Universal health coverage and equal access in Sweden: a century-long perspective on macro-level policy.

BACKGROUND: When today's efforts to achieve universal health coverage are mainly directed towards low-income settings, it is perhaps easy to forget that countries considered to have universal, comprehensive and high-performing health systems have also undergone this journey. In this article, the aim is to provide a century-long perspective to illustrate Sweden's long and ongoing journey towards universal health coverage and equal access to healthcare. METHODS: The focus is on macro-level policy. A document analysis is divided into three broad eras (1919-1955; 1955-1989; 1989-) and synthesises seven points in time when policies relevant to overarching goals and regulation of universal health coverage and equal access were proposed and/or implemented. The development is analysed and concluded in relation to two egalitarian goals in the context of health: equality of access and equal treatment for equal need. RESULTS: Over the past century, macro-level policy evolved from the concept of creating access for the neediest and those reliant on wages for their survival to a mandatory insurance with equal right to healthcare for all. However, universal health coverage was not achieved until 1955, and individuals had to rely on their personal financial resources to cover the cost at the time of care utilization until the 1970s. It was not until 1983 that legislation explicitly stated that access to healthcare should be equal for the entire population (horizontal equity), while a vertical equity-principle was not added until 1997. Subsequently, ideas of free choice and privatization have gained significance. For instance, they aim to increase service access, addressing the Swedish health system's Achilles' heel in this regard. However, the principle of equal access for all is now being challenged by the emergence of private health insurance, which offers quicker access to services. It can be concluded that there is no perpetual Swedish healthcare model and various dimensions of access have been the focus of policy discussion. The discussion on access barriers has shifted from financial to personal and organizational ones. Today, Sweden still ranks high in terms of affordability and equity in international comparisons: although not as well as a decade ago. Whether this marks the beginning of a new trend intertwined with a decline in Sweden's welfare 'exceptionalism', or is a temporary decline remains to be assessed in the future.

Meeting the challenges of the 21st century: the fundamental importance of trust for transformation.

BACKGROUND: This paper is one of a collection on challenges facing health systems in the future. One obvious challenge is how to transform to meet changing health needs and take advantage of emerging treatment opportunities. However, we argue that effective transformations are only possible if there is trust in the health system. MAIN BODY: We focus on three of the many relationships that require trust in health systems, trust by patients and the public, by health workers, and by politicians. Unfortunately, we are seeing a concerning loss of trust in these relationships and, for too long, the importance of trust to health policymaking and health system functioning has been overlooked and under-valued. We contend that trust must be given the attention, time, and resources it warrants as an indispensable element of any health system and, in this paper, we review why trust is so important in health systems, how trust has been thought about by scholars from different disciplines, what we know about its place in health systems, and how we can give it greater prominence in research and policy. CONCLUSION: Trust is essential if health systems are to meet the challenges of the 21st century but it is too often overlooked or, in some cases, undermined.

A country's efforts toward creating an advanced practice nurse in public health.

AIM: The study goal was to inform the creation of a blueprint for an advanced practice nurse (APN) in public health. BACKGROUND: No internationally accepted standard for an APN in public health exists. Activities of public health nurses (PHN) traditionally have centered on health promotion and disease prevention, but many have added other population-based activities such as chronic and acute disease treatment. INTRODUCTION: An APN in public health is needed to address the global challenges threatening the physical, social, and mental health of populations worldwide. METHODS: This qualitative study was comprised of six focus groups, each containing a different group of stakeholders (n = 40). Study results followed the requirements of the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). FINDINGS: Two major themes emerged: the APN role in public health and core expectations. From the APN role theme, four subthemes emerged on APN domains of public health practice and functions. From the core expectations theme, nine subthemes emerged on the APN's qualifications and behaviors. DISCUSSION: Agreement among stakeholders was found in the nine core expectations; however, among the four different visions of an APN in public health, two fit a population-based model rather than the traditional PHN model. CONCLUSIONS: A single APN role in public health is insufficient to address the breadth and complexity of today's global challenges as detailed by the sustainable development goals. Due to the interaction between health and the biopsychosocial environments, we need APNs with different areas of expertise. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING POLICY: Nurses working at universities, in public health services, and as healthcare policymakers are needed to create a multistage strategy that gradually introduces several different types of APNs in public health.

