1
|
Derakhshani N, Rezapour R, Azami-Aghdash S, Nafar H, Soleimanpour S, Tahmazi Aghdam E, Maleki M. Factors affecting private sector engagement in achieving universal health coverage: a scoping review. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2375672. [PMID: 38989553 PMCID: PMC11249157 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2375672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is one of the most important strategies adopted by countries in achieving goals of sustainable development. To achieve UHC, the governments need the engagement of the private sector. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting private sector engagement in achieving universal health coverage. METHODS The study is a scoping review that utilizes Arkesy & O'Malley frameworks. Data collection was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, Embase, ProQuest, SID, and MagIran databases and the Google Scholar search engine. Also, manual searches of journals and websites, reference checks, and grey literature searches were done using specific keywords. To manage and screen the studies, EndNote X8 software was used. Data extraction and analysis was done by two members of the research team, independently and using content analysis. RESULTS According to the results, 43 studies out of 588 studies were included. Most of the studies were international (18 studies). Extracted data were divided into four main categories: challenges, barriers, facilitators, goals, and reasons for engagement. After exclusion and integration of identified data, these categories were classified in the following manner: barriers and challenges with 59 items and in 13 categories, facilitators in 50 items and 9 categories, reasons with 30 items, and in 5 categories and goals with 24 items and 6 categories. CONCLUSION Utilizing the experience of different countries, challenges and barriers, facilitators, reasons, and goals were analyzed and classified. This investigation can be used to develop the engagement of the private sector and organizational synergy in achieving UHC by policymakers and planners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naser Derakhshani
- Health Management and Economics Research Canter, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Rezapour
- Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saber Azami-Aghdash
- Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamideh Nafar
- School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Soleimanpour
- Health Management and Economics Research Canter, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Emir Tahmazi Aghdam
- Health Management and Economics Research Canter, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Maleki
- School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ssegujja E, Andipatin M. Translating lessons to reinforce national stillbirth response; multi-stakeholder perspectives regarding priorities and opportunities to deliver quality evidence-based interventions within a limited-resource context in Uganda. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:715. [PMID: 38858756 PMCID: PMC11165756 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11180-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is noted increase in attention towards implementation of evidence-based interventions in response to the stillbirth burden in low- and middle-income countries including Uganda. Recent results reporting some of the strategies adopted have tended to focus much attention towards their overall effect on the stillbirth burden. More is needed regarding stakeholder reflections on priorities and opportunities for delivering quality services within a limited resource setting like Uganda. This paper bridges this knowledge gap. METHODS Data collection occurred between March and June 2019 at the national level. Qualitative interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis technique. RESULTS Identified priorities included; a focus on supportive functions such as the referral system, attention to the demand side component of maternal health services, and improvements in the support supervision particularly focusing on empowering subnational level actors. The need to strengthen the learning for better implementation of strategies which are compatible with context was also reported. A comprehensive and favourable policy environment with the potential to direct implementation of strategies, harnessing the private sector contribution as well as the role of national level champions and patient advocates to amplify national stillbirth reduction efforts for continued visibility and impact were recommended. CONCLUSION Great potential exists within the current strategies to address the national stillbirth burden. However, priorities such as improving the supportive functions of MCH service delivery and attention to the demand side need to be pursued more for better service delivery with opportunities including a favourable policy environment primed to better serve the current strategies. This calls for dedicated efforts targeted at addressing gaps within the existing priorities and opportunities for better delivery of national strategies to address the stillbirth burden in Uganda.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ssegujja
- Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7076, Kampala, Uganda.
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa.
| | - Michelle Andipatin
- Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xiong Y, Lin K, Yao Y, Zhong Z, Xiang L. Comparison of the market share of public and private hospitals under different Medical Alliances: an interrupted time-series analysis in rural China. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:496. [PMID: 38649910 PMCID: PMC11034031 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10941-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND China initiated the Medical Alliances (MAs) reform to enhance resource allocation efficiency and ensure equitable healthcare. In response to challenges posed by the predominance of public hospitals, the reform explores public-private partnerships within the MAs. Notably, private hospitals can now participate as either leading or member institutions. This study aims to evaluate the dynamic shifts in market share between public and private hospitals across diverse MAs models. METHODS Data spanning April 2017 to March 2019 for Dangyang County's MA and January 2018 to December 2019 for Qianjiang County's MA were analyzed. Interrupted periods occurred in April 2018 and January 2019. Using independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and interrupted time series analysis (ITSA), we compared the proportion of hospital revenue, the proportion of visits for treatment, and the average hospitalization days of discharged patients between leading public hospitals and leading private hospitals, as well as between member public hospitals and member private hospitals before and after the reform. RESULTS After the MAs reform, the revenue proportion decreased for leading public and private hospitals, while member hospitals saw an increase. However, ITSA revealed a notable rise trend in revenue proportion for leading private hospitals (p < 0.001), with a slope of 0.279% per month. Member public and private hospitals experienced decreasing revenue proportions, with outpatient visits proportions declining in member public hospitals by 0.089% per month (p < 0.05) and inpatient admissions proportions dropping in member private hospitals by 0.752% per month (p < 0.001). The average length of stay in member private hospitals increased by 0.321 days per month after the reform (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study underscores the imperative to reinforce oversight and constraints on leading hospitals, especially private leading hospitals, to curb the trend of diverting patients from member hospitals. At the same time, for private hospitals that are at a disadvantage in competition and may lead to unreasonable prolongation of hospital stay, this kind of behavior can be avoided by strengthening supervision or granting leadership.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingbei Xiong
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Kunhe Lin
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Yifan Yao
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengdong Zhong
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Xiang
- Department of Health Management, School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, 430030, Wuhan, China.
