La democratización de los servicios de salud odontológicos / The democratization of dental health services

Introducción: el proceso de democratización en los servicios de salud en odontología y en todo el campo de la salud parte del acceso a la atención de la población, así como de la libertad de contar con información científica adecuada y suficiente para que la población cuide de su salud. Es compromiso del estado, de acuerdo con la constitución, poder contar con las condiciones políticas, económicas y sociales para el cumplimiento del mandato constitucional. Conclusiones: el sistema de salud no ha logrado desarrollarse en la población vulnerable porque requiere buena infraestructura, personal de salud, medicamentos, etcétera. Le corresponde al estado impulsar iniciativas para acercar y dar acceso a dicha población sin importar lo alejada que se encuentre, por lo que deberá apoyarse en el uso de tecnologías que le faciliten y permitan cumplir con la obligación constitucional que representa el derecho a la salud y con ello la democratización de la salud (AU)

Introduction: the process of democratization in health services in dentistry and in the entire field of health starts from the access to care for the population, from the freedom to have adequate and sufficient scientific information for the population to take care of their health. It is a commitment of the state according to the constitution to be able to have the political, economic and social conditions for the fulfillment of the constitutional mandate. Conclusions: the health system has not been able to develop in the vulnerable population requires good infrastructure, health personnel, medicines, etc. It is up to the state to promote initiatives to provide access to this population regardless of its remoteness, to rely on the use of technologies that facilitate and allow the fulfillment of the constitutional obligation that represents the right to health and thus democratize health (AU)

A inserção de técnicos em saúde bucal: questões em disputa na Política Nacional de Saúde Bucal / La inserción de técnicos en salud bucal: cuestiones en disputa en la Política Nacional de Salud Bucal / The insertion of oral health technicians: issues in dispute in the National Oral Health Policy

Analisou-se a inserção de técnicos em saúde bucal (TSB) na equipe de saúde bucal a partir de 2003 e questões em disputa na Política Nacional de Saúde Bucal. Estudo de abordagem sócio-histórica apoiado na sociologia de Pierre Bourdieu. Realizou-se análise documental, da literatura e entrevistas em profundidade com agentes formuladores e gestores da Política Nacional de Saúde Bucal. Houve baixa adesão à equipe com TSB pelos municípios brasileiros e evidências de manutenção das relações tradicionais de divisão do trabalho odontológico, subutilização do TSB e maior atuação em prevenção. A dominação simbólica do polo do mercado prevalece no serviço público e no espaço odontológico mais amplo, mesmo com conquistas na regulamentação profissional. Essa inserção ainda não se consolidou. As limitações das apostas da política, particularmente a questão do TSB, devem subsidiar novas ações, considerando a dominação simbólica e possíveis formas de enfrentá-la.(AU)

Se analizó la inserción de técnicos en salud bucal (TSB) en el equipo de salud bucal a partir de 2003 y cuestiones en disputa en la Política Nacional de Salud Bucal. Estudio de abordaje sociohistórico apoyado en la sociología de Pierre Bourdieu. Se realizó un análisis documental de la literatura y entrevistas en profundidad con agentes formuladores y gestores de la Política Nacional de Salud Bucal. Hubo baja adhesión al equipo con TSB por parte de los municipios brasileños y evidencias de mantenimiento de las relaciones tradicionales de división del trabajo odontológico, subutilización y mayor actuación en prevención. La dominación simbólica del polo del mercado prevalece en el servicio público y en el espacio odontológico más amplio, incluso con conquistas en la reglamentación profesional. Esa inserción aún no se ha consolidado. Las limitaciones de las apuestas de la política, particularmente la cuestión del TSB, deben subsidiar nuevas acciones, considerando la dominación simbólica y posibles formas de enfrentarla.(AU)

The research analyzed the insertion of Oral Health Technicians (OHT) in the oral health team from 2003 and issues in dispute in the National Oral Health Policy. The study used a social-historical approach based on Pierre Bourdieu's sociology. Documentary and literature analysis and interviews were carried out with formulators and managers of oral health policy. The municipalities presented low adhesion to teams with OHT, as well as there was evidence of maintenance of the traditional relationships of division of dental work, underutilization and greater performance in prevention. The symbolic domination of the market axis prevails in the public service and in the wider dental space, even with achievements in professional regulation. This insertion has not yet been consolidated. The limitations of policy bets, in particular this issue of OHT, should subsidize new actions, considering this symbolic domination and possible ways to tackle it.(AU)

COVID-19 Pandemic: Need of the Hour - A Course Correction, Restructuring & Review of our Policies - An Indian Perspective.