Caminando hacia el final de la pandemia COVID-19: caso México / Moving towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Mexico

Introducción: se vive una crisis de confianza en la ciencia y una época de menosprecio a los conocimientos y evidencias. Las opiniones de los líderes políticos y otras figuras públicas ajenas a los problemas de salud tienen una mayor consideración y peso que los juicios emitidos por los expertos. Una evidencia que demuestra la debilidad de México en el campo de la salud son dos hechos en los cuales las autoridades del país son los culpables que son: la desaparición del Seguro Popular y la pobre respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19. Conclusiones: la pandemia no termina por decreto, se logrará con cuidados y prevención realizada por el gobierno, instituciones y personal de salud y la sociedad (AU)

Introduction: we are living through a crisis of confidence in science and an era of disregard for knowledge and evidence. The opinions of political leaders and other public figures who are not involved in health problems are given greater consideration and weight than the judgments made by experts. Evidence that demonstrates Mexico's weakness in the field of health are two facts in which the country's authorities are to blame: the disappearance of Seguro Popular and the poor response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: the pandemic does not end by decree, it will be achieved with care and prevention carried out by the government, health institutions and personnel and society (AU)

Demographic and epidemiological transitions and burden of adolescent healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa: A review.

This review's main objective is to discuss how demographic and epidemiological transitions relate to the burden of adolescent healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The review explicitly discussed the burden of adolescent healthcare, the current African policies on adolescent healthcare, and gaps in the African policies compared with Europe and North America. We also examined how adolescent healthcare policies evolve and documented the recommended essential part of the policy for enhancing its sustainability. The burden of adolescent health is high in SSA with diseases and reproductive health-related problems prevailing among adolescents. However, variations exist in the burden of adolescent healthcare across countries in the region. While some SSA countries are currently undergoing demographic and epidemiological transition processes concerning adolescent health care, the majority are either at an early stage of the transition or yet to commence the process. Policy-makers should consider effective ways to improve adolescents' health in SSA through preventive mechanisms and a multi-dimensional approach.

The Increasing Adoption of Out-of-Pocket Cost Caps: Benefits, Unintended Consequences, and Policy Opportunities.

This Viewpoint discusses potential benefits and unintended consequences of out-of-pocket cost caps in Medicare and the employer-sponsored health insurance market and provides suggested policy opportunities to address shortcomings.

Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery and Medical Insurance Payment in China.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper briefly introduces the status quo of bariatric and metabolic surgery and medical insurance payment in China. RECENT FINDINGS: Along with China's rapid economic growth, the prevalence of obesity and diabetes is increasing quickly. Because of their high body fat percentage and predominance of abdominal obesity, Chinese people experience metabolic disorders more frequently than Caucasians with the same BMI. Treatments are not medical because there is a lack of social understanding of obesity. Furthermore, obesity has not been accepted as a disease in China and so has not been included in the medical insurance payment system. Therefore, weight-loss medications are not covered by medical insurance. In China, bariatric and metabolic surgery have advanced for almost 20 years, and corresponding guidelines have been developed. However, there are regional and cognitive variations in whether medical insurance covers bariatric surgery or not. Recent research on the financial advantages of medical insurance coverage for weight-loss surgery showed that it conserves healthcare system resources. It will be important to raise public awareness regarding obesity in the future, present more evidence of the clinical efficacy of surgery, and work towards a higher percentage of medical insurance reimbursement for obesity treatment and bariatric surgery.

Analysis of national physical activity and sedentary behaviour policies in China.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to advance knowledge on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) policies in China and to highlight related gaps and opportunities in the Chinese policy landscape. METHODS: Literature and web-based searches were performed to identify national PA and SB policies in China. We assessed which of the 17 elements of the Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Audit Tool (HEPA PAT, version 2) are included in each of the policy documents and whether and how they address the 'cornerstones' of PA and SB policy: PA and SB guidelines, targets, surveillance and monitoring, and public education programmes. RESULTS: We found 60 national PA and SB policies, of which 54 focused on PA only and 6 focused on both PA and SB. There was a rapid increase in the number of policies issued between 2002 and 2021. In totality, the policies include all 17 key elements for a successful national policy approach to PA promotion according to the HEPA PAT. The policies reflect engagement from a range of sectors and encompass PA targets, recommendations for PA and SB, mandates and recommendations for school-related PA, plans for public education on PA, and plans for surveillance and monitoring of PA and SB. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that there has been increasing focus on PA and SB policies in China, which reflects efforts by policymakers to address the health burden of insufficient PA and excessive SB. More emphasis may be placed on SB in Chinese policy, particularly in terms of setting specific targets for population SB. Policymakers and other relevant public health stakeholders in China could also consider developing or adopting the 24-hour movement guidelines, in accordance with recent trends in several other countries. Collaboration and involvement of different sectors in the development and implementation of Chinese PA and SB policies should continue to be facilitated as part of a whole-of-system approach to health promotion.

