scholarly journals Engagement of non-governmental organisations in moving towards universal health coverage: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arman Sanadgol ◽  
Leila Doshmangir ◽  
Reza Majdzadeh ◽  
Vladimir Sergeevich Gordeev
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Population Coverage ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Government ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background Developing essential health services through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is an important strategy for progressing towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially in low- and middle-income countries. It is crucial to understand NGOs’ role in reaching UHC and the best way to engage them. Objective This study reviewed the role of NGOs and their engagement strategies in progress toward UHC. Method We systematically reviewed studies from five databases (PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), ProQuest, EMBASE and Scopus) that investigated NGOs interventions in public health-related activities. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the mixed methods appraisal tool. PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed. Findings Seventy-eight studies met the eligibility criteria. NGOs main activities related to service and population coverage and used different strategies to progress towards UHC. To ensure services coverage, NGOs provided adequate and competent human resources, necessary health equipment and facilities, and provided public health and health care services strategies. To achieve population coverage, they provided services to vulnerable groups through community participation. Most studies were conducted in middle-income countries. Overall, the quality of the reported evidence was good. The main funding sources of NGOs were self-financing and grants from the government, international organisations, and donors. Conclusion NGOs can play a significant role in the country’s progress towards UHC along with the government and other key health players. The government should use strategies and interventions in supporting NGOs, accelerating their movement toward UHC.

scholarly journals Essential Medicines in Universal Health Coverage: A Scoping Review of Public Health Law Interventions and How They Are Measured in Five Middle-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9524
Author(s):  
Katrina Perehudoff ◽  
Ivan Demchenko ◽  
Nikita V. Alexandrov ◽  
David Brutsaert ◽  
Angela Ackon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Law ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Public Health Law ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Universal Health

Very few studies exist of legal interventions (national laws) for essential medicines as part of universal health coverage in middle-income countries, or how the effect of these laws is measured. This study aims to critically assess whether laws related to universal health coverage use five objectives of public health law to promote medicines affordability and financing, and to understand how access to medicines achieved through these laws is measured. This comparative case study of five middle-income countries (Ecuador, Ghana, Philippines, South Africa, Ukraine) uses a public health law framework to guide the content analysis of national laws and the scoping review of empirical evidence for measuring access to medicines. Sixty laws were included. All countries write into national law: (a) health equity objectives, (b) remedies for users/patients and sanctions for some stakeholders, (c) economic policies and regulatory objectives for financing (except South Africa), pricing, and benefits selection (except South Africa), (d) information dissemination objectives (ex. for medicines prices (except Ghana)), and (e) public health infrastructure. The 17 studies included in the scoping review evaluate laws with economic policy and regulatory objectives (n = 14 articles), health equity (n = 10), information dissemination (n = 3), infrastructure (n = 2), and sanctions (n = 1) (not mutually exclusive). Cross-sectional descriptive designs (n = 8 articles) and time series analyses (n = 5) were the most frequent designs. Change in patients’ spending on medicines was the most frequent outcome measure (n = 5). Although legal interventions for pharmaceuticals in middle-income countries commonly use all objectives of public health law, the intended and unintended effects of economic policies and regulation are most frequently investigated.

scholarly journals Level of confidence in and endorsement of the health system among internet users in 12 low-income and middle-income countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. e002205
Author(s):  
Sanam Roder-DeWan ◽  
Anna Gage ◽  
Lisa R Hirschhorn ◽  
Nana A Y Twum-Danso ◽  
Jerker Liljestrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
Universal Health

IntroductionPeople’s confidence in and endorsement of the health system are key measures of system performance, yet are undermeasured in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We explored the prevalence and predictors of these measures in 12 countries.MethodsWe conducted an internet survey in Argentina, China, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa collecting demographics, ratings of quality, and confidence in and endorsement of the health system. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between confidence/endorsement and self-reported quality of recent healthcare.ResultsOf 13 489 respondents, 62% reported a health visit in the past year. Applying population weights, 32% of these users were very confident that they could receive effective care if they were to ‘become very sick tomorrow’; 30% endorsed the health system, that is, agreed that it ‘works pretty well and only needs minor changes’. Reporting high quality in the last visit was associated with 4.48 and 2.69 greater odds of confidence (95% CI 3.64 to 5.52) and endorsement (95% CI 2.33 to 3.11). Having health insurance was positively associated with confidence and endorsement (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.68, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.90 and AOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.48), while experiencing discrimination in healthcare was negatively associated (AOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.80 and AOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.76).ConclusionConfidence and endorsement of the health system were low across 12 LMICs. This may hinder efforts to gain support for universal health coverage. Positive patient experience was strongly associated with confidence in and endorsement of the health system.

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