scholarly journals Antiretroviral purchasing and prescription practices in Mexico: constraints, challenges and opportunities

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Gabrielle Véronique Chaumont ◽  
Sergio Bautista-Arredondo ◽  
Juan José Calva ◽  
Roberto Isaac Bahena-González ◽  
Gerda Hitz Sánchez-Juárez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
World Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Prescription Practices ◽  
Health Market ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
International Data ◽  
Reporting Mechanism

Objective. This study examines the antiretroviral (ARV) market characteristics for drugs procured and prescribed to Mexico’s Social Protection System in Health beneficiaries between 2008 and 2013, and compares them with international data. Materials and methods. Procurement information from the National Center for the Prevention and the Control of HIV/AIDS was analyzed to estimate volumes and prices of key ARV. Annual costs were compared with data from the World Health Organization’s Global Price Reporting Mechanism for similar countries. Finally, regimens reported in the ARV Drug Management, Logistics and Surveillance System database were reviewed to identify prescription trends and model ARV expenditures until 2018. Results. Results show that the first-line ARV market is concentrated among a small number of patented treatments, in which prescription is clinically adequate, but which prices are higher than those paid by similar countries. The current set of legal and structural options available to policy makers to bring prices down is extremely limited. Conclusions. Different negotiation policies were not successful to decrease ARV high prices in the public health market. The closed list approach had a good impact on prescription quality but was ineffective in reducing prices. The Coordinating Commission for Negotiating the Price of Medicines and other Health Supplies also failed to obtain adequate prices. To maximize purchase efficiency, policy makers should focus on finding long-term legal and political safeguards to counter the high prices imposed by pharmaceutical companies.

scholarly journals Measuring fisheries performance using the “Goldilocks plot”

2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Hilborn
Keyword(s):  
Primary Objective ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Stock Status ◽  
Realistic Information ◽  
Rate Threshold ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Most reporting of stock status accumulated at a national or regional level gives statistics on what proportion of the stocks are below some abundance threshold or above some fishing mortality rate threshold. This approach does not convey useful information on the performance of the fisheries management system in maximizing long-term sustainable yield, which is the primary objective of most national and international fisheries legislation. In this paper, I present a graphical approach for representing how much yield is being lost as a consequence of current suboptimal abundance and fishing pressure. Using the EU stocks assessed by ICES as an example, I show how traditional criteria for overfished and overfishing fail to display realistic information about the performance of the fishery. This approach provides much more useful information for the public and policy makers.

scholarly journals Clinical signs of trachoma are prevalent among Solomon Islanders who have no persistent markers of prior infection with Chlamydia trachomatis

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Robert Butcher ◽  
Oliver Sokana ◽  
Kelvin Jack ◽  
Leslie Sui ◽  
Charles Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Health Organization

Background: The low population-prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis and high prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) provide contradictory estimates of the magnitude of the public health threat from trachoma in the Solomon Islands. Improved characterisation of the biology of trachoma in the region may support policy makers as they decide what interventions are required. Here, age-specific profiles of anti-Pgp3 antibodies and conjunctival scarring were examined to determine whether there is evidence of ongoing transmission and pathology from ocular Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection. Methods: A total of 1511 individuals aged ≥1 year were enrolled from randomly selected households in 13 villages in which >10% of children aged 1–9 years had TF prior to a single round of azithromycin mass drug administration undertaken six months previously. Blood was collected to be screened for antibodies to the Ct antigen Pgp3. Tarsal conjunctival photographs were collected for analysis of scarring severity. Results: Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity was 18% in 1–9 year olds, sharply increasing around the age of sexual debut to reach 69% in those over 25 years. Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity did not increase significantly between the ages of 1–9 years and was not associated with TF (p=0.581) or scarring in children (p=0.472). Conjunctival scars were visible in 13.1% of photographs. Mild (p<0.0001) but not severe (p=0.149) scars increased in prevalence with age. Conclusions: Neither conjunctival scars nor lymphoid follicles were associated with antibodies to Ct, suggesting that they are unlikely to be a direct result of ocular Ct infection. Clinical signs of trachoma were prevalent in this population but were not indicative of the underlying rates of Ct infection. The current World Health Organization guidelines for trachoma elimination indicated that this population should receive intervention with mass distribution of antibiotics, but the data presented here suggest that this may not have been appropriate.

scholarly journals CHALLANGES FACING THE EMERGING ECONOMY DURING COVID-19 THE CASE OF JORDAN

