Safety of care: the lack of transparency of the Local Health Authorities and the great confusion among citizens increase the risks

Numerous studies show that a good cultural level is a determining factor in taking care of one's health, living better and longer. Knowing the fundamental principles of quality and safety of care and knowing how each citizen can contribute to improving them is essential to orient oneself in the complex world of healthcare and actively participate in the continuous improvement of services.

People often find themselves alone in having to decide who to entrust their health to, not only in choosing a family doctor, but also in more complex situations that require the use of specialized centers or clinicians with proven experience. Decisions are mostly based on advice from doctors, friends or family, or on information found online, the reliability of which can vary greatly.

Although Law 24/2017 establishes the obligation of transparency by healthcare facilities regarding the quality and safety of care, we are still far from real application. Facilities do not always publish data on their healthcare performance, thus limiting citizens' ability to make informed choices. Doctors' CVs are often absent, not standardized or not updated, and facility websites rarely report process or outcome indicators, which are fundamental tools to support decisions.

Even when some indicators are published - such as mortality rates for specific surgical interventions, as part of the Agenas National Outcomes Program - the quality of the data is not always high, compromising the reliability of the results. Furthermore, most citizens do not have the skills to interpret them correctly.

Artificial intelligence is also revolutionizing the healthcare sector, offering innovative tools for accessing information. However, it is essential that the sources from which the data comes are reliable and the content understandable for the public.