- HUST base of National Institute of healthcare Security, Wuhan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Appleford G, Cocozza A, Nabyonga-Orem J, Clarke D. How to better engage the private sector in health service delivery in Africa. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e013046. [PMID: 38103893 PMCID: PMC10729254 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Cocozza
- Special Programme on Primary Health Care, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - David Clarke
- Special Programme on Primary Health Care, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Clarke D, Appleford G, Cocozza A, Thabet A, Bloom G. The governance behaviours: a proposed approach for the alignment of the public and private sectors for better health outcomes. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e012528. [PMID: 38084487 PMCID: PMC10711895 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Health systems are 'the ensemble of all public and private organisations, institutions and resources mandated to improve, maintain or restore health.' The private sector forms a major part of healthcare practice in many health systems providing a wide range of health goods and services, with significant growth across low-income and middle-income countries. WHO sees building stronger and more effective health systems through the participation and engagement of all health stakeholders as the pathway to further reducing the burden of disease and meeting health targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. However, there are governance and public policy gaps when it comes to interaction or engagement with the private sector, and therefore, some governments have lost contact with a major area of healthcare practice. As a result, market forces rather than public policy shape private sector activities with follow-on effects for system performance. While the problem is well described, proposed normative solutions are difficult to apply at country level to translate policy intentions into action. In 2020, WHO adopted a strategy report which argued for a major shift in approach to engage the private sector based on the performance of six governance behaviours. These are a practice-based approach to governance and draw on earlier work from Travis et al on health system stewardship subfunctions. This paper elaborates on the governance behaviours and explains their application as a practice approach for strengthening the capacity of governments to work with the private sector to achieve public policy goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Clarke
- Special Programme on Primary Health Care, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Gabrielle Appleford
- Special Programme on Primary Health Care, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Anna Cocozza
- Special Programme on Primary Health Care, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Aya Thabet
- Special Programme on Primary Health Care, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
- Health Systems, World Health Organisation Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Gerald Bloom
- Health and Nutrition Cluster, Institute of Development Study, Brighton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Whyle EB, Olivier J. A socio-political history of South Africa's National Health Insurance. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:247. [PMID: 38037083 PMCID: PMC10691113 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-02058-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spurred by the WHO's endorsement of universal health coverage as a goal of all health systems, many countries are undertaking health financing reforms. The nature of these reforms, and the policy processes by which they are achieved, will depend on context-specific factors, including the history of reform efforts and the political imperatives driving reforms. South Africa's pursuit of universal health coverage through a National Health Insurance is the latest in a nearly 100-year history of health system reform efforts shaped by social and political realities. METHODS We conducted an interdisciplinary, retrospective literature review to explore how these reform efforts have unfolded, and been shaped by the contextual realities of the moment. We began the review by identifying peer-reviewed literature on health system reform in South Africa, and iteratively expanded the search through author tracking, citation tracking and purposeful searches for material on particular events or processes referenced in the initial body of evidence. Data was extracted and organised chronologically into nine periods. RESULTS The analysis suggests that in South Africa politics; the power of the private sector; competing policy priorities and budgetary constraints; and ideas, values and ideologies have been particularly important in constraining, and sometimes spurring, health system reform efforts. Political transitions and pressures - including the introduction of apartheid in 1948, anti-apartheid opposition, the transition to democracy, and corruption and governance failures - have alternately created political imperatives for reform, and constrained reform efforts. In addition, the country's political history has given rise to dominant ideas, values and ideologies that imbue health system reform with a particular social meaning. While these ideas and values increase opposition and complicate reform efforts, they also help to expose the inequities of the current system as problematic and re-emphasise the need for reform. CONCLUSION Ultimately, this analysis demonstrates the context-specific nature of health system reform processes and the influence of history on what sorts of reforms are politically feasible and socially acceptable, even in the context of a global push for universal health coverage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Beth Whyle
- Health Policy and Systems Division, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Jill Olivier
- Health Policy and Systems Division, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Oyekale AS. Utilization of Proximate Healthcare Facilities and Children's Wait Times in Senegal: An IV-Tobit Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7016. [PMID: 37947572 PMCID: PMC10650125 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20217016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Universal health coverage (UHC) defines individuals' timely access to healthcare services without suffering any health-related financial constraints. The Senegalese government has shown commitments towards achievement of UHC as a way of improving access by the population to quality healthcare services. This is very pertinent for promoting some indicators of under-five health in Senegal. Therefore, this study analyzed the factors influencing sick children's utilization of the nearest healthcare facilities and their wait times in Senegal. The data were from the Service Provision Assessment (SPA) survey, which was conducted in 2018. The instrumental Tobit regression model was used for data analysis. The results showed that 63.50% and 86.01% of the children utilized health posts and publicly owned facilities, respectively. Also, 98.46% of the children utilized urban facilities. The nearest facilities were utilized by 74.55%, and 78.19% spent less than an hour in the facilities. The likelihood of using the nearest healthcare facilities significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with caregivers' primary education, higher education, residence in some regions (Fatick, Kaokack, Saint Louis, Sediou, and Tambacounda), and use of private/NGO not-for-profit facilities, but increased with not having visited any other providers, residence in the Kaffrie region, vomiting symptoms, use of health centers, and use of health posts. Moreover, treatment wait times significantly increased (p < 0.05) with the use of nearest facilities, residence in some regions (Diourbel, Kaokack, Matam and Saint Louis), use of private for-profit facilities, use of private not-for-profit facilities, and urban residence, but decreased with secondary education, use of health centers, use of health posts, vomiting symptoms, and showing other symptoms. It was concluded that reduction in wait times and utilization of the nearest healthcare facilities are fundamental to achieving UHC in Senegal. Therefore, more efforts should be integrated at promoting regional and sectoral equities through facilitated public and private healthcare investment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abayomi Samuel Oyekale
- Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Coveney L, Musoke D, Russo G. Do private health providers help achieve Universal Health Coverage? A scoping review of the evidence from low-income countries. Health Policy Plan 2023; 38:1050-1063. [PMID: 37632759 PMCID: PMC10566321 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is the dominant paradigm in health systems research, positing that everyone should have access to a range of affordable health services. Although private providers are an integral part of world health systems, their contribution to achieving UHC is unclear, particularly in low-income countries (LICs). We scoped the literature to map out the evidence on private providers' contribution to UHC progress in LICs. Literature searches of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were conducted in 2022. A total of 1049 documents published between 2002 and 2022 were screened for eligibility using predefined inclusion criteria, focusing on formal as well as informal private health sectors in 27 LICs. Primary qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods evidence was included, as well as original analysis of secondary data. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Relevant evidence was extracted and analysed using an adapted UHC framework. We identified 34 papers documenting how most basic health care services are already provided through the private sector in countries such as Uganda, Afghanistan and Somalia. A substantial proportion of primary care, mother, child and malaria services are available through non-public providers across all 27 LICs. Evidence exists that while formal private providers mostly operate in well-served urban settings, informal and not-for-profit ones cater for underserved rural and urban areas. Nonetheless, there is evidence that the quality of the services by informal providers is suboptimal. A few studies suggested that the private sector fails to advance financial protection against ill-health, as costs are higher than in public facilities and services are paid out of pocket. We conclude that despite their shortcomings, working with informal private providers to increase quality and financing of their services may be key to realizing UHC in LICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Coveney
- The Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, London E1 2AB, United Kingdom
| | - David Musoke
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, New Mulago Hill Road, Mulango, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Giuliano Russo