The world stunned by a pandemic of such cataclysmic scale is reeling under the joint burden of health impact unleashed by the diseases and the strain on the economy. Glaring shortfalls and inconsistencies in strategies to combat the pandemic have surfaced worldwide irrespective of the country's economic and health care status. The responses have vacillated from mute to drastic. Gaps in health preparedness coupled with administrative tardiness, lack of co-ordination and foresight has heightened the impact of pandemic. Coordinated holistic approach with structured policies in place is the need of the hour. Surveillance and epidemiological models to predict the unpredictable and preempt the backlash will dictate our future successes and failures in this protracted fight against the pandemic. This article attempts to review the present status of health policy on COVID in general and with specific reference to India and their outcome thus far. We also propose a simple and practical framework on which a decisive, well-knit, reliable and acceptable policy can be framed.

Current status and future directions of U.S. genomic nursing health care policy.

BACKGROUND: As genomic science moves beyond government-academic collaborations into routine healthcare operations, nursing's holistic philosophy and evidence-based practice approach positions nurses as leaders to advance genomics and precision health care in routine patient care. PURPOSE: To examine the status of and identify gaps for U.S. genomic nursing health care policy and precision health clinical practice implementation. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review and policy priorities analysis to clarify key genomic policy concepts and definitions, and to examine trends and utilization of health care quality benchmarking used in precision health. FINDINGS: Genomic nursing health care policy is an emerging area. Educating and training the nursing workforce to achieve full dissemination and integration of precision health into clinical practice remains an ongoing challenge. Use of health care quality measurement principles and federal benchmarking performance evaluation criteria for precision health implementation are not developed. DISCUSSION: Nine recommendations were formed with calls to action across nursing practice workforce and education, nursing research, and health care policy arenas. CONCLUSIONS: To advance genomic nursing health care policy, it is imperative to develop genomic performance measurement tools for clinicians, purchasers, regulators and policymakers and to adequately prepare the nursing workforce.

Accounting for One Health: Insights from the social sciences.

This paper discusses the relationship between One Health (OH) and the social sciences. Using a comparison between three narratives of the history of OH, it is argued that OH can be studied as a social phenomenon. The narrative of OH by its promoters (folk narratives) emphasizes two dimensions: OH as a renewal of veterinary medicine and OH as an institutional response to global health crises. Narratives from empirical social science work explore similar dimensions, but make them more complex. For political sociology, OH is the result of negotiations between the three international organisations (WHO, OIE and FAO), in a context of a global health crisis, which led to the reconfiguration of their respective mandates and scope of action: OH is a response to an institutional crisis. For the sociology of science, OH testifies to the evolution of the profession and veterinary science, enabling it to position itself as a promoter of interdisciplinarity, in a context of convergence between research and policy. In the Discussion section, I propose an approach to OH as an "epistemic watchword": a concept whose objective is to make several actors work together (watchword), in a particular direction, that of the production of knowledge (epistemic).

