Comparative Study of Hospitals’ Transparency in Eight Countries

Comparative Study of Hospitals’ Transparency in Eight Countries Hossein Bouzarjomehri1, Ali Akbari-Sari2*, Ebrahim Jafari-Pooyan3, Yasaman Herandi4, Soheila Rajaie5 1M.Sc. in Healthcare Management, Health Economics and Management Group, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2Professor, Ph.D. in Healthcare Management & Health Policy, Health Economics and Management Group, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 3Associate Professor, Ph.D. in Healthcare Management, Health Economics and Management Group, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 4Pharm.D., Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 5M.Sc. Student in Health Economics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Abstract Introduction: Information asymmetry leads to less informed patients in choosing healthcare providers. Therefore, countries have moved forward to increase providers’ transparency, information symmetry and patients’ power. This study was designed to compare countries’ experiences about hospitals’ transparency. Methods: The list of countries in this comparative study was prepared with the help of the Global Open Data Index and Open Data Barometer. Searching for official websites with keywords like “hospital transparency” and “hospital comparing tool,” the final websites were obtained. Finally, indicators and types of organization of these websites were compared. Results: Websites from eight countries were selected. The number of indicators for comparing hospitals was variable, from 17 in Australia to 195 in the UK. Type of indicators could be categorized into several groups, including waiting times, length of stay, patients’ experience, staff’s experience, treatment outcomes, infection control, and price of care. Studied experiences showed that countries developed hospitals’ transparency due to their needs and limitations. Some countries like the UK and the US were pioneers but there is a global trend to develop transparency in the health system. Conclusion: By increasing public awareness, governments moved forward to develop transparency and the health sector was not an exception. Although private companies and startups are engaged in these innovations, governments have the main role to build the legal, political, and data infrastructures. Therefore, it is recommended that Iranian policymakers and politicians develop transparency of hospitals and health systems gradually using global experiences and considering domestic conditions and capacities. Keywords: Transparency; Access to Information; Choice Behavior; Public Reporting; Information Symmetry; Hospital Please cite this article as follows: Bouzarjomehri H, Akbari-Sari A, Jafari-Pooyan E, Herandi Y, Rajaie S. Comparative study of hospitals’ transparency in eight countries. Hakim Health Sys Res. 2019; 22(4): 273-283. *Corresponding Author: Department of Health Management and Economics, 4th Floor, New Building, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tel: +98-2188989128, Fax: +98-2188989129, Email: [email protected]