Deliberative process of health technology reassessment by health technology assessment agency in Korea.

In 2019, the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) in Korea established a health technology reassessment (HTR) system to manage the life cycle of health technologies and develop operational measures promoting the efficient use of healthcare resources. The purpose of this study is to introduce the detailed implementation process and practical functional methods of the HTR implemented by NECA.The HTR is a structured multidisciplinary method for analyzing health technologies currently used in the healthcare system based on the latest information on parameters, such as clinical safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of optimizing the use of healthcare resources as well as social and ethical issues. All decision-making stages of the HTR are carefully reviewed and transparently managed. The HTR committee makes significant decisions, and the subcommittee decides the details related to the assessment process.Since the pilot began in 2018, 262 cases have been reassessed, of which, 126 cases (48.1 percent) were health services not covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI). Over the past 5 years, approximately 130 recommendations for the in-use technologies were determined by the HTR committee. In the near future, it will be necessary to officially develop and establish a Korean HTR system and a legal foundation to optimize the NHI system.

Territorial dynamics of highly complex health services in the Belém Metropolitan Region, Brazil: is specialized health care subsidized by the SUS? / A territorialidade da alta complexidade na Região Metropolitana de Belém, Brasil: a saúde especializada é subsidiada pelo SUS?

This article presents an analysis of the territorial dynamics of the specialized healthcare network, focusing on medium and high complexity care in hospitals in the municipalities that make up the Belém Metropolitan Region. The analysis is based on secondary data from DATASUS available on the National Health Facility Registry (CNES) up to January 2022. The findings show that the private network accounts for the largest proportion of services in the region; however, the service capacity of the SUS is greater than that of the private sector due to the large volume of services outsourced to private facilities via public-private partnerships, with philanthropic hospitals allocating the largest proportion of services to public patients. This should not be confused with universal coverage, as public patient access to private services may be restricted by legal and institutional barriers depending on the form of access (open-door or closed-door).

O artigo apresenta uma análise sobre a atuação da rede de atenção especializada do SUS, com a delimitação dos serviços de média e de alta complexidade da rede hospitalar dos municípios que compõem a Região Metropolitana de Belém. A discussão se fundamenta na revisão dos dados secundários captados na plataforma do DATASUS e disponibilizados no Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde do Brasil (CNES) até janeiro de 2022. Constatou-se que a territorialidade da alta complexidade é formada majoritariamente pela rede privada, contudo a capacidade de atendimento da rede SUS sobrepôs à oferta direcionada ao atendimento não universal, em razão da ampla reserva de serviços privados ao convênio SUS, na qual os hospitais filantrópicos apresentaram maior disposição à demanda universal. Em contrapartida, a ampla presença do Estado nos serviços de alta complexidade não deve ser pensada como uma cobertura universal, devido ao fato de as formas de acesso a esses serviços apresentarem filtros de natureza jurídico-institucional, ou, em outras palavras, o que o SUS denomina de hospitais de portas abertas ou fechadas.

[The territorial nature of the Primary Health Care of Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS): the proliferation of community medical clinics in the Metropolitan Region of Belém, State of Pará, Brazil]. / A territorialidade da Atenção Básica à Saúde do SUS: a difusão das clínicas médicas populares na Região Metropolitana de Belém, Pará, Brasil.

The scope of this article is an analysis of the proliferation of community medical clinics in the municipalities that comprise the Metropolitan Region of Belem. An investigation was conducted into the performance of the primary health care network of Brazil's Unified Health System, with a view to getting a better understanding of the reasons for, and origins of, the proactive stance of the community health sector. The discussion is based on the review of primary and secondary data, obtained via fieldwork in 119 community clinics in the Metropolitan Region of Belem, and information from Brazil's Unified Health System data center. It was revealed that the community health clinic sector has benefited extensively in recent years from the intensification of underfunding of Brazil's Unified Health System, especially the primary health care network, which is undergoing a process of fragmentation. This is directly responsible for the reduction and disruption of multiprofessional primary health care teams, in addition to the losses suffered in the supplementary health sector. The community clinics adopt an spontaneous and contradictory care model created by the private sector to meet the repressed demand of Brazil's Unified Health System.