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-29
Author(s):  
Basem Al-Lozi ◽  
Sheren Hamed
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
World Health ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges of the Jordanian economy during COVID-19. The Jordanian economy may have to face different scenarios in his macro-environment. Specifically, the study focused on the impact COVID-19 on the Jordanian economy. Methodology: An exploratory research method was used to build three scenarios. The sample randomly selected from Jordanians in the capital of Jordan Amman. The study divided the sample to three groups and asking them three questions related to the expectations of the impact of COVID-19 on the Jordanian economy for the coming years. Results: The study findings revealed that the majority of respondents (55.2%) are optimistic that the COVID-19 will finish and Jordan economy will be booming. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Recommendations were provided for Jordanian policy makers to deal scenarios. For example Jordan government and policy makers has to be pragmatic, and work toward lowering level of expectations among Jordanian economy to avoid the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy. Cooperation between the public sector and private sector in implementing the instructions of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health to decrease the number of cases to open more sectors which will have a positive impact on the Jordanian economy.

scholarly journals Migrant integration services and coping with the digital divide: challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin McMullin
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Research Note ◽  
The Public ◽  
Digital Service ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Migrant Integration ◽  
And Coping

In this research note, I reflect on the impacts of the shift to online service delivery for voluntary and community organisations. In particular, I report on initial findings from research being undertaken on migrant integration organisations in Quebec (Canada) and Scotland (UK). The research shows four key emerging themes: the complexities of the digital divide (including skills and access to information and communication technology, and the issue of the number of devices in a household to support multiple users); trust, communication and access to online services; the breaching of the public/private divide as practitioners provide digital services from their home; and the benefits and opportunities for digital service delivery. The research note concludes by reflecting on the long-term implications for voluntary and community sector services as they adapt to and recover from the pandemic and engage in long-term planning.

scholarly journals Integrated vaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions based strategies in Ontario, Canada, as a case study: a mathematical modelling study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (180) ◽  
pp. 20210009
Author(s):  
Matthew Betti ◽  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽  
Jane M. Heffernan ◽  
Jude Kong ◽  
Angie Raad
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Decision ◽  
The Public ◽  
Epidemiological Trend ◽  
Health Decision ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions

Recently, two coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine products have been authorized in Canada. It is of crucial importance to model an integrated/combined package of non-pharmaceutical (physical/social distancing) and pharmaceutical (immunization) public health control measures. A modified epidemiological, compartmental SIR model was used and fit to the cumulative COVID-19 case data for the province of Ontario, Canada, from 8 September 2020 to 8 December 2020. Different vaccine roll-out strategies were simulated until 75% of the population was vaccinated, including a no-vaccination scenario. We compete these vaccination strategies with relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Non-pharmaceutical interventions were supposed to remain enforced and began to be relaxed on 31 January, 31 March or 1 May 2021. Based on projections from the data and long-term extrapolation of scenarios, relaxing the public health measures implemented by re-opening too early would cause any benefits of vaccination to be lost by increasing case numbers, increasing the effective reproduction number above 1 and thus increasing the risk of localized outbreaks. If relaxation is, instead, delayed and 75% of the Ontarian population gets vaccinated by the end of the year, re-opening can occur with very little risk. Relaxing non-pharmaceutical interventions by re-opening and vaccine deployment is a careful balancing act. Our combination of model projections from data and simulation of different strategies and scenarios, can equip local public health decision- and policy-makers with projections concerning the COVID-19 epidemiological trend, helping them in the decision-making process.

Addressing the challenges of sustainable agriculture research and extension at land-grant universities: Radially organized teams at Wisconsin

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Stevenson ◽  
Joshua Posner ◽  
John Hall ◽  
Lee Cunningham ◽  
Jan Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Land Grant ◽  
Institutional Changes ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Agricultural Societies ◽  
Radial Model ◽  
Single Discipline

AbstractResearchers at land-grant universities are under pressure to widen their research objectives, which requires them to expand their inquiry from a disciplinary base to a systems level, to include farmers and nonuniversity organizations as research collaborators, and to communicate with broader sectors of the public, such as consumers and policy makers. However, there are few rewards for scientists who undertake long-term, systems based research. An approach that brings together multidisciplinary, multiprofession teams using a radial model of organization has successfully addressed these challenges in Wisconsin. A small “hub” manages the team, with the remaining participants linked to component taskforces or “satellite” projects. This enables research to be done on both multidisciplinary and related single-discipline questions. Radially organized teams can attract diverse people with different time commitments and reward incentives. The research meets the criteria of public and academic audiences alike. For innovative research and extension efforts like radial teams to reach their full potential, larger institutional changes are needed within the land-grant system and professional agricultural societies.

scholarly journals Clinical signs of trachoma are prevalent among Solomon Islanders who have no persistent markers of prior infection with Chlamydia trachomatis

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Butcher ◽  
Oliver Sokana ◽  
Kelvin Jack ◽  
Leslie Sui ◽  
Charles Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Health Organization

