Factors Related to the Evaluation of Essential Medicines Use in Health Facilities in Indonesia

Background: Indonesia has recently implemented a national policy to ensure equitable access to medicines, promote their rational use, and maintain a reliable and quality supply, specifically for essential medicines. Several organizations have conducted evaluations on essential medicines use but have yielded varying results and cannot reflect the actual situation. Objectives: This study aims to discover the current situation regarding essential medicines and identify the most important factors to be considered during future indicator-based evaluations in health facilities in Indonesia. Methods: This qualitative study was carried out using FGDs and interview from January to February 2022. The sample population consisted of ten experts selected based on predetermined criteria. The discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim in the original language, thematically coded with Nvivo, and analyzed for common themes. Results: This study found 32 factors related to the use of essential medicines in Indonesia, divided into three categories of components, namely access, medicine handling quality, and rational use. Furthermore, a total of 10, 8, and 14 main factors were related to access, handling quality, and rational use, respectively. The discussion provided various perspectives on measuring drug use, specifically essential medicines. Based on expert opinions, evaluating the utilization of essential medicines by relying on existing guidelines was insufficient due to superficiality and irrelevance within the Indonesian health system. Conclusion: Based on the results, one of the crucial factors to consider during evaluation was the accessibility of medicines, which encompassed their availability in health facilities and affordability to patients... (AU)

Involuntary closures of for-profit care homes in England by the Care Quality Commission.

Adult social care services in England are struggling, and sometimes failing, to supply the quality of care deserved by the most vulnerable people in society. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for protecting the recipients of this crucial public service. Their strongest enforcement is the ability to cancel the registration-the legal right to operate-of a health or social care provider. Using novel data from the CQC, we show that the proportion of care home closures due to CQC enforcements, relative to all closures, is increasing. Since 2011, 816 care homes (representing 19 918 registered beds) have been involuntarily closed by the CQC. Our results show that effectively all involuntary closures (804/816) occurred in for-profit care homes. This data emphasises the need for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of for-profit provision on the quality and sustainability of adult social care in England.

To Profit Or Not? Lessons From The Insurance Front Lines.

A former Blue insurance plan executive reflects on why neither for-profit nor not-for-profit financing has delivered what we want in health care.

Association Between Dialysis Facility Ownership and Mortality Risk in Children With Kidney Failure.

Importance: In adults, treatment at profit dialysis facilities has been associated with a higher risk of death. Objective: To determine whether profit status of dialysis facilities is associated with the risk of death in children with kidney failure treated with dialysis and whether any such association is mediated by differences in access to transplant. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study reviewed US Renal Data System records of 15 359 children who began receiving dialysis for kidney failure between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019, in US dialysis facilities. The data analysis was performed between May 2, 2022, and June 15, 2023. Exposure: Time-updated profit status of dialysis facilities. Main Outcomes and Measures: Adjusted Fine-Gray models were used to determine the association of time-updated profit status of dialysis facilities with risk of death, treating kidney transplant as a competing risk. Cox proportional hazards regression models were also used to determine time-updated profit status with risk of death regardless of transplant status. Results: The final cohort included 8465 boys (55.3%) and 6832 girls (44.7%) (median [IQR] age, 12 [3-15] years). During a median follow-up of 1.4 (IQR, 0.6-2.7) years, with censoring at transplant, the incidence of death was higher at profit vs nonprofit facilities (7.03 vs 4.06 per 100 person-years, respectively). Children treated at profit facilities had a 2.07-fold (95% CI, 1.83-2.35) higher risk of death compared with children at nonprofit facilities in adjusted analyses accounting for the competing risk of transplant. When follow-up was extended regardless of transplant status, the risk of death remained higher for children treated in profit facilities (hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.35-1.61). Lower access to transplant in profit facilities mediated 67% of the association between facility profit status and risk of death (95% CI, 45%-100%). Conclusions and Relevance: Given the higher risk of death associated with profit dialysis facilities that is partially mediated by lower access to transplant, the study's findings indicate a need to identify root causes and targeted interventions that can improve mortality outcomes for children treated in these facilities.

Amateur Science and Innovation in Fireworks in Nineteenth-Century Europe.

The categories of "amateur" and "professional" remain central in studies on the sociology of nineteenth-century science. This article joins a growing body of literature that points out the complicated and intersecting connections between these two groups and how blurred the boundaries could be. This study focuses on pyrotechny, the art of fireworks, a field of far more obvious importance in the nineteenth century than it is today. Firework displays were mounted by artisan firework makers, who by the end of the century had become industrialists, and by military specialists, usually artillerymen. They had also become a common amateur pursuit. Across the nineteenth century, the art was transformed by the introduction of new materials, and the key discoveries were the work of enthusiasts who did not seek to profit financially from their discoveries. In this sense, they too were amateurs, although some had a scientific education. This article asks how they were able to make such major contributions to the field, and it situates them within networks that often crossed the boundaries between those who made fireworks for a living, or who studied them in military contexts, and those who were simple enthusiasts.

