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Vargas López LC, Chávez Gallegos D, Blanco Borjas DM, Wirtz VJ. Medicines policy, access and use in Mexico: a systematic literature review 2000-2022. Drugs Context 2024; 13:2023-7-3. [PMID: 38384930 PMCID: PMC10881114 DOI: 10.7573/dic.2023-7-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Research on medicines access and use is heterogeneous and can be challenging for decision-makers to interpret. Pharmaceutical policy is an additional component for study and is the foundation for the promotion of access and use of medicines. This systematic review summarizes findings from the literature on medicines policy, access and use over the past two decades in Mexico and identifies research gaps that should be addressed. Methods A systematic review of the literature published between 2000 and 2022 was conducted to identify publications on medicines policy, access and use in Mexico. The study followed PRISMA Statement guidelines 2020. A narrative review including content analysis was conducted. Results A total of 5057 articles were reviewed, of which 77 fit the inclusion criteria. Studies described the lack of an explicit national policy, a misalignment between the legal framework and reinforcement incentives, deficient policy documentation at the national level, and the absence of necessary medicines regulation and transparency. In terms of access to medicines, challenges related to supply, selection, acquisition, distribution and expenditure were noted. Regarding medicine use, key study findings included a lack of adherence to standard treatment guidelines, dispensing, lack of reliable information on medicines, lack of treatment adherence and harmful self-medication. Conclusion The appropriate use of medicines and adequate access to them are priority topics for the formulation of Mexican pharmaceutical policy. It is critical that further research includes longitudinal studies of medicine access and use, and the consideration of studying the private sector as well as new methodological approaches. Many reported challenges related to access to and use of medicines have persisted across decades, suggesting a lack of effective research-to-practice knowledge transfer and policy implementation.This article is part of the Hospital pharmacy, rational use of medicines and patient safety in Latin America Special Issue: https://www.drugsincontext.com/special_issues/hospital-pharmacy-rational-use-of-medicines-and-patient-safety-in-latin-america/.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Veronika J Wirtz
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Mohanty SK, Mishra RS, Upadhyay AK, O'Donnell O, Maurer J. Sociodemographic and geographic inequalities in diagnosis and treatment of older adults' chronic conditions in India: a nationally representative population-based study. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:332. [PMID: 37013518 PMCID: PMC10069025 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09318-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Expeditious diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions are critical to control the burden of non-communicable disease in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to estimate sociodemographic and geographic inequalities in diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions among adults aged 45 + in India. METHODS We used 2017-18 nationally representative data to estimate prevalence of chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cholesterol, and neurological) reported as diagnosed and percentages of diagnosed conditions that were untreated by sociodemographic characteristics and state. We used concentration indices to measure socioeconomic inequalities in diagnosis and lack of treatment. Fully adjusted inequalities were estimated with multivariable probit and fractional regression models. FINDINGS About 46.1% (95% CI: 44.9 to 47.3) of adults aged 45 + reported a diagnosis of at least one chronic condition and 27.5% (95% CI: 26.2 to 28.7) of the reported conditions were untreated. The percentage untreated was highest for neurological conditions (53.2%; 95% CI: 50.1 to 59.6) and lowest for diabetes (10.1%; 95% CI: 8.4 to 11.5). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of any diagnosed condition was highest in the richest quartile (55.3%; 95% CI: 53.3 to 57.3) and lowest in the poorest (37.7%: 95% CI: 36.1 to 39.3). Conditional on reported diagnosis, the percentage of conditions untreated was highest in the poorest quartile (34.4%: 95% CI: 32.3 to 36.5) and lowest in the richest (21.1%: 95% CI: 19.2 to 23.1). Concentration indices confirmed these patterns. Multivariable models showed that the percentage of untreated conditions was 6.0 points higher (95% CI: 3.3 to 8.6) in the poorest quartile than in the richest. Between state variations in the prevalence of diagnosed conditions and their treatment were large. CONCLUSIONS Ensuring more equitable treatment of chronic conditions in India requires improved access for poorer, less educated, and rural older people who often remain untreated even once diagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay K Mohanty
- Department of Population and Development, International Institute for Population Sciences, Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai, India.
