Strategic Purchasing as an Evidence-Based Approach for Reducing Medical  Overuse

Morteza  Arab-Zozani; Javad  Ghoddoosi-Nejad; Carlos Manuel  da Silva Martins

doi:10.18502/htaa.v7i2.13817

Morteza Arab-Zozani Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Javad Ghoddoosi-Nejad School of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Carlos Manuel da Silva Martins Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v7i2.13817

Keywords: Medical Overuse; Value-Based Purchasing; Delivery of Health Care; Strategic Purchasing

Abstract

Overuse of healthcare services is an increasingly reported issue in health systems worldwide. Given the breadth and importance of the subject, identifying strategies/tools that can prevent medical overuse is beneficial. The authors of this article believe that strategic purchasing, because of its high capabilities, is one of the tools that can help avoid medical overuse. Also, strategic purchasing and capable government stewardship can lead to the optimal use of resources and the promotion of the right services. In general, and by expressing some strategic purchasing features that contrast with the drivers of overuse, it can be concluded that strategic purchasing can be used as a synergistic tool, along with other tools, to prevent and even reduce the overuse of healthcare services. In addition, strategic purchasing and capable government stewardship can lead to the optimal use of resources and the promotion of the right services.