NPS (Net Promoter Score). Métrica de la experiencia del cliente: construcción y análisis del indicador de una cobertura médica privada / NPS (Net Promoter Score), Customer experience metrics.: construction and analysis of the indicator of private medical coverage

Introducción: el NPS (Net Promoter Score) es un indicador que se utiliza en los programas de experiencia del cliente para medir la satisfacción de dicho público objetivo y su lealtad. Nuestra finalidad fue consolidar el NPS por primera vez en una prepaga de un hospital de alta complejidad de Buenos Aires (PS-HIBA) en busca de establecer un indicador objetivo desde la perspectiva del cliente. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional analítico, de corte transversal. Se incluyeron en el estudio los datos obtenidos a partir de las respuestas de los afiliados al PS-HIBA. Resultados: se consolidó el primer indicador NPS del PS-HIBA: 22 puntos. Se visualizaron los tres perfiles de clientes, obteniendo un 45,7% promotores, 22,3% detractores y 32% pasivos o neutros. Complementariamente se identificaron los motivos de dichas calificaciones; las tres principales fueron: la problemática de accesibilidad a los turnos, la atención y los profesionales valorados positivamente. Conclusión: este estudio aporta un indicador objetivo, que facilita un lenguaje común en la organización y una comparación con el mercado desde la mirada del cliente. El NPS, como sistema, busca impulsar la construcción de una cultura centrada en el cliente, con el fin de mejorar su lealtad y permitir una retroalimentación donde se logra tener presente la voz del cliente, e identificar, priorizar y abordar los problemas percibidos. Nos permite establecer los lineamientos de oportunidades de mejora desde la perspectiva de los pacientes. (AU)

Introduction: the NPS (Net Promoter Score) is an indicator used in customer experience programs to measure the satisfaction of said target audience and their loyalty. Our purpose was to send the survey and consolidate the NPS for the first time in a high complexity prepaid hospital in Buenos Aires (PS-HIBA) in search of an objective indicator from the customer's perspective. Methods: an analytical, cross-sectional observational study was carried out. Data obtained from members' responses to the PS-HIBA were included in the study. Results: the first NPS indicator of PS-HIBA was consolidated: 22 points. The three customer profiles were displayed, obtaining 45.7% promoters, 22.3% detractors and 32% passive or neutral. Complementarily, the reasons for these qualifications were identified, being the three main ones: the problem of accessibility to medical appointments, the medical attention and the professionals valued positively. Conclusion: this study provides an objective indicator which facilitates a common language in the organization and a comparison with the market from the customer's point of view.The NPS as a system seeks to promote the construction of a customer-focused culture, in order to improve their loyalty and allow feedback. Thus, it is possible to keep the customer's voice in mind, identify, prioritize and address the perceived problems. It allows us to establish the guidelines for opportunities to improve from the patients' perspective. (AU)

Does increased provider effort improve quality of care? Evidence from a standardised patient study on correct and unnecessary treatment.

BACKGROUND: Poor quality of care, including overprovision (unnecessary care) is a global health concern. Greater provider effort has been shown to increase the likelihood of correct treatment, but its relationship with overprovision is less clear. Providers who make more effort may give more treatment overall, both correct and unnecessary, or may have lower rates of overprovision; we test which is true in the Tanzanian private health sector. METHODS: Standardised patients visited 227 private-for-profit and faith-based facilities in Tanzania, presenting with symptoms of asthma and TB. They recorded history questions asked and physical examinations carried out by the provider, as well as laboratory tests ordered, treatments prescribed, and fees paid. A measure of provider effort was constructed on the basis of a checklist of recommended history taking questions and physical exams. RESULTS: 15% of SPs received the correct care for their condition and 74% received unnecessary care. Increased provider effort was associated with increased likelihood of correct care, and decreased likelihood of giving unnecessary care. Providers who made more effort charged higher fees, through the mechanism of higher consultation fees, rather than increased fees for lab tests and drugs. CONCLUSION: Providers who made more effort were more likely to treat patients correctly. A novel finding of this study is that they were also less likely to provide unnecessary care, suggesting it is not simply a case of some providers doing "more of everything", but that those who do more in the consultation give more targeted care.

