Universal health coverage under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’s sanctions: strategic purchasing approach in the Iranian health system

Author(s):  
Peivand Bastani ◽  
Seyyed Mostafa Hakimzadeh ◽  
Ehsan Teymourzadeh ◽  
Mojtaba Nouhi

Abstract Due to the sanctions imposed by the USA government upon the Iranian health system, achieving the UHC might face some financial problems. This study aimed to make the best solution for the Iran health care system to overcome not only the temporary sanctions but also a program to reach the UHC goals through the strategic purchasing approach. This was a qualitative study carried out from 2015 to 2017 containing two phases: a comparative analysis and a three-step Delphi technique. In the first phase, the Garden model was applied to select the countries. In the second phase, 20 experts who specialised in health management, health economics, and health insurance science were asked. Data were analyzed with SPSS (version 20.0) and STATA (version 15.0) In the threat of trade and economic sanctions imposed on the Iranian health care system, the experts identified and emphasized that the vulnerable groups to receive financial assistance can be the retired, fecund women, teenagers and people with lower wages. The experts thought that, in the context of resource constraints, different payment systems are proposed for cities and villages based on the different needs of local population. Considering the difficult situation, this study focused on how Iran can cope well in a dangerous situation and economies the health expenditure applying strategic purchasing as one of the key tools in controlling costs to achieve universal health coverage. Economic evaluation, payment system, and priority population are the linchpins of the UHC. Universal health coverage, if it is to be considered, not only is applicable, but it could also be a solution for future generations. Therefore, the proposed policy proposals can provide both a short-term and long-term basis for the health care system of countries that are facing budget constraints or are basically low-income.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kujundžić Tiljak ◽  
S Orešković ◽  
H Tiljak

Abstract Background Andrija Štampar implemented innovative healthcare solutions in Croatia at the beginning of the 20th century, advocating principles of comprehensiveness, continuity, and availability. These principles are globally challenged at ideological, social and policy levels, reflecting discussions in the USA and EU on whether a single-payer, mandatory health insurance (MHI) system and universal health coverage (UHC) are optimal solutions for the sustainable health system of the 21st century? Methods Analyzing the impact of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) as a single-payer on the performance of Croatia's health care system through the analysis of the financial and health outcomes for the 2000-2020 period to assess allocative efficiency, organizational effectiveness, and economic sustainability. Results The CHIF is the single purchaser of all publicly financed individual health services, delivered through both public and private providers. Although the broad scope of the MHI scheme, patients must pay towards the costs of many goods and services, and the right to free health care services has been systematically reduced in the last twenty years. The financial sustainability of the system is decreasing mainly caused by the model focusing on the tertiary care and payment scheme based on monthly hospital limits. However, the incidence of catastrophic and impoverishing payments is lower in Croatia than in many other EU13 countries. Conclusions The solution might be in the development of integrated health services, implementation of health promotion, education, and awareness, diseases prevention, and focus on the outcomes. The funding should follow the population needs in accordance with public health priorities and not only the structural demand of the existing system. The alternative is to face additional financial burden and impoverishment of the population in need of healthcare services. Key messages Modern universal health coverage strives to integrate health care and focuses on the outcomes. Single-payer system is not an obstacle for integration or source of fragmentation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract Very often, important health system reforms are delayed, rendered ineffective or they simply go badly wrong. All too often this happens not because of a lack of money, health workers or health care facilities but because we adopt unfit ideas and decision and/or implement them insufficiently. The incapacity to develop, adopt and implement good decision is quintessentially the definition of bad governance. If we are to develop our health systems towards Universal Health Coverage and health systems performance improvement, we will need to strengthen our health system governance. Governance is vitally important to health systems reform and refers to how decisions are made and implemented - everything from the ability of policy-makers to take evidence-based and relevant decisions to their ability to implement policies and create alignment between different actors. In this workshop we will share experiences from a governance spring course for policy makers from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Connected to this we will also share preliminary results of a study on National Level Health Systems Governance. The panelists will address five key issues The contribution of governance to Universal Health Coverage. This contribution will focus on a) the concept of governance defined as the way societies make and implement collective decisions and b) its 5 main domains including transparency, accountability, participation, integrity and capacity. (S Greer)Governance improvement needs in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: experiences from working with policy makers including countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. For purpose of peer-learning and contrasting experiences we have paired these countries with policy makers from Austria, Finland and Ireland (G Pastorino)Stakeholder participation in decision making and implementation: Very often, powerful stakeholders, like the medical profession, is over-represented and exerts immense veto power, while the voice of other professions, patients, and citizens remained unheard. What are the governance strategies and instruments to harness those underrepresented stakeholders for Universal Health Coverage? (G Fattore)Governing centralized and decentralized budgets in primary, social and hospital care: population-based health care in larger countries requires decentralization of part of the health care budget. What are the accountability lines and instruments that ensure that regional and local budget holders aligning with national policies for Universal Health Coverage? (L Hawkins)Governance contribution addressing corruption: According to surveys health systems are perceived prone to corruption. What is the contribution of governance to heal corruption and make the system work according to rules? (D Clarke) Key messages If we are to make progress towards Universal Health Coverage, we will need to strengthen health systems governance. Without strengthening health systems governance we will fail to manage stakeholders, budgets and corruption.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-154
Author(s):  
E. Bekeshova