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)

Parental preferences for rotavirus vaccination for their children under 5 years old in China: A discrete choice experiment.

Rotavirus vaccination is the most effective means to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis, but its coverage in China is not ideal. We aimed to explore parental preferences for rotavirus vaccination for their children under 5years old to improve vaccination coverage. A Discrete Choice Experiment was conducted online on 415 parents with at least one child under 5years old in 3 cities. Five attributes including vaccine effectiveness, protection duration, risk of mild side-effects, out-of-pocket costs, and time required for vaccination were identified. Each attribute was set at three levels. Mixed-logit models were used to measure parental preferences and the relative importance of vaccine attributes. The optimal vaccination strategy was also explored. 359 samples were included in the analysis. The impacts of the vaccine attribute levels on vaccine choice were all statistically significant (p < .01), except for 1-hour vaccination time. The risk of mild side-effects was the most important factor influencing vaccination. The time required for vaccination was the least important attribute. The largest increase in vaccination uptake (74.45%) occurred with decreased the vaccine risk of mild side-effects from 1/10 to 1/50. The predicted vaccination uptake of the optimal vaccination scenario was 91.79%. When deciding about vaccination, parents preferred the rotavirus vaccination with lower risk of mild side-effects, higher effectiveness, longer protection duration, 2-hour vaccination time and lower cost. The authorities should support enterprises to develop vaccines with lower side-effects, higher effectiveness and longer protection duration in the future. We call for appropriate government subsidies for the rotavirus vaccine.

ASRHR in Ethiopia: reviewing progress over the last 20 years and looking ahead to the next 10 years.

Over the last two decades, improvements in Ethiopia's socio-economic context, the prioritization of health and development in the national agenda, and ambitious national health and development policies and programmes have contributed to improvements in the living standards and well-being of the population as a whole including adolescents. Improvements have occurred in a number of health outcomes, for example reduction in levels of harmful practices i.e., in child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), reduction in adolescent childbearing, increase in positive health behaviours, for example adolescent contraceptive use, and maternal health care service use. However, this progress has been uneven. As we look to the next 10 years, Ethiopia must build on the progress made, and move ahead understanding and overcoming challenges and making full use of opportunities by (i) recommitting to strong political support for ASRHR policies and programmes and to sustaining this support in the next stage of policy and strategy development (ii) strengthening investment in and financing of interventions to meet the SRH needs of adolescents (iii) ensuring laws and policies are appropriately communicated, applied and monitored (iv) ensuring strategies are evidence-based and extend the availability of age-disaggregated data on SRHR, and that implementation of these strategies is managed well (v) enabling meaningful youth engagement by institutionalizing adolescent participation as an essential element of all programmes intended to benefit adolescents, and (vi) consolidating gains in the area of SRH while strategically broadening other areas without diluting the ASRHR focus.

Government policies targeting primary care physician practice from 1998-2018 in three Canadian provinces: A jurisdictional scan.

Primary care is the foundation of health care systems around the world. Physician autonomy means that governments rely on a limited selection of levers to implement reforms in primary care delivery, and these policies may impact the practice choices, intentions, and patterns of primary care physicians. Using a systematic search strategy to capture publicly available policy documents, we conducted a scan of such policies from 1998 to 2018 in three Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. We reviewed 388 documents and extracted 170 policies from their texts, followed by analysis of the policies' instruments, actors, and topic areas. Policy reforms across the three provinces were primarily focused on physician payment, with governments relying on both targeted incentives and reformed payment models. Policies also employed various instruments to target priority areas of practice: 24/7 access to care, team-based primary care, unattached patients, eHealth, and rural/Northern recruitment of physicians. Across the three provinces and the 20-year timespan, reform priorities and instruments were largely uniform, with Ontario's policies tending to be the most diverse. Physicians helped shape reforms through the agreements negotiated between provincial governments and medical associations, influencing the topics and timing of reforms. Future research should evaluate impacts on the delivery of primary care and explore opportunities for policy innovation.

Editorial: The 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) Priority Recommendations and Response to the Omicron Variant (B.1.1.529) of SARS-CoV-2.

The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, was included in the World Health Organization (WHO) list of variants of concerns (VOC) on 26 November 2021. Within only three months, omicron has spread rapidly to become the dominant variant in many countries. Studies have begun to evaluate the virulence, transmissibility, and degree of immune protection from current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines or previous of infection with the omicron variant. On 21 January 2022, the WHO published its seventh technical update and recommendations for priority actions in response to the omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant and cautioned that the overall risk from omicron remains high. At the start of this third year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this editorial aims to summarize the evidence that supports the current priority recommendations and response from the WHO regarding the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529.