Emerging electronic cigarette policies in European member states, Canada, and the United States.

BACKGROUND: Increased electronic cigarette (ECIG) use has motivated new regulations to address the changing landscape of tobacco use and promote public health. METHOD: This policy scan compares ECIG prevalence and regulations in the European Union (EU), Canada, and the United States (US) at the federal- and local-level to foster a policy dialogue around modern tobacco prevention and control regulations. RESULTS: Among young adults, 40 % in the US, 29 % in Canada, and 28 % in the EU report ever using an ECIG. Results from the policy scan find significant variation in approach to regulating ECIGs. EU member states are subject to the most stringent requirements regarding nicotine concentration regulations, and several member states have also opted to ban flavors and/or require plain packaging or out of sight retail sales. Among EU and US states, taxation is a popular strategy, though taxing strategies vary widely. Regarding youth use, US states have led the way for increasing the legal age of sale to 21 at the federal level, and in Canada recent federal regulations are innovative in their approach to banning advertising that may appeal to youth. CONCLUSION: Strategies to achieve public health goals related to ECIGs vary widely, with federalism playing an important role in policy innovation, offering opportunities to evaluate their effectiveness and inform future regulations.

Can people afford to pay for health care?: new evidence on financial protection in Lithuania: summary

This review is part of a series of country-based studies generating new evidence on financial protection in European health systems. Financial protection is central to universal health coverage and a core dimension of health system performance.This review assesses the extent to which people in Lithuania experience financial hardship when they use health care. The analysis draws on household budget survey data collected in 2005, 2008 and 2012 by Statistics Lithuania. It focuses on two indicators of financial protection: catastrophic out-of-pocket payments and impoverishing out-of-pocket payments. It also considers the presence of access barriers leading to unmet need for health care.

Ar gyventojai gali susimokėti už sveikatos priežiūrą?: Nauji duomenys apie finansinę apsaugą Lietuvoje: santrauka

Ši apžvalga – tai šalies tyrimų serijosdalis, kurioje pateikiami naujausiduomenys apie finansinę Europossveikatos sistemų apsaugą. Finansinėapsauga ypač svarbi visuotineisveikatos priežiūros aprėpčiaiir tinkamam sveikatos sistemosfunkcionavimui.

Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Lithuania

The review assesses the extent to which people in Lithuania experience financial hardship when they use health care. The analysis draws on household budget survey data collected in 2005, 2008 and 2012 by Statistics Lithuania. It focuses on two indicators of financial protection: catastrophic out-of-pocket payments and impoverishing out-of-pocket payments. It also considers the presence of access barriers leading to unmet need for health care. This review is part of a series of country-based studies generating new evidence on financial protection in European health systems.