In the article, the author conducted an analytical review of the state of primary health care in rural areas at the present stage. In modern socio–economic conditions, health care for the rural population is characterized by limited access to medical care, as well as low efficiency, both medical and social and preventive measures. In the Kyrgyz Republic, the 60.0% of the population are rural, so the organization of medical care for this category of the population is essential for the health–care system of the Republic. Both the Almaty Declaration (1978) and the Astana Declaration of 2018 reaffirm the desire to strengthen primary health care to achieve universal health coverage with key areas: making bold policy decisions to improve people’s health in all areas; Sustainable primary health care; Empowering individuals and the public; Building stakeholder support with national policies, strategies and plans. The development of family medicine allows unloading the health care system and strengthening the prevention of diseases. The PHC approach is fundamental to achieving the overall global goals of universal health coverage and health-related sustainable development goals. The poor state of health of rural residents requires the development of more effective medical care mechanisms aimed at improving the financial, material and human resources of health care. The literary review showed that the optimization of the health care system, especially in rural areas, needs to begin with a primary level of health care to improve the accessibility and quality of health care, while optimizing financial, logistical and human resources.


Author(s):  
Joia S. Mukherjee

This chapter explores the seminal topic of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), an objective within the Sustainable Development goals. It reviews the theory and definitions that shape the current conversation on UHC. The movement from selective primary health care to UHC demonstrates a global commitment to the progressive realization of the right to health. However, access to UHC is limited by barriers to care, inadequate provision of care, and poor-quality services. To deliver UHC, it is critical to align inputs in the health system with the burden of disease. Quality of care must also be improved. Steady, sufficient financing is needed to achieve the laudable goal of UHC.This chapter highlights some important steps taken by countries to expand access to quality health care. Finally, the chapter investigates the theory and practice behind a morbidity-based approach to strengthening health systems and achieving UHC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract Oral health is a central element of general health with significant impact in terms of pain, suffering, impairment of function and reduced quality of life. Although most oral disease can be prevented by health promotion strategies and routine access to primary oral health care, the GBD study 2017 estimated that oral diseases affect over 3.5 billion people worldwide (Watt et al, 2019). Given the importance of oral health and its potential contribution to achieving universal health coverage (UHC), it has received increased attention in public health debates in recent years. However, little is known about the large variations across countries in terms of service delivery, coverage and financing of oral health. There is a lack of international comparison and understanding of who delivers oral health services, how much is devoted to oral health care and who funds the costs for which type of treatment (Eaton et al., 2019). Yet, these aspects are central for understanding the scope for improvement regarding financial protection against costs of dental care and equal access to services in each country. This workshop aims to present the comparative research on dental care coverage in Europe, North America and Australia led by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Three presentations will look at dental care coverage using different methods and approaches. They will compare how well the population is covered for dental care especially within Europe and North America considering the health systems design and expenditure level on dental care, using the WHO coverage cube as analytical framework. The first presentation shows results of a cross-country Health Systems in Transition (HiT) review on dental care. It provides a comparative review and analysis of financing, coverage and access in 31 European countries, describing the main trends also in the provision of dental care. The second presentation compares dental care coverage in eight jurisdictions (Australia (New South Wales), Canada (Alberta), England, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the United States) with a particular focus on older adults. The third presentation uses a vignette approach to map the extent of coverage of dental services offered by statutory systems (social insurance, compulsory insurance, NHS) in selected countries in Europe and North America. This workshop provides the opportunity of a focussed discussion on coverage of dental care, which is often neglected in the discussion on access to health services and universal health coverage. The objectives of the workshop are to discuss the oral health systems in an international comparative setting and to draw lessons on best practices and coverage design. The World Conference on Public Health is hence a good opportunity for this workshop that contributes to frame the discussion on oral health systems in a global perspective. Key messages There is large degree of variation in the extent to which the costs of dental care are covered by the statutory systems worldwide with implications for oral health outcomes and financial protection. There is a need for a more systematic collection of oral health indicators to make analysis of reliable and comparable oral health data possible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Souza ◽  
T C Garcia ◽  
M N Sayão

Abstract Background Brazil have a huge free health care system. Inspired on UK National Health System (NHS), the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS, that means Unified Health System) was consolidate as a right for all citizens after 1988's Brazilian Federal Constitution. Despite your spread, part of Brazilian citizens have an opposite opinions about SUS. So, the main question is: How to teach the relevance of a universal free health care system as a human right. Objectives The main aim of this work is teaching the recognize of SUS as a human right and ratified by Brazilian Federal Constitution in a High School class. In this sense, we used the cinema and debate for stimulate an effective comprehension of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and health promotion as a human right in a high school class. We used the movie Elysium (Neill Blomkamp, 2013) that show a dystopian world with two social class: citizen and non-citizen of Elysium (an artificial satellite of the Earth with high technology of cure for your citizens). Results The class has three Lessons: in first lesson we teaching about different notions about rights and the UDHR. In the second lesson we teaching about free health care systems in the world and a historical perspective about SUS. The third lesson we show the movie Elysium and proceed a debate. In debate we discuss about citizenship and rights, how the movie show two societies with different rights about work, transport and health, and how this aspects impact the quality of life of human being. Conclusions What options we have? The notion of free health care as a human right isn't an easy concept. So, efforts are needed for this comprehension and cinema can be used, followed by discussion, as a significant teaching tool for achieving humanistic educational objectives about free health care system as a human right in the high school curriculum. Key messages Health care is a human right and free health care system is a concretization of this right. Cinema can be used for stimulate a critical evaluation and effective understanding of rights in a high school classroom.


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