TITLE: Rendre compte de One Health : réflexions issues des sciences sociales. ABSTRACT: Cet article aborde les rapports entre One Health (OH - « une santé ¼ en français) et les sciences sociales. L'idée que OH peut être étudié comme un phénomène social est défendue, au moyen d'une comparaison entre trois narrations de l'histoire de OH. La narration de OH par ses promoteurs (narrations indigènes) insiste sur deux dimensions : OH comme renouveau de la médecine vétérinaire et OH comme réponse institutionnelle à des crises sanitaires. Les narrations issues de travaux empiriques en sciences sociales explorent des dimensions similaires, mais les rendent plus complexes. Pour la sociologie politique, OH est le résultat d'une négociation entre les trois organisations internationales (OMS, OIE et FAO), dans un contexte de crise sanitaire globale, ayant amené à reconfigurer leurs mandats et leurs périmètres d'action respectifs : OH est une réponse à une crise institutionnelle. Pour la sociologie des sciences, OH témoigne des évolutions de la profession et de la science vétérinaire, permettant à celle-ci de se placer en position de promotrice de l'interdisciplinarité, dans un contexte de rapprochement entre recherche et action publique. Dans la partie « discussion ¼, je proposerai d'aborder OH comme un « mot d'ordre épistémique ¼ : un concept dont l'objectif est de faire travailler plusieurs acteurs ensemble (mot d'ordre), dans un sens particulier, celui de la production de savoirs (épistémique).

Lessons from the Field: The Traditional Monarch of Kitti in Pohnpei Addresses the High Rates of Non-Communicable Diseases through Local Policy.

Almost a quarter of Pohnpei's population is overweight or obese, a major factor influencing a 2010 non-communicable diseases (NCD) emergency declaration. The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) project in Pohnpei is implementing a culturally tailored policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) intervention to reduce NCDs through healthy nutrition projects. Through collaboration with traditional leaders and using traditional protocols, REACH succeeded in soliciting formal approval from a Traditional Monarch to serve only healthy beverages during events at all traditional houses in the municipality. The Governor, in turn, also supported this initiative. This project cultivated relationships with traditional and government leaders to implement a culturally appropriate healthy nutrition PSE change intervention.

Lessons from the Field: Lessons from Yap - Changing Government and Cultural Practice Through Public Health Policy.

The heavy burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD) in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia overwhelms the resources of this small population. Traditional cultural practices strongly influence all aspects of life, especially in the remote outer islands. The traditional Chiefs must grant permission to perform any type of health outreach or services for about one-third of the population. One key cultural practice promotes tobacco and alcohol use. The Yap Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, in collaboration with other entities in public health, systematically engaged the traditional Chiefs, resulting in a landmark policy that paved the way for other system and environmental interventions to reduce the risks of developing NCD.

Maternal and child health in Seychelles.

Services aimed at improving the health of infants, children and mothers have developed over the years since the initiation of the Seychelles Child Development Study. This paper describes the policies, procedures and facilities and how they have impacted on service provision. The utilisation of antenatal, perinatal and child health services, both in the hospital and community settings, are described. The successes and challenges are illustrated by describing fertility, abortion, teenage pregnancy and infant mortality. This overview of maternal and child services provides a perspective on an important aspect of health care development and the context in which the SCDS is conducted.

A longitudinal review of rural health policy in Ontario.

This article examines the Ontario Ministry of Health policy response to persistent rural health challenges over the last 5 decades. Rural health policy responses are grouped into policy "paradigms" for purposes of this high-level analysis. Key policies are assessed in terms of progress, limitations, and lessons learned for policy-makers and rural health leaders.

Questions regarding 'epistemic injustice' in knowledge-intensive policymaking: Two examples from Dutch health insurance policy.

In contemporary healthcare policies the logic of Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) is typically proposed as a way of addressing a demand to explicitly justify policy decisions. Policymakers' use of 'evidence' is presumed to pertain to ideals of justice in decision-making. However, according to some, EBM is liable to generate 'epistemic injustice' because it prefers quantitative types of evidence and - as a result of that - potentially undervalues the qualitative testimonies of doctors and patients. Miranda Fricker's concept of 'epistemic injustice' refers to a wrong done to a person in their capacity as a knower. This paper explores the usefulness and limits of this concept in the context of public decision-making. How is evidence-based policymaking intertwined with questions of 'epistemic injustice'? Drawing from ethnographic research conducted at the National Health Care Institute, we analyze two cases of EBM-inspired policy practices in Dutch social health insurance: 1) the use of the principles of EBM in making a public reimbursement decision, and 2) private insurers' use of quantitative performance indicators for the practice of selective contracting on the Dutch healthcare market. While the concept of 'epistemic injustice' misses some key processes involved in understanding how 'knowing gets done' in public policy, it does shed new light on priority-setting processes. Patients or medical professionals who are not duly recognized as credible and intelligible epistemic agents, subsequently, lack the social power to influence priority-setting practices. They are thus not merely frustrated in their capacity to be heard and make themselves understood, they are potentially deprived of a fair share in collective financial and medical resources. If we fail to recognize inequalities in credibility and intelligibility between diverse groups of knowers, there is a chance that these epistemic inequalities are being reproduced in our system of health insurance and our ways of distributing healthcare provisions.