O artigo apresenta uma análise sobre a difusão das clínicas médicas populares nos municípios que compõem a Região Metropolitana de Belém (RMB). Com o propósito de compreender as razões e as origens do avanço do setor de saúde popular, promoveu-se uma investigação sobre a atuação da rede de atenção básica à saúde (ABS) do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A discussão se fundamenta na revisão de dados primários e secundários, captados via trabalho de campo nas 119 clínicas populares da RMB e via informações do DATASUS. Constatou-se que o setor das clínicas de saúde popular foi beneficiado amplamente nos últimos anos, mediante a intensificação do subfinanciamento do SUS, em particular da rede de ABS, que passa por um processo de fragmentação, responsáveis pela redução e pela desarticulação das equipes multiprofissionais de ABS, além das perdas apresentadas no setor de saúde suplementar. As clínicas populares seguem um modelo assistencial inacabado e contraditório, criado pela própria iniciativa privada para o preenchimento da demanda reprimida do SUS em razão de o acesso a essas instituições não garantir uma assistência universal e gratuita ou assegurar um tratamento continuo, motivo pelo qual uma ampla parcela destes usuários é devolvida ao SUS.

Evaluación quinquenal de los ejes sanitarios de un programa nacional de Atención Primaria de la Salud / Five-year evaluation of the sanitary axes of a national program of Primary Health Care

Se realizó una evaluación quinquenal de los ejes sanitarios (que dan lugar a objetivos estratégicos con sus correspondientes metas e indicadores, áreas de intervención y líneas de acción) dentro del marco de la gestión sanitaria de uno de los 10 principales agentes de la seguridad social argentinos quien implementaba desde hacía 20 años un Programa Nacional de Atención Primaria de la Salud (PNAPS). El mismo promedió alrededor de 800 mil beneficiarios anuales dentro de una red asistencial nacional propia en el primer nivel de atención compuesta por 45 Centros de Atención Primaria (CAPs). Se implementó una investigación evaluativa que incluyó un trazado de línea de base con la valoración de cinco Ejes Sanitarios (ES). Se trata de un diseño de corte transversal de un periodo de 5 años. Se definieron metas, indicadores y recomendaciones para cada uno de los ES, recopilando información de fuentes diferentes y complementarias para su análisis. Los resultados mostraron una evolución favorable en el período evaluado, aunque el cumplimiento de las metas estuvo bastante alejado de lo propuesto de manera teórica. Conclusiones: este trabajo aporta información valiosa y original para subsidiar la toma de decisiones e incentivar la investigación en el ámbito de la APS, buscando reformular los actuales modelos de gestión y de atención de la salud (AU)

A five-year evaluation of the health axes (which give rise to strategic objectives with their corresponding goals and indicators, areas of intervention and lines of action) was carried out within the framework of health management of one of the 10 main argentine social security agents who had been implementing a National Primary Health Care Program (PNAPS) for 20 years. It averaged around 800,000 annual beneficiaries within its own national care network at the first level of care made up of 45 Primary Care Centers (CAPs). An evaluative investigation was implemented that included a baseline drawing with the assessment of five Sanitary Axis (ES). It is a cross-sectional design of a period of 5 years. Goals, indicators and recommendations were defined for each of the ES, collecting information from different and complementary sources for analysis. Results: they showed a favorable evolution in the period evaluated, although the fulfillment of the goals was quite far from what was theoretically proposed. The results of this work provides valuable and original information to support decision-making and encourage research in the field of PHC, seeking to reformulate current management and health care models (AU)

Effects of individual and neighborhood social risks on diabetes pay-for-performance program under a single-payer health system.

