Private and public medicine: a comparison of quality perceptions

How do physicians and patients perceive the quality of medical services offered? Is this perception the same in the private and public sector? On the basis of a survey conducted in Greece on a 2x2 design with 20 respondents in each cell, several interesting characteristics were identified. Patients in the public sector attribute greater importance to resources of a medical and technical nature and do not seem particularly concerned about the contextual or environmental features of a hospital. Private patients are expecting a more holistic approach to their treatment and expect some attention to be directed to their emotional needs. Private surgeons are worried about the limited basic resources in private hospitals and their inability to satisfy the non‐clinical needs of their patients. Important lessons may be drawn for policy makers in terms of priorities and resource allocation in relation to the quality of service both expected and provided in both the private and public sector hospitals.