- The Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, London E1 2AB, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Boone CE, Gertler PJ, Barasa GM, Gruber J, Kwan A. Can a private sector engagement intervention that prioritizes pro-poor strategies improve healthcare access and quality? A randomized field experiment in Kenya. Health Policy Plan 2023; 38:1006-1016. [PMID: 37602984 PMCID: PMC11020211 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Private sector engagement in health reform has been suggested to help reduce healthcare inequities in sub-Saharan Africa, where populations with the most need seek the least care. We study the effects of African Health Markets for Equity (AHME), a cluster randomized controlled trial carried out in Kenya from 2012 to 2020 at 199 private health clinics. AHME included four clinic-level interventions: social health insurance, social franchising, SafeCare quality-of-care certification programme and business support. This paper evaluates whether AHME increased the capacity of private health clinics to serve poor clients while maintaining or enhancing the quality of care provided. At endline, clinics that received AHME were 14.5 percentage points (pp) more likely to be empanelled with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), served 51% more NHIF clients and served more clients from the middle three quintiles of the wealth distribution compared to control clinics. Comparing individuals living in households near AHME treatment and control clinics (N = 8241), AHME led to a 6.7-pp increase in the probability of holding any health insurance on average. We did not find any additional effect of AHME on insurance holding among poor households. We measured quality of care using a standardized patient (SP) experiment (N = 596 SP-provider interactions) where recruited and trained SPs were randomized to present as either 'not poor', and able to afford all services provided, or 'poor' by telling the provider they could only afford ∼300 Kenyan Shillings (US$3) in fees. We found that poor SPs received lower levels of both correct and unnecessary services, and AHME did not affect this. More work must be done to ensure that clients of all wealth levels receive high-quality care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Boone
- Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, 5807 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Paul J Gertler
- Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley, 2220 Piedmont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Joshua Gruber
- Center for Effective Global Action, University of California Berkeley, Giannini Hall, 251 Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ada Kwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gourab G, Sarwar G, Khan MNM, Hasan AMR, Irfan SD, Saha TK, Rahman L, Rana AKMM, Khan SI. Are we ready for a sustainable approach? A qualitative study of the readiness of the public health system to provide STI services to the key populations at risk of HIV in Bangladesh. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:979. [PMID: 37697263 PMCID: PMC10496154 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09996-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In Bangladesh, sexually transmitted infection (STI) services are available for all populations in public health facilities. However, STI services for key populations (KPs) at risk of HIV need specifically designed approaches that are predominantly administered to KPs through donor-supported service centers operated by non-government organizations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs). However, the steady decline in donor funding warrants a sustainable transition of STI services for the KPs into public health facilities. This article aimed to explore the service availability and readiness of public health facilities to provide STI services for the KPs. METHODS This qualitative study explored the service availability and readiness of public health facilities in three districts of Bangladesh by adapting the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment tool. We conducted 34 in-depth interviews,11 focus group discussions with KPs, and 29 key-informant interviews with healthcare providers, researchers, programme implementers and policy planners, in addition to series of direct observations at the public healthcare facilities. Data were analysed through thematic analysis, and categorised in relation to the WHO building blocks. RESULTS This study revealed that the public health system was generally not ready to serve the KPs' needs in terms of providing them with quality STI services. The 'service delivery' component, which is the most crucial facet of the public health system, was not ready to provide STI services to KPs. Findings also indicated that health workforce availability was limited in the primary and secondary healthcare layers but adequate in the tertiary layer, but needed to be oriented on providing culturally sensitised treatment. Counseling, an essential component of STI services, was neither ready nor available. However, health information systems and a few other components were partially ready, although this warrants systematic approaches to address these challenges. CONCLUSION The findings show that public health facilities are yet to be fully ready to render STI services to KPs, especially in terms of service delivery and human and health resources. Therefore, it is not only integral to mobilize communities towards the uptake of public health services, but health systems need to be prepared to cater to their needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gorkey Gourab
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Golam Sarwar
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Niaz Morshed Khan
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - A M Rumayan Hasan
- Universal Health Coverage, Health System and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Samira Dishti Irfan
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Tarit Kumar Saha
- Institute of Public Health (IPH), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lima Rahman
- HIV/AIDS Programme, Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Sector, Save the Children, House 35, Road 43, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A K M Masud Rana
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Sharful Islam Khan
- Programme for HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yanful B, Kirubarajan A, Bhatia D, Mishra S, Allin S, Di Ruggiero E. Quality of care in the context of universal health coverage: a scoping review. Health Res Policy Syst 2023; 21:21. [PMID: 36959608 PMCID: PMC10035485 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-022-00957-5] [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: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Universal health coverage (UHC) is an emerging priority of health systems worldwide and central to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (target 3.8). Critical to the achievement of UHC, is quality of care. However, current evidence suggests that quality of care is suboptimal, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The primary objective of this scoping review was to summarize the existing conceptual and empirical literature on quality of care within the context of UHC and identify knowledge gaps. METHODS We conducted a scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and further elaborated by Levac et al. and applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL-Plus, PAIS Index, ProQuest and PsycINFO for reviews published between 1 January 1995 and 27 September 2021. Reviews were eligible for inclusion if the article had a central focus on UHC and discussed quality of care. We did not apply any country-based restrictions. All screening, data extraction and analyses were completed by two reviewers. RESULTS Of the 4128 database results, we included 45 studies that met the eligibility criteria, spanning multiple geographic regions. We synthesized and analysed our findings according to Kruk et al.'s conceptual framework for high-quality systems, including foundations, processes of care and quality impacts. Discussions of governance in relation to quality of care were discussed in a high number of studies. Studies that explored the efficiency of health systems and services were also highly represented in the included reviews. In contrast, we found that limited information was reported on health outcomes in relation to quality of care within the context of UHC. In addition, there was a global lack of evidence on measures of quality of care related to UHC, particularly country-specific measures and measures related to equity. CONCLUSION There is growing evidence on the relationship between quality of care and UHC, especially related to the governance and efficiency of healthcare services and systems. However, several knowledge gaps remain, particularly related to monitoring and evaluation, including of equity. Further research, evaluation and monitoring frameworks are required to strengthen the existing evidence base to improve UHC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernice Yanful
- Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Abirami Kirubarajan
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Dominika Bhatia
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sujata Mishra
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sara Allin
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Erica Di Ruggiero
- Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Centre for Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Osei Afriyie D, Masiye F, Tediosi F, Fink G. Confidence in the health system and health insurance enrollment among the informal sector population in Lusaka, Zambia. Soc Sci Med 2023; 321:115750. [PMID: 36801748 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To improve equitable access to quality essential services and reduce financial hardship, low-and-middle-income countries are increasingly relying on prepayment strategies such as health insurance schemes. Among the informal sector population, confidence in the health system to provide effective treatment and trust in institutions can play an important role in health insurance enrollment. The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which confidence and trust affect enrollment into the recently introduced Zambia National Health insurance. METHODS We conducted a regionally representative cross-sectional household survey in Lusaka, Zambia collecting information on demographics, health expenditure, ratings of last health facility visit, health insurance status and confidence in the health system. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between enrollment and confidence in the private and public health sector as well as trust in the government in general. RESULTS Of the 620 respondents interviewed, 70% were enrolled or planning to enroll in the health insurance. Only about one-fifth of respondents were very confident that they would receive effective care in the public health sector 'if they became sick tomorrow' while 48% were very confident in the private health sector. While confidence in the public system was only weakly associated with enrollment, confidence in the private health sector was strongly associated with enrollment (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.40 95% CI 1.73 - 6.68). No association was found between enrollment and trust in government or perceived government performance. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that confidence in the health system, particularly in the private health sector, is strongly associated with health insurance enrollment. Focusing on achieving high quality of care across all levels of the health system may be an effective strategy to increase enrollment in health insurance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doris Osei Afriyie
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Felix Masiye
- University of Zambia, Department of Economics, Lusaka, Zambia.