The Medico-Legal 'Making' of 'The Transgender Child'.

Thirty years ago, the transgender child would have made no sense to the general public, nor to young people. Today, children and adolescents declare themselves transgender, the National Health Service diagnoses 'gender dysphoria', and laws and policy are developed which uphold young people's 'choice' to transition and to authorize stages at which medical intervention is permissible and desirable. The figure of the 'transgender child' presumed by medicine and law is not a naturally occurring category of person external to medical diagnosis and legal protection. Medicine and law construct the 'transgender child' rather than that the 'transgender child' exists independently of medico-legal discourse. The ethical issue of whether the child and young person can 'consent' to social and medical transition goes beyond legal assessment of whether a person under16 years has the mental capacity to consent, understand to what s/he is consenting, and can express independent wishes. It shifts to examination of the recent making of 'the transgender child' through the complex of power/knowledge/ethics of medicine and the law of which the child can have no knowledge but within which its own desires are both constrained and incited.

Metodología de diálogos interculturales / Methodology of intercultural dialogues

Contiene un marco legal sobre la salud de los pueblos indígenas. El objetivo del documento es el de "Propiciar un espacio de encuentro y consenso entre las percepciones y expectativas de terapeutas tradicionales y prestadores de salud institucional, basado en la generación de la auto-identidad y el respeto a las diferencias." Señala además que, "La atención primaria en salud requiere de establecimientos adecuados y personal sensibilizado para prestar sus servicios con pertinencia cultural, la cual, es un enfoque de intervención que busca que la atención sanitaria sea conceptualizada, organizada e implementada tomando como referentes los valores de la cosmovisión de los pueblos indígenas." Enfatizando ser una estrategia institucional, agrega que: "El Departamento de Promoción y Educación en Salud de la DGSIAS propone esta metodología para la realización de diálogos interculturales que tiene como objetivo principal generar un proceso estratégico para la adecuación de los servicios de salud y la sensibilización del personal hacia una atención con pertinencia cultural." Hace referencia al documento: "Normas con pertinencia cultural: hacia la interculturalidad", que también puede encontrarse en eBlueInfo En el marco conceptual, aborda términos relacionados, y específicamente enumera los nombres (en lengua) y sus "especialidades" en la medicina tradicional. "Esta metodología fue construida con acompañamiento de la Unidad de Atención en Salud para Pueblos Indígenas e Interculturalidad (UASPIIG) y validada en campo entre los años 2014 y 2015 como ejercicio de diálogos entre comadronas y proveedores de servicios de salud del MSPAS, en la plataforma de intervención del Proyecto Mesoamérica 2015." Incluye además, talleres de concientización intercultural, tanto para "terapeutas tradicionales", como para el personal médico.

Medical gazes and meteorological metaphors: representations of dementia in contemporary motion pictures.

BACKGROUND: For the last two decades, there has been a surge of major motion pictures dealing with the topic of dementia. This trend reflects and at the same time informs and shapes an increasing public awareness of dementia as an individual ethical and sociopolitical issue. MAIN BODY: This contribution examines from an ethical perspective how contemporary motion pictures deal with the topic of dementia and thus contribute to forming our moral awareness of the phenomenon as such and our ways of dealing with those affected. It focuses on an analysis of the conceptual premises and aesthetic imagery relevant in the cinematographic representation of dementia. As the analysis will show, viewing a film as a film about dementia may presume a medicalizing perspective. Furthermore, cinematographic images and metaphors are powerful devices for articulating thoughts and feelings about the elusive and ultimately ineffable experience of dementia. At the same time, however, they can also have problematic implications. CONCLUSIONS: Given the lack of knowledge and widespread fear, stigmatization and exclusion, health policy can and should use cinematographic approaches in order to enhance public understanding of dementia and empathy with those affected. At the same time, however, public health agencies and educational institutions making use of the persuasive power of film need to pay closer attention to the images and messages constructed, their aesthetic functioning and their ethical implications and social consequences.