| | - Radhe Shyam Mishra
- International Institute for Population Science, R4D India Project, Mumbai, India
| | - Ashish Kumar Upadhyay
- International Institute for Population Science, Research Coordinator, R4D India Project, Mumbai, India
| | - Owen O'Donnell
- Professor of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jürgen Maurer
- Department of Economics, Institute of Health Economics and management, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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van Hees SGM, O'Fallon T, Hofker M, Dekker M, Polack S, Banks LM, Spaan EJAM. Leaving no one behind? Social inclusion of health insurance in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Int J Equity Health 2019; 18:134. [PMID: 31462303 PMCID: PMC6714392 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-019-1040-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One way to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is the implementation of health insurance schemes. A robust and up to date overview of empirical evidence assessing and substantiating health equity impact of health insurance schemes among specific vulnerable populations in LMICs beyond the more common parameters, such as income level, is lacking. We fill this gap by conducting a systematic review of how social inclusion affects access to equitable health financing arrangements in LMIC. METHODS We searched 11 databases to identify peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 1995 and January 2018 that addressed the enrolment and impact of health insurance in LMIC for the following vulnerable groups: female-headed households, children with special needs, older adults, youth, ethnic minorities, migrants, and those with a disability or chronic illness. We assessed health insurance enrolment patterns of these population groups and its impact on health care utilization, financial protection, health outcomes and quality of care. RESULTS The comprehensive database search resulted in 44 studies, in which chronically ill were mostly reported (67%), followed by older adults (33%). Scarce and inconsistent evidence is available for individuals with disabilities, female-headed households, ethnic minorities and displaced populations, and no studies were yielded reporting on youth or children with special needs. Enrolment rates seemed higher among chronically ill and mixed or insufficient results are observed for the other groups. Most studies reporting on health care utilization found an increase in health care utilization for insured individuals with a disability or chronic illness and older adults. In general, health insurance schemes seemed to prevent catastrophic health expenditures to a certain extent. However, reimbursements rates were very low and vulnerable individuals had increased out of pocket payments. CONCLUSION Despite a sizeable literature published on health insurance, there is a dearth of good quality evidence, especially on equity and the inclusion of specific vulnerable groups in LMIC. Evidence should be strengthened within health care reform to achieve UHC, by redefining and assessing vulnerability as a multidimensional process and the investigation of mechanisms that are more context specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne G M van Hees
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences (RIHS), Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Work and Health, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Kapittelweg 33, P.O. Box 6960, 6503GL, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
| | - Timothy O'Fallon
- International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Marleen Dekker
- African Studies Center, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Polack
- International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Lena Morgon Banks
- International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ernst J A M Spaan
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences (RIHS), Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Zhang H, Yuen PP. Medical Savings Account balance and outpatient utilization: Evidence from Guangzhou, China. Soc Sci Med 2016; 151:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Joe W, Rudra S, Subramanian SV. Horizontal Inequity in Elderly Health Care Utilization: Evidence from India. J Korean Med Sci 2015; 30 Suppl 2:S155-66. [PMID: 26617450 PMCID: PMC4659869 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.s2.s155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Against the backdrop of population aging, this paper presents the analysis of need-standardised health care utilization among elderly in India. Based on nationally representative morbidity and health care survey 2004, we demonstrate that the need for health care utilization is indeed pro-poor in nature. However, the actual health care utilization is concentrated among richer sections of the population. Further, the decomposition analysis reveals that income has a very strong role in shifting the distribution of health care away from the poor elderly. The impact of income on utilization is well-demonstrated even at the ecological-level as states with higher per capita incomes have higher elderly health care utilization even as the levels of need-predicted distribution across these states are similar. We also find that the distribution of elderly across social groups and their educational achievements favours the rich and significantly contributes to overall inequality. Nevertheless, contribution of need-related self-assessed health clearly favours pro-poor inequality. In concluding, we argue that to reduce such inequities in health care utilization it is necessary to increase public investments in health care infrastructure including geriatric care particularly in rural areas and underdeveloped regions to enhance access and quality of health care for the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Joe
- Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi Enclave, Delhi, India
| | - Shalini Rudra
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi, India
| | - S V Subramanian
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Doubova SV, Pérez-Cuevas R, Canning D, Reich MR. Access to healthcare and financial risk protection for older adults in Mexico: secondary data analysis of a national survey. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e007877. [PMID: 26198427 PMCID: PMC4513520 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES While the benefits of Seguro Popular health insurance in Mexico relative to no insurance have been widely documented, little has been reported on its effects relative to the pre-existing Social Security health insurance. We analyse the effects of Social Security and Seguro Popular health insurances in Mexico on access to healthcare of older adults, and on financial risk protection to their households, compared with older adults without health insurance. SETTING Secondary data analysis was performed using the 2012 Mexican Survey of Health and Nutrition (ENSANUT). PARTICIPANTS The study population comprised 18,847 older adults and 13,180 households that have an elderly member. OUTCOME MEASURES The dependent variables were access to healthcare given the reported need, the financial burden imposed by health expenditures measured through catastrophic health-related expenditures, and using savings for health-related expenditures. Separate propensity score matching analyses were conducted for each comparison. The analysis for access was performed at the individual level, and the analysis for financial burden at the household level. In each case, matching on a wide set of relevant characteristics was achieved. RESULTS Seguro Popular showed a protective effect against lack of access to healthcare for older adults compared with those with no insurance. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATET) was ascertained through using the nearest-neighbour matching (-8.1%, t-stat -2.305) analysis. However, Seguro Popular did not show a protective effect against catastrophic expenditures in a household where an older adult lived. Social Security showed increased access to healthcare (ATET -11.3%, t-stat -3.138), and protective effect against catastrophic expenditures for households with an elderly member (ATET -1.9%, t-stat -2.178). CONCLUSIONS Seguro Popular increased access to healthcare for Mexican older adults. Social Security showed a significant protective effect against lack of access and catastrophic expenditures compared with those without health insurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana V Doubova
- Takemi Program in International Health. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit, CMN Siglo XXI, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Pérez-Cuevas
- Division of Social Protection and Health, Inter-American Development Bank, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - David Canning
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael R Reich
- Takemi Program in International Health. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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DeGraff DS, Wong R. Modeling old-age wealth with endogenous early-life outcomes: The case of Mexico. JOURNAL OF THE ECONOMICS OF AGEING 2014; 3:58-70. [PMID: 25170434 PMCID: PMC4142703 DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This paper contributes to the literature on the life course and aging by examining the association between early-life outcomes and late-life well being, using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Empirical research in this area has been challenged by the potential endogeneity of the early-life outcomes of interest, an issue which most studies ignore or downplay. Our contribution takes two forms: (1) we examine in detail the potential importance of two key life-cycle outcomes, age at marriage (a measure of family formation) and years of educational attainment (a measure of human capital investment) for old-age wealth, and (2) we illustrate the empirical value of past context variables that could help model the association between early-life outcomes and late-life well being. Our illustrative approach, matching macro-level historical policy and census variables to individual records to use as instruments in modeling the endogeneity of early-life behaviors, yields a statistically identified two-stage model of old-age wealth with minimum bias. We use simulations to show that the results for the model of wealth in old age are meaningfully different when comparing the approach that accounts for endogeneity with an approach that assumes exogeneity of early-life outcomes. Furthermore, our results suggest that in the Mexican case, models which ignore the potential endogeneity of early-life outcomes are likely to under-estimate the effects of such variables on old-age wealth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah S. DeGraff
- Department of Economics, Bowdoin College, 9700 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011-8497, USA
| | - Rebeca Wong
- University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Sealy Center on Aging, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-0177, USA
