scholarly journals COVID-19 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a National Healthcare System: the Qatar Experience

Author(s):  
Jameela Alajmi ◽  
Andrew M. Jeremijenko ◽  
Joji C. Abraham ◽  
Moza Ishaq ◽  
Elli G. Concepcion ◽  
...  

The study was conducted at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, a national healthcare system with 14 hospitals and over 28,000 employees. A total of 16,912 staff members were tested for SARS-CoV-2 between March 10 and June 24, 2020 with 1,799 (10.6%) testing positive. Nurses and midwives had the highest number of infections (33.2% of all infected HCWs) followed by non-clinical support service staff (31.3%), administrative staff (14.6%), allied health professionals (12.7%), physicians (5.2% and other clinical support staff (2.9%). Among 671 infected HCW surveyed by the infection prevention and control team immediately after the positive COVID-19 test was reported, exposure to a family member or roommate with confirmed infection each were reported by 9.5%. Two-thirds of the infected HCWs were symptomatic with fever (34.6%), cough (32.2%) and sore throat (15.8%) being the most commonly reported symptoms. Among the survey respondents, 78 (11.6%) were hospitalized, 9 (1.3%) required supplemental oxygen, 4 (0.6%) were admitted to the intensive care unit) and 2 (0.3%) required mechanical ventilation. There were no deaths. To understand the transmission dynamics and impact of facility designation as COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 facility, we conducted a focused follow-up telephone survey on 393 COVID-19 positive HCW 1-6 weeks after diagnosis. Only 5% of respondents reported acquiring the virus from working at a COVID-19 designated facility while the remaining 95% reported working at a non-COVID-19 facility and acquired the infection from accidental exposure to a colleague (45%) or to a patient (29%). Among infected HCW at COVID-19 designated facilities, 82% reported used full PPE at all times while 68% of infected HCW at non-COVID-19 facilities reported using PPE as directed.

Author(s):  
Elena Pekhtereva ◽  

The article provides an overview of the state and problems of the healthcare system in China. Since 2009 a large-scale reform of the national healthcare system has been underway, aimed at overcoming the uneven provision of medical services to residents of different regions and different segments of the Chinese population, at reducing the number of chronic diseases and increasing healthcare spendings. Some aspects of the functioning of the medical services market in China, the second largest after the corresponding market in the United States, are also considered. The achievements of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry in the production of vaccines to prevent coronavirus are noted.


Author(s):  
Vito Albino ◽  
Giuseppe Digregorio ◽  
Guido Sechi

The continuous increase of the national expense for the healthcare services, the necessity to adjust the performance of the service of the National Healthcare System to the change of the demand of health coming from the population, and the necessity to evolve towards a logic of integration along a “continuum of care,” push for the reorganization of healthcare services inside the local healthcare district.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Pizzi ◽  
Fabio Caputo ◽  
Andrea Venturelli

Purpose The aim of the paper is to understand the differences between “talking” and “walking” about sustainable development goals (SDGs) in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Specifically, the authors have conducted an analysis on 202 entities that operate within the Italian National Healthcare System (INHS) to evaluate the overall degree of transparency in term of contribution to the SDG3. Design/methodology/approach The research evaluates the degree of contribution to SDG3 by INHS through the adoption of the theoretical framework proposed by Beck et al. (2010). Specifically, the authors assess the degree of contribution to this goal using an interpretive content analysis that combines the theoretical framework with the 13 targets that composed the SDG3. For the authors’ purposes, they analyze all INHS’s website to evaluate the presence/absence of social reports produced in the periods 2015-2018. Findings Although the great contribution to the SDG3, the INHS is characterized by a low degree of accountability. In fact, only 12.21 per cent of INHS’s entities disclosed at least one social report during the observed period. Moreover, the authors’ results denote how the approach of INHS’s entities to social reporting is different both in term of “quality” and “quantity.” Research limitations/implications The SOEs play a central role within the Agenda 2030 strategies. However, public managers are less oriented than private managers to adopt non-financial reporting tools. Furthermore, the authors’ results highlight the existence of asymmetric information between SOEs and citizens even if in presence of best practices such as the INHS. In this sense, the adoption of non-financial reports tool to engage in a more effective way with citizens could be a strategic driver for the achievement of highest degree of social legitimacy to operate. Practical implications The paper is of use to public managers operating in countries characterized by a high level of contribution to SDGs. Specifically, the authors’ results suggest how the adoption of reporting tools could impact positively in terms of stakeholder’s awareness to SDG themes. Originality/value This paper contributes to the understanding of the central role covered by academics, practitioners and public sectors to SDGs through the adoption of social reporting tools.


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