scholarly journals WHAT IT TAKES TO SET UP TRAVEL HEALTH SERVICES: A REVIEW FROM COUNTRIES WITH ESTABLISHED SERVICE

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-57
Author(s):  
Muhammad Haikal Bin Ghazali ◽  
Shamsul Azhar Bin Shah ◽  
Mohd Rizal Bin Abd Manaf

As air travelling now becomes cheaper and available to almost all people of any walk of life, travelling across international borders is fast becoming a lifestyle of many. Having travel health service as part of health care services is important to address the issues of travel related illnesses among travellers. However, lacks of published guidelines pertaining to travel health service rendering many countries to overlook its importance. The aim of this paper is to review published literatures and authoritative websites on the components needed to develop guideline to establish travel health services. A systematic literature search was done using pre-specified keywords for literatures published between years 2000 – 2016. Literatures written in English and fully accessible were all included. No exclusion criteria was set before the search. Online authoritative websites pertaining to travel health were also referred. A total of six literatures ranging from expert opinion, review paper and original study, together with three authoritative websites related to travel health were reviewed. Among the important components needed to be considered for developing the guideline for establishing travel health services are to prioritise pre-travel health service, to set up specialised travel health clinic, to produce travel health/medicine specialist, to emphasize on continuous education and training of the practitioners and to apply multiagency and multidisciplinary approach with adequate fund for research in travel health. As a conclusion, policy makers should prioritise and select the most important components in developing guideline for travel health service.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 110-120
Author(s):  
Grace Wacuka Kihika ◽  
Eddy Okoth Odari ◽  
Joseph Mutai ◽  
Augustine Gatimu Njuguna

Introduction: The geographical movement of people from one area to another poses the threat of transmission of infectious diseases. Kenya is among the vulnerable countries when it comes to disease transmission, because it is a major transport hub in East Africa, yet data on the availability and uptake of pre-travel health services is limited. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to determine the uptake of pre-travel health services. The systematic sampling method was used to obtain a sample size of 384 travelers among those in the waiting lounge prior to departure; four key informants were chosen purposively. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The results of data analysis are presented in the form of tables, graphs, charts, and text. Results: The majority of respondents (70.6%) knew of at least one health service offered to international travelers in Kenya. The most sought-after pre-travel health service was vaccination (70.97%), but very few (13.93%) travelers sought pre-travel health advice on how to stay healthy while abroad. The majority of travelers were positive about pre-travel health services. The Port Health Department focuses more on the health of international arrivals as opposed to departures; there are no functional travel health clinics. Conclusion: The results indicated that the government pays little attention to departing international travelers. Therefore, it is important for the government to develop policies, guidelines, and structures that will ensure that pre-travel health services are received by travelers prior to departure. Travel clinics need to be set up to increase the uptake of pre-travel health services. Moreover, further research should be conducted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kylie Gwynne ◽  
Thomas Jeffries Jr ◽  
Michelle Lincoln

Objective The aim of the present systematic review was to examine the enablers for effective health service delivery for Aboriginal Australians. Methods This systematic review was undertaken in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Papers were included if they had data related to health services for Australian Aboriginal people and were published between 2000 and 2015. The 21 papers that met the inclusion criteria were assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Seven papers were subsequently excluded due to weak methodological approaches. Results There were two findings in the present study: (1) that Aboriginal people fare worse than non-Aboriginal people when accessing usual healthcare services; and (2) there are five enablers for effective health care services for Australian Aboriginal people: cultural competence, participation rates, organisational, clinical governance and compliance, and availability of services. Conclusions Health services for Australian Aboriginal people must be tailored and implementation of the five enablers is likely to affect the effectiveness of health services for Aboriginal people. The findings of the present study have significant implications in directing the future design, funding, delivery and evaluation of health care services for Aboriginal Australians. What is known about the topic? There is significant evidence about poor health outcomes and the 10-year gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, and limited evidence about improving health service efficacy. What does this paper add? This systematic review found that with usual health care delivery, Aboriginal people experience worse health outcomes. This paper identifies five strategies in the literature that improve the effectiveness of health care services intended for Aboriginal people. What are the implications for practitioners? Aboriginal people fare worse in both experience and outcomes when they access usual care services. Health services intended for Aboriginal people should be tailored using the five enablers to provide timely, culturally safe and high-quality care.