Usos y apropiaciones del sistema de salud privado por parte de los migrantes chinos en Argentina / Uses and appropriations of the private health system by Chinese migrants in Argentina

Resumen El presente artículo aborda las formas de apropiación de los migrantes chinos respecto al sistema de salud argentino, haciendo hincapié en el sistema privado en contraposición al de salud pública. Este caso se enmarca en un trabajo de campo etnográfico multisituado realizado con migrantes chinos principalmente en la ciudad de Mar del Plata, pero también en la ciudad de Buenos Aires. También una estancia de investigación realizada en la ciudad de Hangzhou, provincia de Zhejiang, China, posibilitó dar cuenta de las formas de apropiación del sistema de salud local en el país de origen. En suma, aquí se retrata una baja apropiación general del sistema de salud local por parte de los migrantes, tanto público como privado, salvo en el caso de urgencias, primando la autoatención al interior del grupo del grupo migrante. La diferenciación en los usos y apropiaciones del sistema de salud público y privado reside en que se acude al primero prioritariamente para acciones de prevención primaria como son los controles del desarrollo infantil y del embarazo, como así también para padecimientos menores. Por el contrario, los migrantes suelen recurrir al sistema de salud privado ante casos de mayor complejidad y gravedad, mostrando una priorización del uso del tiempo bajo una lógica de costo-beneficio.

Abstract This article addresses the forms of appropriation of Chinese migrants regarding the Argentine health system, with an emphasis on the private system in contrast with the public health system. Also, a research stay carried out in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, made possible to account for the forms of appropriation of the local health system in the country of origin. In sum, here is portrayed a low general appropriation of the local health system by Chinese migrants, both public and private, except in the case of emergencies, prioritizing self-care within the diasporic group. The differentiation in the uses and appropriations of the public and private health system resides in the fact that the former is used primarily for primary prevention actions such as child development and pregnancy controls, as well as for minor ailments. On the contrary, migrants tend to choose the private health system in cases of greater complexity and severity, showing a prioritization of the use of time under a cost-benefit logic.

Características de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en niños y adolescentes asistidos durante el primer año de la pandemia en un prestador privado de salud de Montevideo / Characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first year of the pandemic in children and adolescents assisted at a private health provider in Montevideo / Características da infecção por SARS-CoV-2 em crianças e adolescentes durante o primeiro ano da pandemia atendidas por uma assistência de saúde privada em Montevidéu

Introducción: las infecciones respiratorias agudas virales suelen ser más frecuentes en niños que en adultos. Sin embargo, en el caso de la COVID-19 la mayoría de los casos pediátricos son leves o asintomáticos. Objetivo: describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los niños con COVID-19 asistidos en un prestador de salud de Montevideo durante el primer año de la pandemia. Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo. Inclusión: pacientes menores de 15 años con reacción en cadena de la polimerasa en tiempo real (RT-PCR) positiva para SARS-CoV-2 entre el 13/3/2020 y el 31/03/2021. Principales variables: sintomatología, comorbilidades, nexo epidemiológico y generación de casos secundarios. Resultados: se realizaron 6.642 RT-PCR para SARS-CoV-2, 486 fueron positivas (7%). El 94% se diagnosticaron entre 12/2020 y 3/2021. Los síntomas respiratorios fueron los más frecuentes en el 98% de los casos sintomáticos. Un 60% presentaron fiebre. El 94% habían tenido contacto con un caso confirmado de COVID-19, 57% intradomiciliario, 31% en centro educativo, y 10% en actividades sociales. El 86% de los contactos eran adultos. Doscientos quince niños fueron el caso índice en el hogar y 73 (34%) generaron casos secundarios intradomiciliarios. Conclusiones: los resultados describen la situación clínica y epidemiológica de una población pediátrica de Montevideo durante el primer año de la pandemia. Dado los cambios constantes en la dinámica de transmisión y de casos es necesario continuar con la vigilancia y realización de este tipo de estudios para ajustar las definiciones de caso sospechoso y racionalizar la indicación de testeo.

Introduction: viral acute respiratory infections are usually more frequent and severe in children than in adults. However, in the case of COVID-19, most pediatric cases are mild or asymptomatic. Objective: describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 assisted by a health provider in Montevideo, during the first year of the pandemic. Materials and methods: retrospective descriptive study. Sample: patients under 15 years of age with positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 between 3/13/2020-03/31/2021. Main variables: symptomatology, comorbidities, epidemiological link and generation of secondary cases. Results: 6,642 RT-PCR tests were performed for SARS-CoV-2, 486 positive (7%). 94% were diagnosed between 12/2020 and 3/2021. Respiratory symptoms were the most frequent in 98% of symptomatic cases. 60% had fever. 94% had had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, 57% intra-domiciliary, 31% at educational centers, and 10% got infected during social activities. 86% of the contacts were adults. Two hundred and fifteen children were the initial case at the household and 73 (34%) generated secondary intra-domiciliary cases. Conclusions: the results describe the clinical and epidemiological situation of a pediatric population in Montevideo during the first year of the pandemic. Given the constant changes in the transmission dynamics and cases, it is necessary to continue to monitor and perform this type of study to adjust the definitions of suspected cases and rationalize testing prescriptions.

