Challenging selective contracting: reforms for enhancing patient empowerment in healthcare

Expanding patient choice in healthcare enhances system efficacy and patient empowerment. However, addressing socioeconomic disparities is essential to ensure equitable access to high-quality care. Future policies should focus on tools and strategies that cater to all patient groups, including accessible and easily understood comprehensive quality assessments and national appointment scheduling systems. Further research should cover a wider range of healthcare systems to understand the challenges and opportunities in patient choice reforms comprehensively.