1992 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Weatherill

This paper received the 1992 Agnew Peckham Literary Prize of the Canadian College of Health Service Executives in recognition of excellence in content and presentation of ideas related to a current issue in the management of health services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-543
Author(s):  
Christos Iliadis ◽  
Aikaterini Frantzana ◽  
Kiriaki Tachtsoglou ◽  
Maria Lera ◽  
Petros Ouzounakis

Introduction: The quality of health care services is one of the most frequently mentioned terms and concepts regarding principles of health policy and it is currently high on the agenda of National, European and International policy makers. Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive review is to investigate the correlation between quality in health services and the promotion of health care quality provided by health services. Methodology: The study material consisted of recent articles on the subject mainly found in the Medline electronic database and the Hellenic Academic Libraries Association (HEAL-Link). Results: The clinical quality of services is often difficult to be assessed by "clients" even after the service has been provided. This is due to the fact that customers experience illness, pain, uncertainty, fear and perceived lack of control. Thus, clients may be reluctant to "co-produce" because healthcare is a service they need while they may not want it and because the risk to harm their health is prominent. In the field of healthcare management, patients' perception refers to perceived quality, as opposed to the actual or absolute quality that requires critical management. This is why health care managers face constant pressure to provide qualitative health services. Conclusions: Continuous monitoring of health care services for quality assessment is essential, hence, the evaluation of patients' perceptions of quality of healthcare, has received considerable attention in recent years.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
Memet Taşkın Egici ◽  
Fulya Kahraman Aydoğan ◽  
Cemal Ayazoğlu ◽  
Güzin Zeren Öztürk

As a result of the improvement on transportation and communication opportunities and the increase in commercial, touristic and cultural relations, travels have increased and diversified. Despite these improvements, the nature of the travel process can make the passenger more vulnerable to health risks due to environmental, climatic and hygiene conditions. Lack of adequate housing and diffucilties to access the health care services increase the risk further. In this review, current information have given about travel health services in Turkey and the necessary precautions were discussed to be taken before, during and after the travel in order to avoid the health risks associated with the travel.


2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 592 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S Humphreys ◽  
Pim Kuipers ◽  
Leigh A D Kinsman ◽  
Robert Wells ◽  
Judith Jones ◽  
...  

Policy makers and researchers increasingly look to systematic reviews as a means of connecting research and evidence more effectively with policy. Based on Australian research into rural and remote primary health care services, we note some concerns regarding the suitability of systematic review methods when applied to such settings. It suggests that rural and other health services are highly complex and researching them is akin to dealing with ?wicked? problems. It proposes that the notion of ?wicked? problems may inform our understanding of the issues and our choice of appropriate methods to inform health service policy. Key issues including the complexity of health services, methodological limitations of traditional reviews, the nature of materials under review, and the importance of the service context are highlighted. These indicate the need for broader approaches to capturing relevant evidence. Sustained, collaborative synthesis in which complexity, ambiguity and context is acknowledged is proposed as a way of addressing the wicked nature of these issues.


1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Reamy

New Brunswick moved swiftly in 1992 to regionalize hospital and physician services along with the reform and expansion of other health care services. The dissolution of 51 hospital and community health services center boards and the establishment of eight region hospital corporations to oversee services in the seven health regions set the tone for regionalization in the province. The plan provides the flexibility to meet specific regional needs. The initial regionalization of hospital services was followed by the determination of the appropriate number, mix, and distribution of physician resources for each region, also to be managed by the region hospital corporation. The provincial government's central role not only guides the regions, but also uses incentives and disincentives to ensure that regional goals are met. While regionalization is not new and some components of the New Brunswick plan have been used elsewhere, the effort offers an integrated model for the regionalization of hospital and physician services, with the expansion of complementary services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-278
Author(s):  
Parisa Yaghoub-Pour ◽  
Hosein Dadashzadeh Asl