BACKGROUND: Enrollment in and adherence to a diabetes pay-for-performance (P4P) program can lead to desirable processes and outcomes of diabetes care. However, knowledge is limited on the potential exclusion of patients with individual or neighborhood social risks or interruption of services in the disease-specific P4P program without mandatory participation under a single-payer health system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of individual and neighborhood social risks on exclusion from and adherence to the diabetes P4P program of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Taiwan. METHODS: This study used data from Taiwan's 2009-2017 population-based National Health Insurance Research Database, 2010 Population and Housing Census, and 2010 Income Tax Statistics. A retrospective cohort study was conducted, and study populations were identified from 2012 to 2014. The first cohort comprised 183,806 patients with newly diagnosed T2D, who had undergone follow up for 1 year; the second cohort consisted of 78,602 P4P patients who had undergone follow up for 2 years after P4P enrollment. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of social risks with exclusion from and adherence to the diabetes P4P program. RESULTS: T2D patients with higher individual social risks were more likely to be excluded from the P4P program, but those with higher neighborhood-level social risks were slightly less likely to be excluded. T2D patients with the higher individual- or neighborhood-level social risks showed less likelihood of adhering to the program, and the person-level coefficient was stronger in magnitude than the neighborhood-level one. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate the importance of individual social risk adjustment and special financial incentives in disease-specific P4P programs. Strategies for improving program adherence should consider individual and neighborhood social risks.

Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of essential packages of health services.

Essential packages of health services (EPHS) are a critical tool for achieving universal health coverage, especially in low-income and lower middle-income countries. However, there is a lack of guidance and standards for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of EPHS implementation. This paper is the final in a series of papers reviewing experiences using evidence from the Disease Control Priorities, third edition publications in EPHS reforms in seven countries. We assess current approaches to EPHS M&E, including case studies of M&E approaches in Ethiopia and Pakistan. We propose a step-by-step process for developing a national EPHS M&E framework. Such a framework would start with a theory of change that links to the specific health system reforms the EPHS is trying to accomplish, including explicit statements about the 'what' and 'for whom' of M&E efforts. Monitoring frameworks need to consider the additional demands that could be placed on weak and already overstretched data systems, and they must ensure that processes are put in place to act quickly on emergent implementation challenges. Evaluation frameworks could learn from the field of implementation science; for example, by adapting the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework to policy implementation. While each country will need to develop its own locally relevant M&E indicators, we encourage all countries to include a set of core indicators that are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets and indicators. Our paper concludes with a call to reprioritise M&E more generally and to use the EPHS process as an opportunity for strengthening national health information systems. We call for an international learning network on EPHS M&E to generate new evidence and exchange best practices.

[Social determinants of access to the explicit guarantees health program implemented in Chile]. / Determinantes sociales que influyen en el acceso en Chile al Plan GES, según CASEN 2017.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, an eventual implementation of a plan with universal health coverage is a challenge. The already implemented explicit health guarantees plan (GES) could be a benchmark. For this reason, it is important to obtain information about the results of its implementation. AIM: To identify the social determinants of health that influence the access to GES. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey performed in 2017 was used as a data source. The beneficiaries of 20 diseases covered by GES and inquired in the survey were considered for the present study. RESULTS: People with the higher probability of access to GES plan belong to the lowest income quintiles, are nationals, live in the central-southern metropolitan Santiago, have lower education, have a public health insurance program (FONASA) and are aged mostly over 60 years. The diseases with the highest probability of access to the program are primary arterial hypertension, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction, moderate and severe bronchial asthma, breast cancer, colon cancer, and bipolar disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The access probability to the GES program is in line with the epidemiological profile of the Chilean population, and with a greater social vulnerability.

Results and evaluation of the expansion of a model of comprehensive care for Chagas disease within the National Health System: The Bolivian Chagas network.

BACKGROUND: Most people with chronic Chagas disease do not receive specific care and therefore are undiagnosed and do not receive accurate treatment. This manuscript discusses and evaluates a collaborative strategy to improve access to healthcare for patients with Chagas in Bolivia, a country with the highest prevalence of Chagas in the world. METHODS: With the aim of reinforcing the Chagas National Programme, the Bolivian Chagas Platform was born in 2009. The first stage of the project was to implement a vertical pilot program in order to introduce and consolidate a consensual protocol-based healthcare, working in seven centers (Chagas Platform Centers). From 2015 on the model was extended to 52 primary healthcare centers, through decentralized, horizontal scaling-up. To evaluate the strategy, we have used the WHO ExpandNet program. RESULTS: The strategy has significantly increased the number of patients cared for, with 181,397 people at risk of having T. cruzi infection tested and 57,871 (31·9%) new diagnostics performed. In those with treatment criteria, 79·2% completed the treatment. The program has also trained a significant number of health personnel through the specific Chagas guidelines (67% of healthcare workers in the intervention area). CONCLUSIONS: After being recognized by the Chagas National Programme as a healthcare model aligned with national laws and priorities, the Bolivian platform of Chagas as an innovation, includes attributes that they have made it possible to expand the strategy at the national level and could also be adapted in other countries.