Salud adolescente y la mirada de los actores institucionales en cinco provincias del norte argentino. Paradigmas, percepciones y programas / Saúde adolescente e o olhar dos atores institucionais em cinco províncias do norte argentino. Paradigmas, percepções e programas. / Adolescent health and the look of institutional actors in five provinces in the north of argentina. Paradigms, perceptions and programs

Objetivo: Este artículo analiza las miradas de los diferentes funcionarios/as involucrados en las problemáticas de salud detectadas en la población adolescente, destacando las estrategias e intervenciones diseñadas para responder tales necesidades y cómo la gestión logra articularse para alcanzar los objetivos de política planteados. Metodología: Se diseñó un mapeo de actores común a las jurisdicciones analizadas (Chaco, Jujuy, Salta, Misiones y La Rioja), efectuándose entre 10 y 12 entrevistas por provincia, mediando consentimiento informado, entre los meses de octubre y noviembre de 2016. Resultados: La recolección de opiniones y experiencias de gestión muestran que no existe una estrategia en salud adolescente en el país, aunque sí abordajes planificados aislados, tanto desde algunos programas nacionales, o a través de algunas iniciativas específicas implementadas desde las provincias. Ello no implica necesariamente falta de compromiso de las/os funcionaras/os involucrados: la alta rotación agudiza el desafío, en tanto la coordinación informal descansa en vínculos individuales, que requieren recomponerse en cada cambio de responsable.

Objective: This article analyzes the opinions of public servants involved in health problems concerning adolescents, focusing on the strategies and interventions designed to address such needs, and how they manage to articulate actions in order to achieve objectives. Method: A common mapping of actors was designed for the analyzed locations (Chaco, Jujuy, Salta, Misiones and La Rioja), 10-12 interviews were done in each province, prior informed consent, between October and November 2016. Results: The opinions gathered and management experiences show that there is no stated strategy in adolescent health in the country; however, there are isolated planned approaches as part of national programs, or through specific initiatives in the provinces. This does not necessarily imply lack of commitment from civil servants: their high turnover exacerbates the challenge; informal coordination relies on individual links, which require reorganization with every change of person in charge. Conclusions: The study shows gaps leading to identify and implement policies for adolescents. These gaps go from the recognition or not of a new paradigm based on persons of rights as well as its correlation with real actions showing that such paradigm is recognized and translated into concrete actions, knowledge transmission and consistent allocation of resources. As a result, it is observed that there is not a shared strategy regarding adolescence health in the country; instead we find non-coordinated and isolated approaches, with many gaps, particularly related to mental health and addictions.

O objetivo deste trabalho analisa os olhares dos diferentes funcionários / as envolvidos em problemas de saúde detectados na população adolescente, salientando as estratégias e intervenções desenhadas para acodir a tais necessidades e como a gestão consegue articular para atingir os objetivos políticos propostos. Metodologia: Desenhou-se um mapeamento de atores comuns às jurisdições analisadas (Chaco, Jujuy, Salta, Misiones e La Rioja), realizado entre 10 e 12 entrevistas por província foi projetado, após consentimento informado, entre os meses de outubro e novembro de 2016. Os resultados : A coleta de opiniões e experiências de gestão mostram que não existe uma estratégia sobre a saúde dos adolescentes no país, embora haja abordagens planejadas isoladamente bem de alguns programas nacionais como através de algumas iniciativas específicas implementadas a partir das províncias. Isto não implica necessariamente uma falta de compromisso dos/as funcionários/as envolvidos: a alta rotatividade alavanca o desafio, enquanto a coordenação informal repousa em vínculos individuais, que requerem se recompor a cada troca de responsáveis. Conclusões: O estudo mostra a presença de lacunas no olhar que leva a identificar e implementar políticas para a adolescência. Essas lacunas se estendem desde o reconhecimento ou não de um novo paradigma baseado em sujeitos de direito, bem como em sua contraparte real em ações que mostrem que este paradigma é efetivamente reconhecido e traduzido em intenções, conhecimentos sobre a sua abordagem, e alocação de recursos consistentes com tais princípios. Como resultado, observa-se que não há necessariamente uma estratégia comum sobre a saúde dos adolescentes no país, mas abordagens planejadas isoladamente, com faltas marcadas, particularmente relacionados ao tratamento da saúde mental e adicções.

