[FORCE-FEEDING OR LIFE-SAVING? - DEALING WITH HUNGER STRIKES IN ISRAEL]

Although the management of quality of care by the health funds has contributed to its improvement, medical teams criticize the way it is performed. Many call for renewed values-driven thinking and to leave the concern for quality in the hands of the medical teams, relying on "self control and enforcement", based on values, compassion, concern for others, patient service, discipline and personal responsibility. This article aims to present an economic perspective on the measurement of quality of care. It places the development of "measuring the quality of care and its management" within the development of the organization of care, health insurance and payment arrangements for medical teams. The conclusion is that there is no "first best" method to improve the quality of care. Each method - including the quantitative-functional measurement-based method used in many systems and the value-driven, self enforced method proposed by many - has advantages and disadvantages. The choice of a method should be based on these two sides, discussed jointly by medical teams, the health funds, hospitals and the Health Ministry.