Use of community health workers to manage and prevent noncommunicable diseases: policy options based on the findings of the COACH study

The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies is a collaborative partnership which supports and promotes evidence-based health policy making in the Asia Pacific Region. Based in WHO’s Regional Office for South-East Asia, it brings together governments, international agencies, foundations, civil society and the research community with the aim of linking systematic and scientific analysis of health systems in the Asia Pacific Region with the decision-makers who shape policy and practice.

Resultados del estudio de percepciones de actores sociales sobre salud, promoción de la salud, participación social, y de planes municipales región central de occidente, Costa Rica - 2011 / Results of the study of perceptions of stakeholders on health, health promotion, social participation, and municipal plans central west, Costa Rica - 2011

La salud representa un derecho humano fundamental y se constituye a su vez en un componente indispensable para la vida. Además, es el resultado de la interacción de determinantes sociales, económicos, ambientales, espirituales, políticos; por consiguiente, debe abordarse desde un enfoque integral en el que se articulen esfuerzos individuales, colectivos e intersectoriales en procura de alcanzar propósitos comunes desde el enfoque de promoción de la salud. En este sentido, los gobiernos locales tienen un rol protagónico por ser los responsables de gestar políticas, impulsar la formulación e implementación de programas y proyectos de manera concertada. Por lo anterior, la Dirección Regional de Rectoría de la Salud Central de Occidente del Ministerio de Salud, realizó en el año 2011 un estudio de línea base a fin de dar respuesta a los siguientes interrogantes: ¿Cuáles son las percepciones sobre salud, promoción de la salud y participación social que tienen los actores sociales municipales y cuáles son las principales acciones en salud integradas en los planes estratégicos de alcaldías de las municipalidades que conforman la Región Central de Occidente, Costa Rica? El estudio fue de tipo descriptivo y exploratorio con enfoque cualitativo, que permitió el acercamiento a los actores sociales para obtener los datos mencionados y fuentes documentales de las municipalidades de la Región Central de Occidente. En este marco, el presente artículo recopila referentes teóricos-metodológicos utilizados, los principales hallazgos, las conclusiones y algunas recomendaciones generales derivadas del estudio. Los resultados obtenidos representan un insumo valioso para redefinir estrategias de negociación y abogacía así como procesos rectores que fomenten el posicionamiento del enfoque en el quehacer de los gobiernos locales y por ende, favorecer la construcción de una nueva cultura de salud desde una lógica positiva, proactiva e innovadora.

Health represents a fundamental human right and, at the same time, constitutes an indispensable component for life. In addition, it is the result of the interaction of social, economic, environmental, spiritual and political determinants; therefore, it must be addressed from an integral approach in where the individual, collective and cross-sectorial efforts are articulated in order to achieve common purposes from a promotion of health approach. In this sense, the local governments play a leading role because they are the responsible for developing policies, promoting the formulation and implementation of programs and projects on an agreed way. Therefore, the Regional Directorate of Health Rectory of the Central West of the Health Ministry conducted a baseline study in 2011 to provide answers to the following questions: What are the perceptions of health, health promotion and social participation that municipal stakeholders have and what are the main health actions integrated in their strategic mayor plans of the municipalities that constitute the Central West Region in Costa Rica? It was a descriptive and exploratory study with qualitative approach which enabled the approach to stakeholders to obtain the mentioned data and documentary sources of the municipalities in the Central West Region. In this context, this article collects theoretical-methodological referents, the main findings, conclusions and some general recommendations derived from the study. The obtained results definitely represent a valuable input to redefine negotiation and advocacy strategies as well as directing processes that encourage the positioning of the approach in the work of the local governments and therefore, promote the construction of a new culture of health from a positive, proactive and innovative logic.

Alma Ata 40 años después: hitos de la atención primaria / Alma Ata 40th anniversary: Milestones of primary health care

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Pharmacy and health planning: a national survey of health planners.

The extent of pharmacy involvement in area health planning, and the perception of health planners on pharmacy and drug-related issues, were assessed. Health Systems Agencies (HSAs) (135, or 66%) and State Health Planning and Development Agencies (SHPDAs) (25, or 45%) responded to a 34-item mail questionnaire on pharmacy planning issues. Pharmacists were involved in developing health plans in 39% of the HSAs and 18% of the SHPDAs. Pharmaceutical services were mentioned in 50% of the local and 58% of the state plans. Thirty-two percent of the HSAs and 42% of the SHPDAs believed there was a poor distribution of pharmacies in health service areas. The respondents also answered questions on the need for pharmaceutical services in given areas and among special populations, drug reimbursement procedures, and the kinds of data health planners need when planning pharmaceutical services. Numerous respondents noted that increased participation by pharmacy groups in health planning would be desirable and welcomed.