| | - Fabrizio Tediosi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Günther Fink
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Conlan C, Cunningham T, Watson S, Madan J, Sfyridis A, Sartori J, Ferhatosmanoglu H, Lilford R. Perceived quality of care and choice of healthcare provider in informal settlements. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001281. [PMID: 36962860 PMCID: PMC10022014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
When a person chooses a healthcare provider, they are trading off cost, convenience, and a latent third factor: "perceived quality". In urban areas of lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including slums, individuals have a wide range of choice in healthcare provider, and we hypothesised that people do not choose the nearest and cheapest provider. This would mean that people are willing to incur additional cost to visit a provider they would perceive to be offering better healthcare. In this article, we aim to develop a method towards quantifying this notion of "perceived quality" by using a generalised access cost calculation to combine monetary and time costs relating to a visit, and then using this calculated access cost to observe facilities that have been bypassed. The data to support this analysis comes from detailed survey data in four slums, where residents were questioned on their interactions with healthcare services, and providers were surveyed by our team. We find that people tend to bypass more informal local services to access more formal providers, especially public hospitals. This implies that public hospitals, which tend to incur higher access costs, have the highest perceived quality (i.e., people are more willing to trade cost and convenience to visit these services). Our findings therefore provide evidence that can support the 'crowding out' hypothesis first suggested in a 2016 Lancet Series on healthcare provision in LMICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Conlan
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Teddy Cunningham
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Watson
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Madan
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandros Sfyridis
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Sartori
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Richard Lilford
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Chhim S, Te V, Buffel V, van Olmen J, Chham S, Long S, Yem S, Van Damme W, Wouters E, Por I. Healthcare usage and expenditure among people with type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension in Cambodia: results from a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e061959. [PMID: 36635032 PMCID: PMC9843177 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess usage of public and private healthcare, related healthcare expenditure, and associated factors for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and/or hypertension (HTN) and for people without those conditions in Cambodia. METHODS A cross-sectional household survey. SETTINGS Five operational districts (ODs) in Cambodia. PARTICIPANTS Data were from 2360 participants aged ≥40 years who had used healthcare services at least once in the 3 months preceding the survey. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME The main variables of interest were the number of healthcare visits and healthcare expenditure in the last 3 months. RESULTS The majority of healthcare visits took place in the private sector. Only 22.0% of healthcare visits took place in public healthcare facilities: 21.7% in people with HTN, 37.2% in people with T2D, 34.7% in people with T2D plus HTN and 18.9% in people without the two conditions (p value <0.01). For people with T2D and/or HTN, increased public healthcare use was significantly associated with Health Equity Fund (HEF) membership and living in ODs with community-based care. Furthermore, significant healthcare expenditure reduction was associated with HEF membership and using public healthcare facilities in these populations. CONCLUSION Overall public healthcare usage was relatively low; however, it was higher in people with chronic conditions. HEF membership and community-based care contributed to higher public healthcare usage among people with chronic conditions. Using public healthcare services, regardless of HEF status reduced healthcare expenditure, but the reduction in spending was more noticeable in people with HEF membership. To protect people with T2D and/or HTN from financial risk and move towards the direction of universal health coverage, the public healthcare system should further improve care quality and expand social health protection. Future research should link healthcare use and expenditure across different healthcare models to actual treatment outcomes to denote areas for further investment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srean Chhim
- Technical Office, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phonm Penh, Cambodia
| | - Vannarath Te
- Technical Office, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phonm Penh, Cambodia
- Department of Public Health, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Veerle Buffel
- Centre for Population, Family & Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Antwerp
| | - Josefien van Olmen
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Savina Chham
- Technical Office, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Sereyraksmey Long
- School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phonm Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sokunthea Yem
- Technical Office, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Wim Van Damme
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Gerontology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Edwin Wouters
- Centre for Population, Family & Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Antwerp
| | - Ir Por
- Management team, National Institute of Public Health, Phonm Penh, Cambodia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Siddiqi S, Aftab W, Venkat Raman A, Soucat A, Alwan A. The role of the private sector in delivering essential packages of health services: lessons from country experiences. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2022-010742. [PMID: 36657810 PMCID: PMC9853132 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Many countries are adopting essential packages of health services (EPHS) to implement universal health coverage (UHC), which are mostly financed and delivered by the public sector, while the potential role of the private health sector (PHS) remains untapped. Currently, many low-income and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs) have devised EPHS; however, guidance on translating these packages into quality, accessible and affordable services is limited. This paper explores the role of PHS in achieving UHC, identifies key concerns and presents the experience of the Diseases Control Priorities 3 Country Translation project in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Zanzibar. There are key challenges to engagement of the PHS, which include the complexity and heterogeneity of private providers, their operation in isolation of the health system, limitations of population coverage and equity when left to PHS's own choices, and higher overall cost of care for privately delivered services. Irrespective of the strategies employed to involve the PHS in delivering EPHS, it is necessary to identify private providers in terms of their characteristics and contribution, and their response to regulatory tools and incentives. Strategies for regulating private providers include better statutory control to prevent unlicensed practice, self-regulation by professional bodies to maintain standards of practice and accreditation of large private hospitals and chains. Potentially, purchasing delivery of essential services by engaging private providers can be an effective 'regulatory approach' to modify provider behaviour. Despite existing experience, more research is needed to better explore and operationalise the role of PHS in implementing EPHS in LLMICs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sameen Siddiqi
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Wafa Aftab
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.,Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - A Venkat Raman
- Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Agnès Soucat
- Division of Health and Social Protection, France Development Agency (AFD), Paris, France
| | - Ala Alwan
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ali D, Woldegiorgis AGY, Tilaye M, Yilma Y, Berhane HY, Tewahido D, Abelti G, Neill R, Silla N, Gilliss L, Mandal M. Integrating private health facilities in government-led health systems: a case study of the public-private mix approach in Ethiopia. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1477. [PMID: 36463163 PMCID: PMC9719643 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08769-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Private health care facilities working in partnership with the public health sector is one option to create sustainable health systems and ensure health and well-being for all in low-income countries. As the second-most populous country in Africa with a rapidly growing economy, demand for health services in Ethiopia is increasing and one-quarter of its health facilities are privately owned. The Private Health Sector Program (PHSP), funded by the United States Agency for International Development, implemented a series of public-private partnership in health projects from 2004 to 2020 to address several public health priorities, including tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and family planning. We assessed PHSP's performance in leadership and governance, access to medicines, health management information systems, human resources, service provision, and finance. METHODS The World Health Organization's health systems strengthening framework, which is organized around six health system building blocks, guided the assessment. We conducted 50 key informant interviews and a health facility assessment at 106 private health facilities supported by the PHSP to evaluate its performance. RESULTS All six building blocks were addressed by the program and key informants shared that several policy and strategic changes were conducive to supporting the functioning of private health facilities. The provision of free medicines from the public pharmaceutical logistics system, relaxation of strict regulatory policies that restricted service provision through the private sector, training of private providers, and public-private mix guidelines developed for tuberculosis, malaria, and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health helped increase the use of services at health facilities. CONCLUSIONS Some challenges and threats to sustainability remain, including fragile partnerships between public and private bodies, resource constraints, mistrust between the public and private sectors, limited incentives for the private sector, and oversight of the quality of services. To continue with gains in the policy environment, service accessibility, and other aspects of the health system, the government and international communities must work collaboratively to address public-private partnerships in health areas that can be strengthened. Future efforts should emphasize a mechanism to ensure that the private sector is capable, incentivized, and supervised to deliver continuous, high-quality and equitable services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Disha Ali
- John Snow, Inc. (JSI), Arlington, VA, USA
| | | | - Mesfin Tilaye
- USAID/Ethiopia, Entoto Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Yonas Yilma
- Independent Consultant, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hanna Y Berhane
- Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Ayat, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dagmawit Tewahido
- Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Ayat, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Mohamoud G, Mash R. The quality of primary care performance in private sector facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: a cross-sectional descriptive survey. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:120. [PMID: 35585488 PMCID: PMC9114290 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01700-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background Integrated health services with an emphasis on primary care are needed for effective primary health care and achievement of universal health coverage. The key elements of high quality primary care are first-contact access, continuity, comprehensiveness, coordination, and person-centredness. In Kenya, there is paucity of information on the performance of these key elements and such information is needed to improve service delivery. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the quality of primary care performance in private sector facilities in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study using an adapted Primary Care Assessment Tool for the Kenyan context and surveyed 412 systematically sampled primary care users, from 13 PC clinics. Data were analysed to measure 11 domains of primary care performance and two aggregated primary care scores using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results Mean primary care score was 2.64 (SD=0.23) and the mean expanded primary care score was 2.68 (SD=0.19), implying an overall low performance. The domains of first contact-utilisation, coordination (information system), family-centredness and cultural competence had mean scores of >3.0 (acceptable to good performance). The domains of first contact-access, coordination, comprehensiveness (provided and available), ongoing care and community-orientation had mean scores of < 3.0 (poor performance). Older respondents (p=0.05) and those with higher affiliation to the clinics (p=0.01) were more likely to rate primary care as acceptable to good. Conclusion These primary care clinics in Nairobi showed gaps in performance. Performance was rated as acceptable-to-good for first-contact utilisation, the information systems, family-centredness and cultural competence. However, patients rated low performance related to first-contact access, ongoing care, coordination of care, comprehensiveness of services, community orientation and availability of a complete primary health care team. Performance could be improved by deploying family physicians, increasing the scope of practice to become more comprehensive, incentivising use of these PC clinics rather than the tertiary hospital, improving access after-hours and marketing the use of the clinics to the practice population.
