Country experiences on the path to exclusive use of validated automated blood pressure measuring devices within the HEARTS in the Americas Initiative.

The aim of the HEARTS in the Americas initiative is to promote the adoption of global best practices in the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases, and improve the control of hypertension. HEARTS is being implemented in 21 countries and a diverse set of actions and measures are in progress to improve exclusive access in primary health care facilities to automated blood pressure measuring devices that have been validated for accuracy. The purpose of this manuscript is to illustrate these efforts, mainly in the regulatory and public procurement arena, and to present information on common challenges and solutions identified. Examples from six countries confirm the need for not only a robust regulatory framework to increase availability of validated automated blood pressure measuring devices but also a comprehensive strategic approach that involves relevant stakeholders, includes a multi-pronged approach and is associated with a national program to prevent and control non communicable diseases.

Weak and fragmented regulatory frameworks on the accuracy of blood pressure-measuring devices pose a major impediment for the implementation of HEARTS in the Americas.

Global HEARTS is a WHO initiative for cardiovascular disease prevention and control. Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement is an essential component of the initiative. This study aimed to determine the regulatory frameworks governing the accuracy of BPMDs in countries of the Americas participating in the HEARTS initiative. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the laws and regulations relevant to ensuring the accuracy of BPMDs were determined from the Ministries of Health/Regulatory Agencies among 13 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Analysis included characterizing the scope of regulations (ie, pre-market approval, sales and promotion, labeling, cuff sizes, and procurement), information systems for monitoring the models of BPMDs used in primary health care (PHC), and systems to enforce compliance with regulations. Ten of the 13 countries had medical device laws, but regulations that specifically address BPMDs only existed in three countries. Only one country (Brazil) had regulations for mandatory accuracy validation testing and only two countries regulated internet sales of BPMDs. Labeling and cuff size regulations existed in four and two countries, respectively. Less than half the countries reported having a data repository on the BPMD models being used in PHC facilities (four countries) or sold (five countries). Weak and fragmented regulatory frameworks on the accuracy of BPMDs exist among countries of the Americas. This will adversely affect the accuracy of blood pressure assessment and hence poses a major impediment for successful implementation of HEARTS initiative.

[Methodology for estimating total direct costs of comprehensive care for non-communicable diseases]. / Metodología para la estimación de costos directos de la atención integral para enfermedades no trasmisibles.

RESUMEN Diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) generate high costs and are the most common cause of mortality in the Americas. In the case of Peru, given demographic and epidemiological changes, particularly the alarming increase in overweight and obesity, the burden of these diseases is constantly increasing, resulting in the need to budget more financial resources to the health services. The total care costs of these diseases and their complications represent a financial burden that should be considered very carefully by health institutions when they draft their budgets. With this aim, the Pan American Health Organization has assisted the Ministry of Health (MINSA) with a study to estimate these costs. This article graphically describes the methodology developed to estimate the direct costs of comprehensive care for DM and HT to the health services of MINSA and regional governments.

Metodología para la estimación de costos directos de la atención integral para enfermedades no trasmisibles / Methodology for estimating total direct costs of comprehensive care for non-communicable diseases

RESUMEN Enfermedades como la diabetes mellitus (DM) y la hipertensión arterial (HTA) generan altos costos y son la causa más frecuente de mortalidad en la región de las Américas. En el caso del Perú, dados los cambios demográficos y epidemiológicos, y particularmente el aumento alarmante del sobrepeso y la obesidad, la carga de estas enfermedades tiene un crecimiento constante que implica la necesidad de asignar cada vez más recursos financieros a los servicios de salud. Los costos de la atención integral de estas enfermedades y sus complicaciones representan una carga económica que debe ser considerada por las instituciones de salud al elaborar su presupuesto. Con ese propósito, la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) ha apoyado al Ministerio de Salud (MINSA) con la realización de un estudio para la estimación de estos costos. En el presente artículo se describe esquemáticamente la metodología desarrollada para la estimación de los costos directos en la atención integral de la DM e HTA en los servicios de salud del MINSA y gobiernos regionales.

RESUMEN Diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) generate high costs and are the most common cause of mortality in the Americas. In the case of Peru, given demographic and epidemiological changes, particularly the alarming increase in overweight and obesity, the burden of these diseases is constantly increasing, resulting in the need to budget more financial resources to the health services. The total care costs of these diseases and their complications represent a financial burden that should be considered very carefully by health institutions when they draft their budgets. With this aim, the Pan American Health Organization has assisted the Ministry of Health (MINSA) with a study to estimate these costs. This article graphically describes the methodology developed to estimate the direct costs of comprehensive care for DM and HT to the health services of MINSA and regional governments.