Midwifery policy in contemporary and modern China: From the past to the future.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to outline the progress of midwifery-related policies in contemporary and modern China as well as the obstacles in this process, and to provide recommendations for policy makers in the establishment of Chinese midwifery policies, ultimately promoting the development of midwifery in China. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: Policy plays an increasingly important role in midwifery development, particularly needed in modern China. A review of policies of midwifery could help policy makers develop effective strategies to address current problems in China, including the insufficient numbers of midwives, the shrinking of responsibility and the degradation of midwives' competency. METHODS: The Policy Triangle was used to examine through literature the laws and regulations regarding midwifery from 1928 in China and was conducted from April to September in 2013. This was followed by insider interviews with two senior policy makers from the National Health Commission to explain nursing policy progress, thereby identifying the reasons why midwifery has developed more slowly than nursing. RESULTS: The development of midwifery in China could be classified into four stages: (1) the beginning period (1928-1949), beginning with the first midwifery rules; (2) the development period (1949-1979), in which the quality and quantity of midwives were significant; (3) the unclear positioning period (1979-2008), without clear midwifery policy; and (4) the subordination to nursing period (2008-present), with the Nurse Byelaw 2008 stating that midwives must apply for nursing licenses. DISCUSSION: The main factors influencing midwifery policies are: (1) social background, such as the changes of different governments and health care reform, and (2) the powers of the actors. Currently, it is an appropriate time to develop strategies for policy makers to facilitate midwifery development in China. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICY: Midwifery policy should be independently included in the frame of national medical industry reform because midwives are an indispensable part of the health care workforce. In-depth research should be conducted to confirm the position of midwifery in China to ensure its sustainable development.

Establishing a Europe-wide foundation for high quality midwifery education: The role of the European Midwives Association (EMA).

A cornerstone of European policy involves freedom of movement of individuals between member countries, which applies equally to those who use and provide maternity care. To promote and support safe, high quality maternity care, minimum standards for midwifery education and practice have been published, including Directives EEC/80/154 and EEC/80/155 which support the recognition of professional qualifications. These Directives established a minimum standard for midwifery education, including the duration and content of theoretical and practical education. Annex V of the Directives established a framework of professional activities to define and guide the scope of midwifery practice in EU member countries. The Directives were updated in 2013, with the European Midwives Association (EMA) an important partner in this process. While the degree of implementation of the Directives at individual country level varies, EMA has an ongoing role in ensuring, promoting and advancing high quality midwifery education and practice throughout the EU.

Health care policy at a crossroads? A discursive study of patient agency in national health quality strategies between 1993 and 2015.

The Danish health care sector currently undergoes changes that imply a gradual transition from an evidence-based activity model to a value-based quality model centered on patient involvement and value-based governance. The patient naturally occupies a central position in health care, and the transition therefore raises important questions about health care quality and how successive national health quality strategies value quality and ascribe roles and agency to patients. To explore the complexity of these quality strategies, we analyze and discuss how political discourse moments influence the contents of the national health quality strategies and how variation in the construal of patient roles and agency indicates discursive struggle in Danish national health care policy. Underlying theoretical concepts are informed by New Public Management, the welfare state, health communication, and discourse theory. Our analytical approach is inspired by Critical Discourse Analysis and combines content analysis with linguistic analysis.