Determinantes sociales que influyen en el acceso en Chile al Plan GES, según CASEN 2017 / Social determinants of access to the explicit guarantees health program implemented in Chile

BACKGROUND: In Chile, an eventual implementation of a plan with universal health coverage is a challenge. The already implemented explicit health guarantees plan (GES) could be a benchmark. For this reason, it is important to obtain information about the results of its implementation. AIM: To identify the social determinants of health that influence the access to GES. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey performed in 2017 was used as a data source. The beneficiaries of 20 diseases covered by GES and inquired in the survey were considered for the present study. RESULTS: People with the higher probability of access to GES plan belong to the lowest income quintiles, are nationals, live in the central-southern metropolitan Santiago, have lower education, have a public health insurance program (FONASA) and are aged mostly over 60 years. The diseases with the highest probability of access to the program are primary arterial hypertension, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction, moderate and severe bronchial asthma, breast cancer, colon cancer, and bipolar disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The access probability to the GES program is in line with the epidemiological profile of the Chilean population, and with a greater social vulnerability.

Ending tuberculosis in China: health system challenges.

China has made remarkable progress in reducing tuberculosis cases and deaths during the past three decades; however, it is still far from achieving the targets set out in the WHO End TB Strategy. Since the 2000s, China has tried to transform its vertical tuberculosis control programme led by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into an integrated system under the collaboration of CDC, tuberculosis-designated hospitals, and primary health centres. Such a transition has faced many challenges. Profit-driven practices in hospitals designated to tuberculosis and an absence of adequate tuberculosis-related training for health professionals are partially jeopardising the quality of tuberculosis care. In addition, primary health-care providers are not incentivised to make referrals and manage cases effectively. The CDC does not have the administrative power to influence hospital practices or deploy resources to support community-based tuberculosis control activities. Furthermore, an absence of policy coherence and effective coordination causes challenges for quality tuberculosis care that is affordable and accessible. Improving policy dialogues and multi-level coordination within the government is fundamental to successfully ending tuberculosis in China and other countries facing similar challenges.

[ANMCO Position paper: Reorganization of cardiology in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Position paper ANMCO: Riorganizzazione della cardiologia in epoca di pandemia COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented event that has brought deep changes in hospital facilities with reshaping of the health system organization, revealing inadequacies of current hospital and local health systems. When the COVID-19 emergency will end, further evaluation of the national health system, new organization of acute wards, and a further evolution of the entire health system will be needed to improve care during the chronic phase of disease. Therefore, new standards for healthcare personnel, more efficient organization of hospital facilities for patients with acute illnesses, improvement of technological approaches, and better integration between hospital and territorial services should be pursued. With experience derived from the COVID-19 pandemic, new models, paradigms, interventional approaches, values and priorities should be suggested and implemented.

Revisions in TB programme - boon or bane? A qualitative study exploring barriers and facilitators among health care workers in private and public sector, Kerala.