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Machnicki G, Dillon C, Allegri RF. Insurance status and demographic and clinical factors associated with pharmacologic treatment of depression: associations in a cohort in Buenos Aires. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2011; 14:S13-S15. [PMID: 21839885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2011.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is a paucity of evidence about insurance status and the likelihood of receiving medical services in Latin America. The objective of this analysis was to examine the association between insurance status and pharmacologic treatment for depression. METHODS Patients referred to a memory clinic of a public hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and identified with any of four types of depression (subsyndromal, dysthymia, major, and due to dementia) were included. Age, years of education, insurance status, Beck Depression Inventory score, and number of comorbidities were considered. Associations between these factors and not receiving pharmacologic treatment for depression were examined with logistic regression. Use of prescription neuroleptics, hypnotics, and anticholinesterase inhibitors was also explored. RESULTS Out of 100 patients, 92 with insurance status data were used. Sixty-one patients (66%) had formal insurance and 31 patients (34%) lacked insurance. Twenty-seven (44%) insured patients and 23 (74%) uninsured patients did not receive antidepressants (P = 0.001). Controlling for other factors, uninsured patients had 7.12 higher odds of not receiving treatment compared to insured patients (95% confidence interval 1.88-28.86). Older patients and those with more comorbidities had higher odds of not receiving treatment. More educated patients, those with higher Beck Depression Inventory score, and those without subsyndromal depression had lower odds of not receiving treatment. None of those associations were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest a potential negative effect of the lack of formal insurance regarding pharmacologic treatment for depression. These findings should be confirmed with larger samples, and for other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Machnicki
- Memory Research Center, Department of Neurology, Zubizarreta General Hospital, GCBA Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Faden L, Vialle-Valentin C, Ross-Degnan D, Wagner A. Active pharmaceutical management strategies of health insurance systems to improve cost-effective use of medicines in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of current evidence. Health Policy 2010; 100:134-43. [PMID: 21185616 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2010] [Revised: 10/29/2010] [Accepted: 10/31/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Health insurance systems have great potential to improve the cost-effective use of medicines by leveraging better provider prescribing, more cost-effective use by consumers, and lower prices from industry. Despite ample evidence from high-income countries, little is known about insurance system strategies targeting medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This paper provides a critical review of the literature on these strategies and their impacts in LMIC. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of published peer-reviewed and grey literature and organized the insurance system strategies into four categories: medicines selection, purchasing, contracting and utilization management. RESULTS In n=63 reviewed publications we found reasonable evidence supporting the use of insurance as an overall strategy to improve access to pharmaceuticals and outcomes in LMIC. Beyond this, most of the literature focused on provider contracting strategies to influence prescribing. There was very little evidence on medicines selection, purchasing, or utilization management strategies. CONCLUSIONS There is a paucity of published evidence on the impact of insurance system strategies on improving the use of medicines in LMIC. The existing evidence is questionable since the majority of the published studies utilize weak study designs. This review highlights the need for well-designed studies to build an evidence base on the impact of medicines management strategies deployed by LMIC insurance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Faden
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Goroff M, Reich MR. Partnerships To Provide Care And Medicine For Chronic Diseases: A Model For Emerging Markets. Health Aff (Millwood) 2010; 29:2206-13. [DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Goroff
- Michael Goroff ( ) is an independent consultant and an entrepreneur/investor, based in Boston, Massachusetts. During 2008–9 he was a Takemi Fellow in International Health at the Harvard School of Public Health
| | - Michael R. Reich
- Michael R. Reich ( ) is the Taro Takemi Professor of International Health Policy and director of the Takemi Program in International Health at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, Massachusetts
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Glassman A, Gaziano TA, Bouillon Buendia CP, Guanais de Aguiar FC. Confronting The Chronic Disease Burden In Latin America And The Caribbean. Health Aff (Millwood) 2010; 29:2142-8. [DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.1038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Glassman
- Amanda Glassman ( ) is director of the Global Health Policy Program at the Center for Global Development, in Washington, D.C
| | - Thomas A. Gaziano
- Thomas A. Gaziano is a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts
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