Primeros graduados de licenciatura en enfermería en Cuba / First graduates from Nursing Licensure in Cuba

La formación de recursos humanos de Enfermería en nuestro país se realiza dentro del Sistema Nacional de Salud. El desarrollo acelerado de los planes de salud y el incremento cuantitativo de las necesidades de recursos humanos hizo aconsejable iniciar planes para establecer el nivel universitario de Licenciatura en Enfermería. El propósito ha sido mostrar los antecedentes o necesidad de la carrera, marco conceptual, tipo profesional, objetivos terminales, requisitos de ingresos y características de los diez primeros graduados. Se efectuó una revisión bibliográfica de documentos de aquella época, acerca del surgimiento del nivel universitario de la Enfermería cubana en el Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana, desde 1976. Los primeros matriculados fueron 11 estudiantes. Se describen los requisitos de ingreso, edad, escolaridad, tiempo trabajado entre otros. El primer plan de estudios fue a través de la variante plan diurno para trabajadores. Las características de los 10 primeros graduados y sus resultados académicos. De ellos, 9 eran mujeres y un hombre, todos casados, con hijos y con diversas responsabilidades ante la sociedad y 2 realizaron la doble función de ser estudiantes y profesoras; la eficiencia fue del 89,8 (por ciento)(AU)

The formation of human resources in nursing in our country is accomplished within the National Health Care System. The accelerated development of health care programs and the increased needs for human resources called for programs to establish Nursing Licensure at the university. The objective of this paper is to show the background and needs of this specialty, conceptual framework, professional type, end objectives, registration requirements and characteristics of the ten first graduates. Documents at that time were reviewed to know about the origin of the university degree of Cuban nursing in the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana since 1976. The first registered students were 11 students. Registration requirements, age, educational level, worked time, among other things were described. The first syllabus was conducted in the form of a daytime class program for workers. The characteristics of the ten first graduates and their academic results were given. Nine were female and one male, all of them were married with children and were holding several social responsibilities; two were both students and professors. Efficiency reached was 89.8 percent(AU)

Trends in health systems in the former Soviet countries

After the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, the countries that emerged from it faced myriad challenges, including the need to reorganize the organization, financing and provision of health services. Over two decades later, this book analyses the progress that twelve of these countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) have made in reforming their health systems. Building on the health system reviews of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (the HiT series), it illustrates the benefits of international comparisons of health systems, describing the often markedly different paths taken and evaluating the consequences of these choices. This book will be an important resource not only for those with an interest in health systems and policies in the post-Soviet countries, but also for those interested in health systems in general. It will be of particular use to governments in central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet countries (and those advising them), to international and nongovernmental organizations active in the region, and to researchers of health systems and policies.

A67/34: Follow-up of the Recife Political Declaration on Human Resources for Health: renewed commitments towards universal health coverage the Andean Countries. Report by the Secretariat

Countries at all levels of socioeconomic development are facing the challenge of matching health workforce supply and demand under existing constraints of affordability and sustainability; in some cases, critical health workforce gaps are hindering efforts to attain health development goals. In recognition of this challenge, the Global Health Workforce Alliance was launched in 2006 and since then a number of related resolutions have been adopted by the Health Assembly. (AU)

O enfermeiro e o sistema unico de saude / Nurse an unique health system

A reorganizacao dos servicos de saude visando aspectos de universalizacao, integralidade, hierarquizacao, descentralizacao e participacao popular numa otica que contemple aspectos individuais e coletivos criou a necessidade de se refletir sobre a pratica da enfermagem. Atraves de uma breve retrospectiva, as autoras apresentam alguns aspectos referentes a formacao e ao exercicio da enfermagem considerando as perspectivas de mudanca diante do papel que o enfermeiro devera assumir frente ao Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS)

Primeros graduados de licenciatura en enfermería en Cuba / First graduates from Nursing Licensure in Cuba

La formación de recursos humanos de Enfermería en nuestro país se realiza dentro del Sistema Nacional de Salud. El desarrollo acelerado de los planes de salud y el incremento cuantitativo de las necesidades de recursos humanos hizo aconsejable iniciar planes para establecer el nivel universitario de Licenciatura en Enfermería. El propósito ha sido mostrar los antecedentes o necesidad de la carrera, marco conceptual, tipo profesional, objetivos terminales, requisitos de ingresos y características de los diez primeros graduados. Se efectuó una revisión bibliográfica de documentos de aquella época, acerca del surgimiento del nivel universitario de la Enfermería cubana en el Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana, desde 1976. Los primeros matriculados fueron 11 estudiantes. Se describen los requisitos de ingreso, edad, escolaridad, tiempo trabajado entre otros. El primer plan de estudios fue a través de la variante plan diurno para trabajadores. Las características de los 10 primeros graduados y sus resultados académicos. De ellos, 9 eran mujeres y un hombre, todos casados, con hijos y con diversas responsabilidades ante la sociedad y 2 realizaron la doble función de ser estudiantes y profesoras; la eficiencia fue del 89,8 (por ciento)(AU)