Collapse
|
18
|
Noor MN, Khan M, Rahman-Shepherd A, Siddiqui AR, Khan SS, Azam I, Shakoor S, Hasan R. Impact of a multifaceted intervention on physicians' knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to pharmaceutical incentivisation: protocol for a randomised control trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e067233. [PMID: 36332959 PMCID: PMC9639112 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In settings where the private sector constitutes a larger part of the health system, profit-gathering can take primacy over patients' well-being. In their interactions with pharmaceutical companies, private general practitioners (GPs) can experience the conflict of interest (COI), a situation whereby the impartiality of GPs' professional decision making may be influenced by secondary interests such as financial gains from prescribing specific pharmaceutical brands. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This study is a randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of a multifaceted intervention on GPs' medical practice. The study sample consists of 419 registered GPs who own/work in private clinics and will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group GPs will be exposed to emotive and educational seminars on medical ethics, whereas control group GPs will be given seminars on general medical topics. The primary outcome measure will be GPs' prescribing practices, whereas the secondary outcome measures will be their knowledge and attitudes regarding COI that arises from pharmaceutical incentivisation. In addition to a novel standardised pharmaceutical representatives (SPSR) method, in which field researchers will simulate pharmaceutical marketing with GPs, presurvey and postsurvey, and qualitative interviewing will be performed to collect data on GPs' knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to COI linked with pharmaceutical incentives. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses will be performed to measure a change in GPs' knowledge, attitudes and practices, while qualitative analysis will add to our understanding of the quantitative SPSR data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval has been obtained from the Pakistan National Bioethics Committee (# 4-87/NBC-582/21/1364), the Aga Khan University (# 2020-4759-1129) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (# 26506). We will release results within 6-9 months of the study's completion. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN12294839.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Naveed Noor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Mishal Khan
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Afifah Rahman-Shepherd
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Sabeen Sharif Khan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Iqbal Azam
- Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Shakoor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Rumina Hasan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Disease, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ho CJ, Khalid H, Skead K, Wong J. The politics of universal health coverage. Lancet 2022; 399:2066-2074. [PMID: 35594878 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)00585-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The UN has declared universal health coverage an urgent global goal. Efforts to achieve this goal have been supported by rigorous research on the scientific, technical, and administrative aspects of health systems design. Yet a substantial portion of the world's population does not have access to essential health services. There is growing recognition that achieving universal health coverage is a political challenge. However, fundamental concepts from the political science discipline are often overlooked in the health literature. This Series paper draws on political science research to highlight the ways in which politics can facilitate, or stymie, policy reform. Specifically, we present a framework of analysis that explores how interests, ideas, and institutions shape universal health coverage. We then examine key considerations relating to the implementation of relevant policies. This Series paper shows that a political understanding of universal health coverage is needed to achieve health for all.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kimberly Skead
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joseph Wong
- Department of Political Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Datta P, Chaudhuri C. Is Profit Motive Infecting Indian Private Health Care Sector? An Analysis of Unincorporated Healthcare Providers. JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/09720634221088064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Indian healthcare system is dominated by private sector; its importance is growing with implementation of ‘Ayushman Bharat’, flagship programme of Indian government. Though 62% and 75% of inpatient and outpatient cases in India are treated in private sector, the information about the economy of private healthcare providers is very limited. To the author’s best knowledge, this is the first attempt to address the issue with empirical evidence for the private healthcare providers from a nationally representative survey data for India. Private healthcare sector is estimated to provide employment to 2.34 million persons annually and generate gross value added (GVA) of ₹473.3 billion. Treatment cost on an average is much high in private sector as compared to the public sector. But supply-side data show that average annual receipt per annum is six times higher than average operating cost per annum for unincorporated private healthcare providers in India, indicating underlying profit motive. Analysis of factor payments shows that 55% of GVA of unincorporated private hospitals is gross operating surplus (or profit), followed by emoluments paid to employees and workers (42%). These factors potentially cause over-charging in private sector. Context-specific and appropriate regulatory mechanisms are very much needed to ensure quality of services and control medical inflation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pritam Datta
- National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Chetana Chaudhuri
- National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
The clinical skills of general practitioners in Nairobi, Kenya: a cross-sectional study. BJGP Open 2022; 6:BJGPO.2021.0233. [DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2021.0233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundQuality service delivery in primary care requires motivated and competent health professionals. In the Kenyan private sector, general practitioners (GP), with no post-graduate training in family medicine, offer primary care. There is a paucity of evidence on the ability of primary care providers to deliver comprehensive care and no such evidence is available for GPs practising in the private sector in Kenya.AimTo evaluate GPs’ training and experience in the skills required for comprehensive primary care.Design and settingA cross-sectional descriptive survey in 13 primary care clinics in the private sector of Nairobi, KenyaMethodA questionnaire, originally designed for a national survey of primary care doctors in South Africa, was adapted. The study collected self-reported data on performance of clinical skills by 25 GPs. Data were analysed in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences.ResultsGPs were mostly under 40 years, with less than 10 years of experience and an equal gender distribution. GPs reported moderate performance with adult health, communication and consultation, and clinical administration; and weak performance with emergencies, child health, surgery, ear-nose-and-throat, eyes, women’s health and orthopaedics. The GPs lacked training in specific skills such as proctoscopy, contraceptive devices, skin procedures, intra-articular injections, red reflex test and use of a genogram.ConclusionGeneral practitioners lacked training and performed poorly in some of the essential skills required in primary care. Continuing professional development, training in Family Medicine and deployment of family physicians to the clinics could improve the comprehensiveness of care.