BACKGROUND: Despite many serious and organized efforts worldwide, Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the major public health concerns in many countries. India accounts for more than one quarter of global TB cases and deaths each year. India's National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) is the largest TB control program in the world, placing more than 100,000 patients on treatment every month. There have been so many revisions in the programme guidelines in the last 5 years. As we are gearing up for TB elimination in India, knowledge regarding the barriers is very crucial in the successful undertaking of these revised guidelines. Exploring perceptions of health care workers, both from the private and public sector will help to design appropriate strategies at the field level. OBJECTIVE: To explore the barriers and facilitators among health care workers in the implementation of revised NTEP guidelines in a selected district of central Kerala. METHODOLOGY: This qualitative study was conducted among health care workers from all levels involved in the implementation of NTEP from private and public sector. Qualitative data was collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews using a topic guide till data saturation. All discussions were audio recorded with the consent of participants. Sociogram was plotted to confirm equal participation of interviewees. A total of 4 FGDs (2 from each sector) and 12 Key informant interviews (7 from public sector and 5 from private sector) were conducted after obtaining written consent from the participants. RESULTS: Overall awareness about revisions was found to be good. However, the study identified a "Gap between planners and implementers". Frequent nature of revisions without understanding the practical difficulties in the field, additional job responsibilities, inadequate knowledge among grass root level workers/private practioners in small clinics and increased side effects were the major barriers identified. In addition to that, insufficient logistics, not enthusiastic in learning revisions, fear of losing patients, delay in communication, decreased compliance with new regimen, increased out of pocket expenditure and grey areas in the current guidelines were also adversely affecting the successful implementation At the same time, facilitators like positive attitude and commitment of health care workers, introduction of M-health technology, strong public private partnership, inclusion of costly investigations in the revised guidelines, good administrative support, financial assistance, innovative initiatives like Treatment Support Groups (TSGs) and concept of Family Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course increased the effectiveness of the programme to a large extent. CONCLUSION: The study identified gaps in knowledge, attitude and practice of revised guidelines at the field level. Gap between 'Planners and implementers could impede the successful implementation of TB Elimination programme and needs to be addressed.

Vision for menopause care in the UK.

Menopause is a major life event affecting all women in a variety of ways, both short and long term. All women should have access to accurate information, available in all forms and through all recognised sources. All healthcare professionals should have a basic understanding of the menopause and know where to signpost women for advice, support and treatment whenever appropriate. Every primary care team should have at least one nominated healthcare professional with a special interest and knowledge in menopause. All healthcare professionals with a special interest in menopause should have access to British Menopause Society Menopause Specialists for advice, support, onward referral and leadership of multidisciplinary education. With the introduction of the comprehensive British Menopause Society Principles and Practice of Menopause Care programme, the society is recognised throughout the UK as the leading provider of certificated menopause and post reproductive health education and training for healthcare professionals. Restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic have been a springboard for the British Menopause Society to bring innovations to the services provided for our membership and for healthcare professionals throughout the UK.

Outreach marketing may be a successful strategy for NHS libraries.

This dissertation study investigates the ways that NHS libraries are currently marketing their services within their organisation and was submitted as part of the MA Library and Information Management at the University of Sheffield in 2019. This paper presents the findings from twelve semi-structured interviews carried out with NHS library managers in the East of England to identify the most and least successful methods, and in comparison with that which is currently in the general marketing literature. The study found that outreach marketing was the most effective and that librarians are currently conducting marketing to the best of their ability, but they lack time and funding to be able to make the most of their promotional campaigns. F.J.

Family Health Strategy, Primary Health Care, and Social Inequalities in Mortality Among Older Adults in Bagé, Southern Brazil.

Objectives. To investigate the role of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in reducing social inequalities in mortality over a 9-year follow-up period.Methods. We carried out a population-based cohort study of individuals aged 60 years and older from the city of Bagé, Brazil. Of 1593 participants at baseline (2008), 1314 (82.5%) were included in this 9-year follow-up (2017). We assessed type of primary health care (PHC) coverage and other variables at baseline. In 2017, we ascertained 579 deaths through mortality registers. Hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals modeled time to death estimated by Cox regression. We also tested the effect modification between PHC and wealth.Results. The FHS had a protective effect on mortality among individuals aged 60 to 64 years, a result not found among those not covered by the FHS. Interaction analysis showed that the FHS modified the effect of wealth on mortality. The FHS protected the poorest from all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36, 0.96) and avoidable mortality (HR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.25, 0.85).Conclusions. FHS coverage reduced social inequalities in mortality among older adults. Our findings highlight the need to guarantee universal health coverage in Brazil by expanding and strengthening the FHS to promote health equity.