Principles of Construction and Mathematical Models of the Formation of a Solidarity Fund in an Alternative Old-Age Pension System

The basic principles of the formation of a solidary fund in the suggested old-age pension system are to establish the minimum length of service according to which a citizen has the right to an old-age pension, the implementation into the pension calculation system of the indicator "share deducted to a solidary fund" from each transfer to the personal account of the employee, so that by retirement at the age of 60 and working experience of 38 years, the pension amount was exactly equal to the amount of wages used in calculations. With a decrease in the length of service, the pension amount is reduced according to a certain rule. To implement these principles, appropriate mathematical models have been built that allow to calculate the amount of accumulated pension capital, own pension, accumulated amounts in the solidary fund, the total amount in the pension fund, etc., with any work experience, the amount of wages. Complex calculations were performed using the parameters that have developed in the practice of today. The results of the calculations are presented in tables with the corresponding comments.

Missio hominum as the compassionate response to socio-economic and vaccine challenges during COVID-19 in South Africa

It is likely that the storm of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Africa will calm only when the country attains herd immunity. In South Africa, the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan will first prioritise key frontline forces, the elderly and those with comorbidities. Although there is some new academic insight on COVID-19 within the context of churches, not much has been written on the role that churches can play in partnership with government towards procuring vaccines for the poor people of South Africa. The contribution towards vaccine procurement by churches is juxtaposed with the proclamation of the year of the Lord’s favour in Luke 4:18–19 and the feeding of 5000 men (excluding women and children) in Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:30–44, John 6:1–14 and Luke 9:10–17. This is done against an environment where corruption in the procurement of personal protective equipment, unjust food parcel distribution and subverted relief packages occurred during the hard lockdown of 2020. This article makes use of both missio Dei and missio hominum as its missiological theory in conformity with calls for public health restoration during and after COVID-19. It employs a literature review to support missio Dei and missio hominum as compassion and fundraising for the poor in the face of COVID-19, as exemplified by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:1–4 and Jesus in Mark 6:8 and Luke 8:1–3.Contribution: In order to preserve lives that would otherwise be lost whilst waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine, this article entreats all churches of South Africa to launch a nationwide church fundraising effort towards procuring COVID-19 vaccines for the poor following the example of the Solidarity Fund, which was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the early interventions to cushion the impact of COVID-19.

Consequences of COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy: Medical Responsibilities and Governmental Measures

The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the world causing more victims than the latest global epidemics such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2003, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012. Italy has been one of the most affected countries, and it had to deal with an already weak economic condition and cuts to public health services due to budgetary requirements from the last decade—something that made the situation even more dramatic. Deaths have exceeded 600.000 worldwide. During the emergency, regulatory measures were taken to counter the situation. This study highlights the main anti-COVID-19 government measures to support doctors and healthcare professionals, and it analyzes how to respond to the many requests complaining about neglectful healthcare professionals during the spread of the infection. For all those healthcare workers who died on duty, a compensation plan is assumed through a solidarity fund. The same solution cannot be granted to all patients, given the difficulty in assessing the responsibility of the doctor not only during an emergency but with insufficient instruments to cope with it as well.

Litigations following spinal neurosurgery in France: “out-of-court system,” therapeutic hazard, and welfare state

OBJECTIVESpinal surgeries carry risks of malpractice litigation due to the random nature of their functional results, which may not meet patient expectations, and the hazards associated with these complex procedures. Claims are frequent and costly. In France, since 2002, a new law, the Patients’ Rights Law of March 4, 2002, has created an alternative, out-of-court scheme, which established a simplified, rapid, free-of-charge procedure (Commission for Conciliation and Compensation [CCI]). Moreover, this law has optimized the compensation provided to patients for therapeutic hazards by use of a national solidarity fund. The authors analyzed the consequences of this alternative route in the case of claims against private neurosurgeons in France.METHODSFrom the data bank of the insurer Mutuelle d’Assurances du Corps de Santé Français (MACSF), the main insurance company for private neurosurgeons in France, the authors retrospectively analyzed 193 files covering the period 2015–2019. These computerized files comprised the anonymized medical records of the patients, the reports of the independent experts, and the final judgments of the CCI and the entities supporting the compensation, if any.RESULTSDuring the 5-year study period (2015–2019), the insurance company recorded 494 complaints involving private neurosurgeons for spinal surgery procedures, of which 126 (25.5%) were in civil court, 123 (24.9%) were under amicable procedure, and 245 (49.6%) were in the out-of-court scheme administered by the CCI. Out of these 245 cases, only 193 were closed due to delays. The conclusions of the commission were rejection/incompetence decisions in 47.2% of the cases, therapeutic hazards in 21.2%, nosocomial infections in 17.6%, and practitioner fault in 13.5%. National solidarity compensated for 48 complaints (24.8%). The final decision of the CCI is not always consistent with the conclusions of the experts mandated by it, illustrating the difficulty in defining the concept of hazards. The authors found that the therapeutic hazards retained and compensated by the national solidarity included decompensated spondylotic myelopathies (15% of the 40 cases) and cauda equina syndromes (30%). As allowed by law, 11.5% of the patients who were not satisfied triggered a classical procedure in a court.CONCLUSIONSIn the French out-of-court system, trial decisions resulting in rulings of proven medical malpractice are rare, but patients can start a new procedure in the classical courts. The therapeutic hazard remains a subtle definition, which may be problematic and require further discussion between experts and magistrates. In spite of the imperfections, this out-of-court system proposes a major evolution to move patients and medical providers from legal battles to reconciliations.

Respite care as a new task in districts

Respiratory care in Poland is a relatively new service addressed to carers of dependent people, whose priority objective is to relieve caregivers in their daily care activities for disabled (dependent) people. The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy proposes the “Respiratory care” program, which is implemented as part of the Solidarity Fund for the Support of People with Disabilities by municipalities and counties. The following study indicates the main assumptions of the program, the needs, definition and scope of activity.

Senegal

The COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the macroeconomic outlook for Senegal’s economy. Containment measures to avoid the propagation of the virus, lower external demand, reduced remittances, and the sudden stop of travel and tourism are having a significant impact on growth and generating an urgent budgetary and balance-of-payments (BOP) needs. The authorities have taken strong actions to address the pandemic by declaring a state of emergency, closing schools, suspending flights, banning public gatherings, and imposing a curfew. They are implementing a comprehensive plan to upgrade the health system and contain the economic impact, including by setting up a national solidarity fund and providing targeted support to vulnerable households and firms.

Opieka wytchnieniowa jako nowe zadanie dla organów samorządu terytorialnego – przegląd dotychczasowej praktyki prawnej

Respite Care as a New Task for Local Government Bodies: A Review of the Legal Practice to Date Respite care, also known as relieving care, is a form of supporting families of people with disabilities that require constant care, especially at home. The purpose of this type of support is to temporarily relieve the family or informal caregivers from the need to perform caring activities, which are then taken over by a specialized entity. It seems to be primarily an instrument of social assistance, and not, as it is sometimes misinter preted, of the healthcare system. The aim of this study is to analyse the current legal status regarding respite care, its place in the legal order and the support system for people with disabilities and their families. First of all, it is based on analysis of the literature as the main research method used. The article analyses the solutions adopted, among others, in the Act on the Solidarity Fund and Programmes titled Respite Care.