Collapse
|
22
|
Bakker J, van Duinen AJ, Nolet WWE, Mboma P, Sam T, van den Broek A, Flinkenflögel M, Gjøra A, Lindheim-Minde B, Kamanda S, Koroma AP, Bolkan HA. Barriers to increase surgical productivity in Sierra Leone: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e056784. [PMID: 34933865 PMCID: PMC8693091 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore factors influencing surgical provider productivity and identify barriers against and opportunities to increase individual surgical productivity in Sierra Leone, in order to explain the observed increase in unmet surgical need from 92.2% to 92.7% and the decrease in surgical productivity to 1.7 surgical procedures per provider per week between 2012 and 2017. DESIGN AND METHODS This explanatory qualitative study consisted of in-depth interviews about factors influencing surgical productivity in Sierra Leone. Interviews were analysed with a thematic network analysis and used to develop a conceptual framework. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING 21 surgical providers and hospital managers working in 12 public and private non-profit hospitals in all regions in Sierra Leone. RESULTS Surgical providers in Sierra Leone experience a broad range of factors within and outside the health system that influence their productivity. The main barriers involve both patient and facility financial constraints, lack of equipment and supplies, weak regulation of providers and facilities and a small surgical workforce, which experiences a lack of recognition. Initiation of a Free Health Care Initiative for obstetric and paediatric care, collaborations with partners or non-governmental organisations, and increased training opportunities for highly motivated surgical providers are identified as opportunities to increase productivity. DISCUSSION Broader nationwide health system strengthening is required to facilitate an increase in surgical productivity and meet surgical needs in Sierra Leone. Development of a national strategy for surgery, obstetrics and anaesthesia, including methods to reduce financial barriers for patients, improve supply-mechanisms and expand training opportunities for new and established surgical providers can increase surgical capacity. Establishment of legal frameworks and appropriate remuneration are crucial for sustainability and retention of surgical health workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juul Bakker
- Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- CapaCare, Trondheim, Norway
| | - A J van Duinen
- CapaCare, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Surgery, St Olavs Hospital University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Peter Mboma
- Pujehun Government Hospital, Pujehun, Sierra Leone
| | - Tamba Sam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Andreas Gjøra
- CapaCare, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Barbro Lindheim-Minde
- CapaCare, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Samuel Kamanda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Alimamy P Koroma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - H A Bolkan
- CapaCare, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Surgery, St Olavs Hospital University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Chan JCN, Lim LL, Wareham NJ, Shaw JE, Orchard TJ, Zhang P, Lau ESH, Eliasson B, Kong APS, Ezzati M, Aguilar-Salinas CA, McGill M, Levitt NS, Ning G, So WY, Adams J, Bracco P, Forouhi NG, Gregory GA, Guo J, Hua X, Klatman EL, Magliano DJ, Ng BP, Ogilvie D, Panter J, Pavkov M, Shao H, Unwin N, White M, Wou C, Ma RCW, Schmidt MI, Ramachandran A, Seino Y, Bennett PH, Oldenburg B, Gagliardino JJ, Luk AOY, Clarke PM, Ogle GD, Davies MJ, Holman RR, Gregg EW. The Lancet Commission on diabetes: using data to transform diabetes care and patient lives. Lancet 2021; 396:2019-2082. [PMID: 33189186 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)32374-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 101.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana C N Chan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Asia Diabetes Foundation, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
| | - Lee-Ling Lim
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Asia Diabetes Foundation, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nicholas J Wareham
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan E Shaw
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Trevor J Orchard
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, KS, USA
| | - Ping Zhang
- Division of Diabetes Translation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric S H Lau
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Asia Diabetes Foundation, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Björn Eliasson
- Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alice P S Kong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Majid Ezzati
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; WHO Collaborating Centre on NCD Surveillance and Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Carlos A Aguilar-Salinas
- Departamento de Endocrinología y Metabolismo, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Margaret McGill
- Diabetes Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Naomi S Levitt
- Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Guang Ning
- Shanghai Clinical Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Department of Endocrinology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Wing-Yee So
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jean Adams
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paula Bracco
- School of Medicine and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nita G Forouhi
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gabriel A Gregory
- Life for a Child Program, Diabetes NSW and ACT, Glebe, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jingchuan Guo
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, KS, USA
| | - Xinyang Hua
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emma L Klatman
- Life for a Child Program, Diabetes NSW and ACT, Glebe, NSW, Australia
| | - Dianna J Magliano
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Boon-Peng Ng
- Division of Diabetes Translation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; College of Nursing and Disability, Aging and Technology Cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - David Ogilvie
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jenna Panter
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Meda Pavkov
- Division of Diabetes Translation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hui Shao
- Division of Diabetes Translation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nigel Unwin
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin White
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Constance Wou
- Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ronald C W Ma
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Maria I Schmidt
- School of Medicine and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ambady Ramachandran
- India Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr A Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai, India
| | - Yutaka Seino
- Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kansai Electric Power Hospital, Osaka, Japan; Yutaka Seino Distinguished Center for Diabetes Research, Kansai Electric Power Medical Research Institute, Kobe, Japan
| | - Peter H Bennett
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Brian Oldenburg
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; WHO Collaborating Centre on Implementation Research for Prevention and Control of NCDs, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Juan José Gagliardino
- Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada, UNLP-CONICET-CICPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Andrea O Y Luk
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Asia Diabetes Foundation, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Philip M Clarke
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Graham D Ogle
- Life for a Child Program, Diabetes NSW and ACT, Glebe, NSW, Australia; National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Melanie J Davies
- Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Rury R Holman
- Diabetes Trials Unit, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Edward W Gregg
- Division of Diabetes Translation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lattof SR, Maliqi B, Yaqub N, Jung AS. Private sector delivery of maternal and newborn health care in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e055600. [PMID: 34880027 PMCID: PMC8655548 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent studies have pointed to the substantial role of private health sector delivery of maternal and newborn health (MNH) care in low-/middle-income countries (LMICs). While this role has been partly documented, an evidence synthesis is missing. To analyse opportunities and challenges of private sector delivery of MNH care as they pertain to the new World Health Organization (WHO) strategy on engaging the private health service delivery sector through governance in mixed health systems, a more granular understanding of the private health sector's role and extent in MNH delivery is imperative. We developed a scoping review protocol to map and conceptualise interventions that were explicitly designed and implemented by formal private health sector providers to deliver MNH care in mixed health systems. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This protocol details our intended methodological and analytical approach following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. Seven databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, Excerpta Medica Database, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, WHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing) and two websites will be searched for studies published between 1 January 2002 and 1 June 2021. For inclusion, quantitative and/or qualitative studies in LMICs must report at least one of the following outcomes: maternal morbidity or mortality; newborn morbidity or mortality; experience of care; use of formal private sector care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum; and stillbirth. Analyses will synthesise the evidence base and gaps on private sector MNH service delivery interventions for each of the six governance behaviours. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval is not required. Findings will be used to develop a menu of private sector interventions for MNH care by governance behaviour. This study will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, working groups, webinars and partners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha R Lattof
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Blerta Maliqi
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Nuhu Yaqub
- Universal Health Coverage Life Course Cluster, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Anne-Sophie Jung
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Strong J, Lattof SR, Maliqi B, Yaqub N. Experiences of private sector quality care amongst mothers, newborns, and children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:1311. [PMID: 34872542 PMCID: PMC8647361 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06905-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Experience of care is a pillar of quality care; positive experiences are essential during health care encounters and integral to quality health service delivery. Yet, we lack synthesised knowledge of how private sector delivery of quality care affects experiences of care amongst mothers, newborns, and children. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review that examined quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies on the provision of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) care by private providers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This manuscript focuses on experience of care, including respectful care, and satisfaction with care. Methods Our protocol followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Searches were conducted in eight electronic databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, EconLit, Excerpta Medica Database, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Popline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science) and two websites and supplemented with hand-searches and expert recommendations. For inclusion, studies examining private sector delivery of quality care amongst mothers, newborns, and children in LMICs must have examined maternal, newborn, and/or child morbidity or mortality; quality of care; experience of care; and/or service utilisation. Data were extracted for descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results Of the 139 studies included, 45 studies reported data on experience of care. Most studies reporting experience of care were conducted in India, Bangladesh, and Uganda. Experiences of private care amongst mothers, newborns, and children aligned with four components of quality of care: patient-centeredness, timeliness, effectiveness, and equity. Interpersonal relationships with health care workers were essential to experience of care, in particular staff friendliness, positive attitudes, and time spent with health care providers. Experience of care can be a stronger determining factor in MNCH-related decision-making than the quality of services provided. Conclusion Positive experiences of care in private facilities can be linked more broadly to privileges of private care that allow for shorter waiting times and more provider time spent with mothers, newborns, and children. Little is known about experiences of private sector care amongst children. Trial registration This systematic review was registered with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (registration number CRD42019143383). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06905-3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joe Strong
- Department of International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton St, London, WC2A 2AE, UK
| | - Samantha R Lattof
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Avenue Appiah 20, CH-1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland.
| | - Blerta Maliqi
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Avenue Appiah 20, CH-1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland
| | - Nuhu Yaqub
- Child and Adolescent Health Unit, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Cite du Djoue, P.O.Box 06, Brazzaville, Congo
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Watson S. Pharmacies in informal settlements: a retrospective, cross-sectional household and health facility survey in four countries. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:945. [PMID: 34503501 PMCID: PMC8431901 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06937-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of variable quality. However, evidence on pharmacy use and availability is very limited for slum populations. METHODS We conducted household, individual, and healthcare provider surveys and qualitative observations on pharmacies and pharmacy use in seven slum sites in four countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). All pharmacies and up to 1200 households in each site were sampled. Adults and children were surveyed about their use of healthcare services and pharmacies were observed and their services, equipment, and stock documented. RESULTS We completed 7692 household and 7451 individual adults, 2633 individual child surveys, and 157 surveys of pharmacies located within the seven sites. Visit rates to pharmacies and drug sellers varied from 0.1 (Nigeria) to 3.0 (Bangladesh) visits per person-year, almost all of which were for new conditions. We found highly variable conditions in what constituted a "pharmacy" across the sites and most pharmacies did not employ a qualified pharmacist. Analgesics and antibiotics were widely available but other categories of medications, particularly those for chronic illness were often not available anywhere. The majority of pharmacies lacked basic equipment such as a thermometer and weighing scales. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacies are locally and widely available to residents of slums. However, the conditions of the facilities and availability of medicines were poor and prices relatively high. Pharmacies may represent a large untapped resource to improving access to primary care for the urban poor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam Watson
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
King JJC, Powell-Jackson T, Makungu C, Spieker N, Risha P, Mkopi A, Goodman C. Effect of a multifaceted intervention to improve clinical quality of care through stepwise certification (SafeCare) in health-care facilities in Tanzania: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet Glob Health 2021; 9:e1262-e1272. [PMID: 34363766 PMCID: PMC8370880 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00228-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality of care is consistently shown to be inadequate in health-care settings in many low-income and middle-income countries, including in private facilities, which are rapidly growing in number but often do not have effective quality stewardship mechanisms. The SafeCare programme aims to address this gap in quality of care, using a standards-based approach adapted to low-resource settings, involving assessments, mentoring, training, and access to loans, to improve clinical quality and facility business performance. We assessed the effect of the SafeCare programme on quality of patient care in faith-based and private for-profit facilities in Tanzania. METHODS In this cluster-randomised controlled trial, health facilities were eligible if they were dispensaries, health centres, or hospitals in the faith-based or private for-profit sectors in Tanzania. We randomly assigned facilities (1:1) using computer-generated stratified randomisation to receive the full SafeCare package (intervention) or an assessment only (control). Implementing staff and participants were masked to outcome measurement and the primary outcomes were measured by fieldworkers who had no knowledge of the study group allocation. The primary outcomes were health worker compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) practices as measured by observation of provider-patient interactions, and correct case management of undercover standardised patients at endline (after a minimum of 18 months). Analyses were by modified intention to treat. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, ISRCTN93644888. FINDINGS Between March 7 and Nov 30, 2016, we enrolled and randomly assigned 237 health facilities to the intervention (n=118) or control (n=119). Nine facilities (seven intervention facilities and two control facilities) closed during the trial and were not included in the analysis. We observed 29 608 IPC indications in 5425 provider-patient interactions between Feb 7 and April 5, 2018. Health facilities received visits from 909 standardised patients between May 3 and June 12, 2018. Intervention facilities had a 4·4 percentage point (95% CI 0·9-7·7; p=0.015) higher mean SafeCare standards assessment score at endline than control facilities. However, there was no evidence of a difference in clinical quality between intervention and control groups at endline. Compliance with IPC practices was observed in 8181 (56·9%) of 14 366 indications in intervention facilities and 8336 (54·7%) of 15 242 indications in control facilities (absolute difference 2·2 percentage points, 95% CI -0·2 to -4·7; p=0·071). Correct management occurred in 120 (27·0%) of 444 standardised patients in the intervention group and in 136 (29·2%) of 465 in the control group (absolute difference -2·8 percentage points, 95% CI -8·6 to -3·1; p=0·36). INTERPRETATION SafeCare did not improve clinical quality as assessed by compliance with IPC practices and correct case management. The absence of effect on clinical quality could reflect a combination of insufficient intervention intensity, insufficient links between structural quality and care processes, scarcity of resources for quality improvement, and inadequate financial and regulatory incentives for improvement. FUNDING UK Health Systems Research Initiative (Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, UK Department for International Development, Global Challenges Research Fund, and Wellcome Trust).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Peter Risha
- PharmAccess Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Tougher S, Hanson K, Goodman CA. Does subsidizing the private for-profit sector benefit the poor? Evidence from national antimalarial subsidies in Nigeria and Uganda. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2021; 30:2510-2530. [PMID: 34291524 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Subsidising quality-assured artemisinin combination therapies (QAACTs) for distribution in the for-profit sector is a controversial strategy for improving access. The Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) was the largest initiative of this kind. We assessed the equity of AMFm in two ways using nationally representative household survey data on care seeking for children from Nigeria and Uganda. First, the delivery of subsidized drugs through the for-profit sector via AMFm was compared with two alternative mechanisms: subsidized delivery in public health facilities and unsubsidized delivery in the for-profit sector. Second, we developed a novel extension of benefit incidence analysis (BIA) methods based on the concept of pass-through, and applied them to Uganda. In Nigeria, the use of subsidized QAACTs from both public health facilities and for-profit outlets was concentrated among the rich, while in Uganda, the use of QAACTs from both sources was concentrated among the poor. Similarly, the BIA of AMFm found that the intervention was pro-poor in Uganda. Unsubsidized antimalarials from for-profit outlets were distributed equally across wealth quintiles in both countries. Private sector subsidies may have a role in bolstering access to effective malaria treatments, including among the poor, but the equity impact of subsidies may depend on context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Tougher
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kara Hanson
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Catherine A Goodman
