromaninternationaldelphisurvey