Impact of noncommunicable diseases on direct medical costs and worker productivity, Saudi Arabia

Background: The prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has been increasing in Saudi Arabia. Aims: Our objective was to estimate the effect of NCDs on direct medical costs and workforce productivity in Saudi Arabia. Methods: To estimate direct medical costs, we estimated the unit cost of treating 10 NCDs, then multiplied the unit cost by disease prevalence and summed across diseases. To estimate workforce productivity losses, we multiplied gross domestic product per person in the labour force by the loss in productivity from each NCD and the prevalence in the labour force of each NCD. Results: We estimated annual direct medical costs of 11.8 billion international dollars (Int$) for the 10 NCDs assessed (13.6% of total annual health expenditure). We estimated workforce productivity losses of Int$ 75.7 billion (4.5% of gross domestic product). Conclusion: The economic burden of NCDs in Saudi Arabia – particularly the effect on worker productivity – is substantial.

Всемирная организация здравоохранения. Вместе выстроим лучше. Дорожная карта для осуществления Глобальных стратегических направлений укрепления сестринского и акушерского дела в Европейском регионе ВОЗ

Медсестры и акушерки составляют половину численности профессиональных медицинских работников во всем мире. Они взаимодействуют с людьми на протяжении всей жизни и во всех типах условий, что составляет около 90% от общего числа контактов между пациентами и медицинскими работниками. Медсестры и акушерки могут предоставлять безопасные, высококачественные, действенные и ресурсоэффективные медицинские услуги, особенно для уязвимых, малообеспеченных и труднодоступных групп населения. Предоставление медсестрам и акушеркам возможности работать с полной реализацией своего профессионального потенциала имеет большое значение для достижения Целей в области устойчивого развития, обеспечения всеобщего охвата услугами здравоохранения и для удовлетворения текущих и будущих потребностей населения в области охраны здоровья. Настоящая Дорожная карта отражает первоочередные задачи, поставленные в Европейской программе работы ВОЗ, и содержит набор мероприятий, организованный в соответствии с четырьмя ключевыми областями политики и 12 стратегическими приоритетами, изложенными в документе ВОЗ «Глобальные стратегические направления укрепления сестринского и акушерского дела на 2021–2025 гг.» Предложены мероприятия для государств-членов и описаны конкретные области технической поддержки, которую может оказать Европейское региональное бюро ВОЗ.

Intersectionality of gender in recruitment and retention of the health workforce in Africa: a rapid review

Background: Despite the importance of gender and intersectionality in policy-making for human resources for health, these issues have not been given adequate consideration in health workforce recruitment and retention in Africa. Aims: The objective of this review was to show how gender intersects with other sociocultural determinants of health to create different experiences of marginalization and/or privilege in the recruitment and retention of human resources for health in Africa. Methods: This was rapid review of studies that investigated the intersectionality of gender in relation to recruitment and retention of health workers in Africa. A PubMed search was undertaken in April 2020 to identify eligible studies. Search terms used included: gender, employment, health workers, health workforce, recruitment and retention. Criteria for inclusion of studies were: primary research; related to the role of gender and intersectionality in recruitment and retention of the health workforce; conducted in Africa; quantitative or qualitative study design; and published in English. Results: Of 193 publications found, nine fulfilled the study inclusion criteria and were selected. Feminization of the nursing and midwifery profession results in difficulties in recruiting and deploying female health workers. Male domination of management positions was reported. Gender power relationship in the recruitment and retention of the health workforce is shaped by marriage and cultural norms. Occupational segregation, sexual harassment and discrimination against female health workers were reported. Conclusion: This review highlights the importance of considering gender analysis in the development of policies and programmes for human resources for health in Africa.

Building better together: roadmap to guide implementation of the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery in the WHO European Region.

Nurses and midwives comprise half of the professional health workforce globally, interact with people frombirth to death across all types of settings and account for about 90% of contacts between patients andhealth professionals. They can deliver safe, high-quality, effective and efficient health services, particularly forvulnerable, disadvantaged and hard-to-reach groups. Enabling and supporting nurses and midwives to work totheir full potential is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and supporting universal healthcoverage, and to meeting current and future population health needs. This Roadmap reflects the priorities ofthe WHO European Programme of Work to set out activities organized according to the four areas of focusof the WHO Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021−2025 report (education, jobs, leadershipand service delivery) across 12 policy priorities. It proposes activities for Member States of the WHO EuropeanRegion and outlines specific areas of technical support the WHO Regional Office for Europe can provide.

Factors affecting the employability of refugee Syrian health-care professionals in Turkey

This field assessment of factors affecting the employability of Syrian health professionals included 101 employed or unemployed Syrian doctors and nurses from five migrant health training centres in Ankara, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul and Şanlıurfa. Of these, 53 (52.5%) were currently employed by the SIHHAT project and 48 (47.5%) were not. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data between 11 and 22 February 2019. Most employed interviewees had been delighted to find a job in their chosen profession and were happy with their working conditions. Despite daily challenges related to family settlement, children’s education and keeping in touch with relatives abroad, most were highly satisfied with the relative stability, peace and security of life in Turkey. In contrast, unemployed interviewees were disappointed with the lack of job opportunities and uncertain about their future prospects. Many relied on family support, savings, part-time jobs and odd jobs. The main concerns were cultural barriers, long working hours, high workloads, lack of vacation time, the employment of specialist physicians as general practitioners, higher living costs in larger cities and distance from the Syrian Arab Republic.

Gli impatti economici e sociali e i benefici dei sistemi sanitari: sintesi

La determinazione a raggiungere risultati migliori per l’economia e la società va di pari passo con le sollecitazioni quotidiane che i responsabili politici devono gestire per contenere la spesa pubblica e fornire prestazioni superiori. In nessun altro settore ciò è più evidente come in quello sanitario, dove i costi sembrano aumentare vertiginosamente; di conseguenza, il settore è sottoposto ad enormi pressioni per tagliare stanziamenti e servizi. Questa pressione è alimentata da una convinzione diffusa a livello di governo e delle istituzioni finanziarie che il settore sanitario rappresenti un salasso per l’economia. Questo rapporto presenta nuove evidenze, metodi pratici e opportunità per mostrare come il settore sanitario sia essenziale per un’economia stabile e funzionante in tutti i Paesi della regione europea dell’OMS. Questo lavoro sostiene l’attuazione degli impegni di investimento e solidarietà risultanti dalla Riunione di alto livello sui sistemi sanitari per la prosperità e la solidarietà (Tallinn, giugno 2018) in occasione del decimo anniversario della Carta di Tallinn, oltre agli impegni di Salute 2020 per ridurre le disuguaglianze in salute affrontando i determinanti sociali della salute.