Quality assurance standards in healthcare

Abstract

Background: The Association Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Moldova (RM) creates a framework for closer cooperation in many areas, including health care. This requires adjustment of legislation and quality assurance standards in RM to the EU acts and international instruments. The article provides an overview of the concept of healthcare quality and related standardization processes for quality assurance and health care assessment. It comprises a literature review of the published work in this area with a special emphasis on the standards and normative legislature applied to healthcare as well as a brief description of the regulatory standardization structures and organizations at the local, regional and international level. Conclusions: Healthcare quality does not represent an absolute standard of excellence, but rather a much wider concept comprising optimal service delivery for all involved parties and a shared commitment for continuous improvement. After proclaiming its independence, RM has adopted a series of legislations aimed at adjusting the national standards to those implemented at the EU and international level, having become an affiliated member of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and a correspondent member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These steps are in complete agreement with the European integration course taken by the Republic of Moldova. Continuing these efforts is the key to reaping the benefits of European integration.