Changes in the Number of Physicians and Hospital Bed Capacity in Europe.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to examine the numbers of practicing physicians and total numbers of hospital beds in European Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. METHODS: Data analyzed were derived from the "Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Health Statistics 2020" database between 1980 and 2018. The selected countries were compared according to the type of healthcare system and geographical location by parametric and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: In 1980, Bismarck-type systems showed an average number of physicians of 2.3 persons/1000 population; in Beveridge-type systems, it was 1.7 persons. By 2018, it leveled out reaching 3.9 persons in both healthcare system types. In 1980, average physician number/1000 was 2.5 persons in Eastern Europe; in Western Europe, it was 1.9 persons. By 2018 this proportion changed with Western Europe having the higher number (3.7 persons; 3.9 persons). In 1980, average number of hospital beds/1000 population was 9.6 in Bismarck-type systems whereas in Beveridge-type systems it was 8.8. By 2018, it decreased to 5.6 in Bismarck-type systems (-42%) and to 3.1 in Beveridge-type systems (-65%). In 1980, the average number of hospital beds/1000 population in Eastern Europe was 10.3; in Western Europe, it was 8.5. By 2018, the difference between the 2 regions did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of physicians was 33% higher in 1980 in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe, by 2018 the number of physicians was 5% higher in Western Europe. In general, regardless of the healthcare system and geographical location, the proportion of physicians per 1000 population has improved due to a larger decrease in the number of hospital beds.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of a DADA school-drug prevention program among seventh-grade students]. / A DADA drogprevenciós program hatékonyságvizsgálata hetedik évfolyamos általános iskolai tanulók körében.

Introduction: Drug-taking habit is not infrequent in the young population. There is a need of proven effective drug prevention programs. Aim: The aim of our study was to analyze the efficiency of the Hungarian Police's DADA school-drug prevention program. Method: The research program was carried out by a standard questionnaire at Apáczai Csere János Primary School in Pécs and Kodolányi János Primary School in Pécsvárad. Results: After analyzing the participating students' answers, the results showed that the rate of those, who "know everything" about drugs, increased from 27% to 37.3%, and of those, who did "not know anything", decreased from 5.6% to 1.6% (p<0.001). Regarding self-efficiency, the DADA program did not show any significant change (p = 0.364). However, less than 60% of the students agreed the statements: "I have learned a lot from the trainings" and "I received answers to several questions that I had been interested in earlier." Conclusion: We can conclude that the DADA program was successful. Regarding the chosen reactions and opinions about the program, we have to consider the sociocultural background of the participants. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(23): 914-920.

Price competition and reimbursement of biosimilar granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in Hungary.

Objectives: We analyzed the bid approach of the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) based on the results of two consecutive bids on colony stimulating factor (CSF).Methods: The Hungarian NHIFA database was used to analyze the changes in the number of patients treated with CSF and reimbursement paid by NHIFA, 12 months preceding and following the bids.Results: 13,974 patients received granulocyte-CSF treatment during 12 months prior to bidding. A 4.5% decrease (13,352) and further 1.3% decrease (13,185) in the total number of patients were observed during the first and second years, respectively. The annual health insurance subsidy paid during 12 months prior to the bids was. 7.49 billion Hungarian Forint (HUF) or 26.8 million Euro (EUR). In the first year following the bid, we found a 3.3 billion HUF (12.4 million EUR) decrease in health insurance subsidy (44% reduction). A further 7.9% reduction was observed during the second year, resulting in an annual health insurance subsidy of 3.59 billion HUF (12.1 million EUR).Conclusion: During the 2 years bid (public procurement procedure), the National Health Insurance Fund Administration managed to reduce the health insurance subsidy paid for the reimbursement of both original and biosimilar G-CSF products.