Background: The low population prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis and high prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) provide contradictory estimates of the magnitude of the public health threat from trachoma in the Solomon Islands. Improved characterisation of the biology of trachoma in the region may support policy makers as they decide what interventions are required. Here, age-specific profiles of anti-Pgp3 antibodies and conjunctival scarring were examined to determine whether there is evidence of ongoing transmission and pathology from ocular Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection. Methods: A total of 1511 individuals aged ≥1 year were enrolled from randomly selected households in 13 villages in which >10% of children aged 1–9 years had TF prior to a single round of azithromycin mass drug administration undertaken six months previously. Blood was collected to be screened for antibodies to the Ct antigen Pgp3. Tarsal conjunctival photographs were collected for analysis of scarring severity. Results: Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity was 18% in 1–9 year olds, sharply increasing around the age of sexual debut to reach 69% in those over 25 years. Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity did not increase significantly between the ages of 1–9 years and was not associated with TF (p=0.581) or scarring in children (p=0.472). Conjunctival scars were visible in 13.1% of photographs. Mild (p<0.0001) but not severe (p=0.149) scars increased in prevalence with age. Conclusions: Neither conjunctival scars nor lymphoid follicles were associated with antibodies to Ct, suggesting that they are unlikely to be a direct result of ocular Ct infection. Clinical signs of trachoma were prevalent in this population but were not indicative of the underlying rates of Ct infection. The current World Health Organization guidelines for trachoma elimination indicated that this population should receive intervention with mass distribution of antibiotics, but the data presented here suggest that this may not have been appropriate.

scholarly journals Australia's National Injury Insurance Scheme - design, challenges and opportunities

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Fronsko
Keyword(s):  
Design Feature ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Scheme Design ◽  
The Public ◽  
Accident Compensation ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
History Of ◽  
Staged Approach ◽  
Participant Outcomes

This presentation will focus on history and economic theory perspectives, using benchmark comparisons across Australian jurisdictions and leveraging materials in the public domain. The aim is to assist practitioners refine and manage their NIIS schemes for long term viability and customer/participant outcomes. The presentation will look at the Genesis of National Injury Insurance Schemes in Australia – a brief history of thinking that has shaped NIIS design, scheme Design model and rationale for a NIIS including Rationale for separating the NIIS and NDIS, What the “I” in NDIS really means, the Benchmark comparison of NDIS versus NIIS design feature and the staged approach to migrate to universal accident compensation. Moving on to exploring. NIIS Implementation Update - Motor Accident Compensation including a benchmark comparison - design models in 5 Australian CTP Jurisdiction. And finally a look at Insurance Claims Management vs Disability Management before speaking about the Next steps for NIIS and integration or possible alignment opportunities with the NDIS.

Presence and risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in surface water and drinking water

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 2143-2148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Sanderson
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Great Depth ◽  
World Health ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
The Public ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
State Of The Science

Trace amounts of pharmaceuticals have been detected in surface waters in the nano- to microgram per liter range, and in drinking water in the nanogram/L range. The environmental risks of pharmaceuticals in surface waters have been evaluated and generally found to be low if the wastewater is treated before release to the environment. The human health risks of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water have however not been evaluated in any great depth. Preliminary screening level assessments suggest risk to be low – but the public and decision-makers are concerned and would like the matter investigated more thoroughly, especially with regards to mixture effects, chronic long-term effects and sensitive sub-populations. The World Health Organization is currently evaluating the need for credible health based guidance associated with low concentrations of pharmaceuticals in drinking water. The aim of this paper is to summarize the state-of-the-science and the ongoing international debate on the topic.

Mysteries in the Marsh

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Giblin
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Information ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
Students First

I feel as though my graduate student experiences “preadapted” me to become involved in long-term ecological research. I already enjoyed collaborative research and instantly felt comfortable in the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program when I first had the opportunity to work in it. Working on large, collaborative projects offers a great number of opportunities for students and postdoctoral fellows, but their mentors need to ensure that they develop intellectually independent ideas. Giving students and postdoctoral fellows the long-term collaborative view of science while having them develop as fully independent scientists is a balancing act that I try to always keep in mind. The LTER program has led me into an increased level of communication with the public, students, and local and regional level managers and policy-makers. I have found that at every level people are hungry for scientific information, and my interactions with all of them have been extremely rewarding—although challenging. It has forced me to expand my communication skills and work with others who have the gift of science translation. There are costs and benefits to scientific collaboration that change with the size of the project and with one’s level of involvement in the project. Entraining young scientists is a challenge for large-sized projects, such as those in the LTER program. It was 1975 when I and several other beginning graduate students first walked down a short path through the woods to the Great Sippewissett Marsh in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Ahead of me marched my major professor, Ivan Valiela. As we explored the marsh, Ivan pointed out numerous circular plots staked in the grass. These, it turned out, defined the bounds of his fertilization experiments. The grass within some of the plots was distinctly greener and taller compared to others. Ivan began explaining the marsh fertilization experiment that he had begun 5 years earlier with John Teal. He described how the responses of the marsh seemed to differ with the amount of added fertilizer. The community composition of the vegetation had been changing over time.

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