FILLING THE GAP: DEVELOPING INDICATORS FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE COVERAGE OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN THE CONTEXT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

Background: Universal health coverage (UHC) indicators for monitoring the progress of effective service coverage for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are still lacking. This paper aims to prove the possibility of adapting Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) as indicators for effective service coverage of NCDs in the context of UHC. Materials and Methods: By reviewing major literatures on UHC framework and indicators between the years 2012 and 2015, service coverage indicators criteria and effective coverage indicator criteria were compiled. Two QPIs: one on breast cancer and one on acute myocardial infarction from renowned sources were selected as examples and their fulfilment of the indicator criteria was analysed. Result: The findings demonstrated that the selected QPIs were able to fulfil the criteria for indicators to measure effective service coverage component of Universal Health Coverage. Conclusion: It is proposed that suitable QPIs be considered to be adapted as indicators for UHC monitoring for non-communicable diseases. Keywords: Quality performance indicators, effective service coverage, universal health coverage.