It has been widely documented that refugees are one of the most vulnerable layers of society to health problems due to poor access to social services, as well as difficulties in housing and nutrition, poor living conditions, and abuse. The health services provided to IDPs are often inadequate and appropriate. Refugees and immigrants have difficulty accessing health care services, medicines, counselling, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services almost all over the world. Today, inequality, regional struggles, and global shifts strongly reflect the ongoing problems of refugees and migrants and their future escalation. This study uses a qualitative research method with a literature approach. The results of the study stated that the settlement of matters regarding their stay, nutrition, accommodation and health services must be prepared in advance, and especially human rights must be respected. In this regard, the actions of governments, civil society organizations and universities at the regional and global levels will contribute to a better future of immigration.Keywords: Refugees and Immigrants; International Immigration; Health Law; Health problems; Health services; Convention Regarding the Status of Refugees Hak Kesehatan Pengungsi, Imigran dan Pencari Suaka AbstrakTelah banyak didokumentasikan bahwa pengungsi adalah salah satu lapisan masyarakat yang paling rentan terhadap masalah kesehatan karena buruknya mendapat layanan sosial, selain karena kesulitan dalam perumahan dan gizi, kondisi hidup yang buruk, dan adanya pelecehan. Pelayanan kesehatan yang diberikan kepada pengungsi seringkali tidak cukup dan layak. Pengungsi dan imigran mengalami kesulitan mengakses layanan perawatan kesehatan, obat-obatan, konseling, diagnosis, pengobatan dan layanan rehabilitasi hampir terjadi di seluruh dunia. Saat ini, ketidaksetaraan, perjuangan regional, dan pergeseran global sangat mencerminkan masalah pengungsi dan migran yang terus berlanjut dan eskalasi mereka di masa depan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan literatur. Hasil penelitian menyatakan bahwa penyelesaian urusan tentang masa tinggal mereka, nutrisi, akomodasi dan layanan kesehatan harus disiapkan terlebih dahulu, dan terutama hak asasi manusia harus dihormati. Dalam hal ini, tindakan pemerintah, organisasi masyarakat sipil dan universitas di tingkat regional dan global akan berkontribusi pada masa depan imigrasi yang lebih baik.Kata Kunci: Pengungsi dan Imigran; Imigrasi Internasional; Hukum Kesehatan; Masalah kesehatan; Pelayanan kesehatan; Konvensi Terkait Status Pengungsi  Права на здоровье беженцев, иммигрантов и просителей убежища АннотацияШироко задокументировано, что беженцы являются одним из наиболее уязвимых слоев общества с точки зрения проблем со здоровьем из-за плохого доступа к социальным услугам, а также трудностей с жильем и питанием, плохих условий жизни и жестокого обращения. Медицинские услуги, предоставляемые беженцам, часто неадекватны и не соответствуют требованиям. Беженцы и иммигранты почти во всем мире испытывают трудности с доступом к услугам здравоохранения, лекарствам, консультациям, диагностике, лечению и реабилитации. Сегодня неравенство, региональная борьба и глобальные сдвиги во многом отражают текущие проблемы беженцев и мигрантов и их будущую эскалацию. В этом исследовании используется качественный метод исследования с литературным подходом. Результаты исследования показали, что решение вопросов, касающихся их пребывания, питания, проживания и медицинского обслуживания, должно быть подготовлено заранее, и особенно должны соблюдаться права человека. В этом отношении действия правительств, организаций гражданского общества и университетов на региональном и глобальном уровнях будут способствовать лучшему будущему иммиграции.Ключевые Слова: Беженцы и иммигранты; международная иммиграция; закон о здоровье; проблемы со здоровьем; медицинские услуги; конвенция о статусе беженцев


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 81-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Morad ◽  
Shifra Shvarts ◽  
Joav Merrick ◽  
Jeffrey Borkan

The extension of universal health service insurance to national populations is a relatively new phenomenon. Since 1995, the Israeli National Health Insurance Law (NHIL) has provided universal health services to every resident, but the effect of this law on health and health services among minorities has not been examined sufficiently. The goals of this study were to track some of the first changes engendered by the NHIL among the Negev Bedouin Arabs to examine the effects of universal health care services. Methods included analysis of historical and health policy documents, three field appraisals of health care services (1994, 1995, 1999), a region-wide interview survey of Negev Bedouins (1997), and key informant interviews. For the interview survey, a sample of 515 households was chosen from different Bedouin localities representing major sedentarization stages. Results showed that prior to the NHIL, a substantial proportion of the Negev Bedouins were uninsured with limited, locally available health service. Since 1995, health services, particularly primary care clinics and health manpower, have dramatically expanded. The initial expansion appears to have been a marketing ploy, but real improvements have occurred. There was a high level of health service utilization among the Bedouins in the Negev, especially private medical services, hospitals, and night ambulatory medical services. The NHIL brought change to the structure of health services in Israel, namely the institution of a national health system based on proportional allocation of resources (based on size and age) and open competition in the provision of quality health care. The expansion of the pool of potential members engendered by the new universal coverage had profound effects on the Health Funds' attitudes towards Negev Bedouins. In addition, real consumer choice was introduced for the first time. Although all the health care needs of this rapidly growing population have yet to be met fully, the assurances under the Law and the new level of competition promise a higher level of service in the future.


1990 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
Michael Savage

Health care services in South Africa are in decline. Inadequate resources, the fragmentation of services along racial lines, their division between a confused jumble of authorities together with a growing privatization of medical care are among the many factors having grave effects on an already poorly constructed health service. The persistence of high levels of infant mortality and the widespread nature of preventable disease provide clear measures indicating that existing health services have failed to meet the needs of the majority of the population for basic medical care. The changes that are currently underway in health services are making it less likely that they can adequately contribute to providing health for all.


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