Introdução: as infecções respiratórias virais agudas são, geralmente, mais frequentes e graves em crianças do que em adultos. No entanto, no caso da COVID-19, a maioria dos casos pediátricos é leve ou assintomática. Objetivo: descrever as características clínicas e epidemiológicas de crianças com COVID-19 atendidas por uma Assistência de Saúde em Montevidéu, durante o primeiro ano da pandemia. Materiais e métodos: estudo descritivo retrospectivo. Amostra: pacientes menores de 15 anos de idade com RT-PCR positivo para SARS- CoV-2 entre 13/03/2020-31/03/2021. Variáveis principais: sintomatologia, comorbidades, vínculo epidemiológico e geração de casos secundários. Resultados: 6.642 RT-PCR foram realizados para SARS- CoV-2, 486 positivos (7%). 94% foram diagnosticados entre 12/2020 e 3/2021. Os sintomas respiratórios foram os mais frequentes em 98% dos casos sintomáticos. 60% tiveram febre. 94% tiveram contato com caso confirmado de COVID-19, 57% intradomiciliar, 31% em centros educacionais e 10% durante atividades sociais. 86% dos contatos foram adultos. Duzentas e quinze crianças foram o caso inicial do lar e 73 (34%) geraram casos secundários intradomiciliares. Conclusões: os resultados descrevem a situação clínica e epidemiológica de uma população pediátrica em Montevidéu durante o primeiro ano da pandemia. Dadas as constantes mudanças na dinâmica de transmissão e de casos, é necessário continuar monitorando e realizando esse tipo de estudo para ajustar as definições de casos suspeitos e racionalizar a indicação de testagem.

Effects of chain ownership and private equity financing on quality in the English care home sector: retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: the structure of care homes markets in England is changing with the emergence of for-profit homes organised in chains and financed by private equity. Previous literature shows for-profit homes were rated lower quality than not-for-profit homes when inspected by the national regulator, but has not considered new forms of financing. OBJECTIVES: to examine whether financing and organisation of care homes is associated with regulator assessments of quality. METHODS: retrospective observational study of the Care Quality Commission's ratings of 10,803 care homes providing services to older people as of January 2020. We used generalised ordered logistic models to assess whether ratings differed between not-for-profit and for-profit homes categorised into three groups: (i) chained ownership, financed by private equity; (ii) chained ownership, not financed by private equity and (iii) independent ownership. We compared Overall and domain (caring, effective, responsive, safe, well-led) ratings adjusted for care home size, age and location. RESULTS: all three for-profit ownership types had lower average overall ratings than not-for-profit homes, especially independent (6.8% points (p.p.) more likely rated as 'Requires Improvement/Inadequate', 95% CI: 4.7-8.9) and private equity chains (6.6 p.p. more likely rated as 'Requires Improvement/Inadequate', 95% CI: 2.9-10.2). Independent homes scored better than private equity chains in the safe, effective and responsive domains but worst in the well-led domain. DISCUSSION: private equity financing and independent for-profit ownership are associated with lower quality. The consequences of the changing care homes market structure for quality of services should be monitored.

Comparison of resident COVID-19 mortality between unionized and nonunionized private nursing homes.

Using bargaining agreement data from the Federal Mediation Conciliation Services, we found that the median national resident COVID-19 mortality percentage (as of April 24, 2022) of unionized nursing homes and that of nonunionized ones were not statically different (10.2% vs. 10.7%; P = 0.32). The median nursing home resident COVID-19 mortality percentage varied from 0% in Hawaii to above 16% in Rhode Island (16.6%). Unionized nursing homes had a statistically significant lower median mortality percentage than nonunionized nursing homes (P < 0.1) in Missouri, and had a higher median mortality percentage than nonunionized nursing homes (P < 0.05) in Alabama and Tennessee. Higher average resident age, lower percentage of Medicare residents, small size, for-profit ownership, and chain organization affiliation were associated with higher resident COVID-19 mortality percentage. Overall, no evidence was found that nursing home resident COVID-19 mortality percentage differed between unionized nursing homes and nonunionized nursing homes in the U.S.

A critique of the marketisation of long-term residential and nursing home care.

Long-term care systems across countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have undergone a progressive marketisation and financialisation in recent decades, characterised by the embedding of neoliberal market values such as competition, consumer choice, and the profit motive. In this Personal View, we argue that these make poor guiding principles for the care sector, identifying the dysfunctional dynamics that arise as a result, and reflecting on the clinical implications of each, with a focus on facility-based care. We outline why providers can scarcely respond to competitive forces without compromising care quality. We explain why the promotion of consumer choice cannot effectively motivate improvements to quality of care. And we explore how privatisation opens the door to predatory financial practices. We conclude by considering how far proposals for reform can take us, ultimately arguing for a rejection of neoliberal market ideology, and calling for sector-wide discussions about what principles would be more fitting for a caring economy.