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bilgili F, Kuşkaya S, Khan M, Awan A, Türker O. The roles of economic growth and health expenditure on CO 2 emissions in selected Asian countries: a quantile regression model approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:44949-44972. [PMID: 33852118 PMCID: PMC8045018 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13639-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Continuous economic growth and the rise in energy consumption are linked with environmental pollution. Demand for health care expenditure increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is interesting in modeling the nexus between public and private health expenditure, carbon dioxide emissions, and economic growth. To this end, the present study analyzed the nexus between public and private health care expenditure, economic growth, and environmental pollution for 36 Asian countries for the period 1991-2017. FMOLS, GMM, and quantile regression analysis confirm the EKC hypothesis in Asia. Besides, FMOLS and quantile regressions reached the reducing effects of government and private health expenditures on CO2 emissions. While quantile regression results show that public and private health expenditures can mitigate CO2 emissions; however, these results differ for various levels of CO2. Findings of quantile regression show a significant impact of both public and private health expenditures in reducing CO2 at the 50th and 75th quantiles but results are insignificant for the 25th quantile. Overall, the paper concludes that both government and private health sectors' expenditures caused CO2 emissions to decrease in Asia and that the negative impact of the private health sector on CO2 emissions is greater than that of the government health sector. The concluding remark is that the higher the health spending, the higher the environmental quality will be in Asia. Hence, the health administrators need to increase public and private health expenditures with an effective cost-service and energy-efficient management approach to reach sustainable health services and a sustainable environment in Asia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faik Bilgili
- FEAS, Economics, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Sevda Kuşkaya
- Department of Law, Justice Vocational College, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Masreka Khan
- BRAC International, BRAC Centre, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212 Bangladesh
| | - Ashar Awan
- The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir – UAJ&K, University Old Campus, Muzaffarabad, 13100 Pakistan
- Social Sciences Institution, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Oguzhan Türker
- FEAS, Economics, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Moucheraud C, Guo H, Macinko J. Trust In Governments And Health Workers Low Globally, Influencing Attitudes Toward Health Information, Vaccines. Health Aff (Millwood) 2021; 40:1215-1224. [PMID: 34339250 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Trust, particularly during emergencies, is essential for effective health care delivery and health policy implementation. We used data from the 2018 Wellcome Global Monitor survey (comprising nationally representative samples from 144 countries) to examine levels and correlates of trust in governments and health workers and attitudes toward vaccines. Only one-quarter of respondents globally expressed a lot of trust in their government (trust was more common among people with less schooling, those living in rural areas, those who were financially comfortable, and those who were older), and fewer than half of respondents globally said that they trust doctors and nurses a lot. People's trust in these institutions was correlated with trust in health or medical advice from them, and with more positive attitudes toward vaccines. Vaccine enthusiasm varied substantially across regions, with safety being the most common concern. Policy makers should understand that the public may have varying levels of trust in different institutions and actors. Although much attention is paid to crafting public health messages, it may be equally important, especially during a pandemic, to identify appropriate, trusted messengers to deliver those messages more effectively to different target populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corrina Moucheraud
- Corrina Moucheraud is an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, in Los Angeles, California
| | - Huiying Guo
- Huiying Guo is a PhD student in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles
| | - James Macinko
- James Macinko is a professor in the Departments of Health Policy and Management and Community Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Appropriateness of Care for Common Childhood Infections at Low-Level Private Health Facilities in a Rural District in Western Uganda. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18157742. [PMID: 34360041 PMCID: PMC8345429 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
In Uganda, >50% of sick children receive treatment from primary level-private health facilities (HF). We assessed the appropriateness of care for common infections in under-five-year-old children and explored perspectives of healthcare workers (HCW) and policymakers on the quality of healthcare at low-level private health facilities (LLPHF) in western Uganda. This was a mixed-methods parallel convergent study. Employing multistage consecutive sampling, we selected 110 HF and observed HCW conduct 777 consultations of children with pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea or neonatal infections. We purposively selected 30 HCW and 8 policymakers for in-depth interviews. Care was considered appropriate if assessment, diagnosis, and treatment were correct. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses for quantitative data and deductive thematic analysis for qualitative data. The proportion of appropriate care was 11% for pneumonia, 14% for malaria, 8% for diarrhea, and 0% for neonatal infections. Children with danger signs were more likely to receive appropriate care. Children with diarrhea or ability to feed orally were likely to receive inappropriate care. Qualitative data confirmed care given as often inappropriate, due to failure to follow guidelines. Overall, sick children with common infections were inappropriately managed at LLPHF. Technical support and provision of clinical guidelines should be increased to LLPHF.
Collapse
|
32
|
Mulcahy P, Mahal A, McPake B, Kane S, Ghosh PK, Lee JT. Is there an association between public spending on health and choice of healthcare providers across socioeconomic groups in India? - Evidence from a national sample. Soc Sci Med 2021; 285:114149. [PMID: 34384624 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The role of public spending on health in reducing socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare is an emerging area of research, little supporting empirical evidence is available from low- and middle-income countries. This study examined: (1) the relationship between public spending on health per capita and the decision whether to seek healthcare or not, (2) the relationships between public spending on health per capita and choice of medical provider, and (3) whether these relationships varied by socioeconomic groups in India. Our study utilized the nationally representative 71st National Sample Survey of India, using 26,142 people who had been ailing in the past 15 days, the survey took place between the 1st of January and June 30, 2014. Two regression-based approaches were used to examine the association between public spending and choice of medical providers: (1) Multilevel multinomial regression; and (2) Instrumental variable regression. We examined the differential impacts of public spending on healthcare utilisation by socioeconomic groups. Increased public spending on health was not associated with changes in ailing people's decision whether to seek care or not (p > 0.05 in all analyses). However, increased public spending on health was associated with reductions in patients choosing private medical providers [adjusted odds ratio = 0.88 (95%CI 0.85-0.91) for outpatient private clinics] compared to outpatient government clinics. These associations may be greater among the lower economic groups compared with their counterparts. Across India, higher levels of government investment in health services are recognised by healthcare users and shown in their pattern of healthcare utilisation. That an increase in public spending on health results in a decrease in the use of private providers, particularly outpatient facilities with no inpatient capabilities, provides strong evidence for the effectiveness of 'regulation by competition'. This is a strong argument for focusing health system strengthening, and strategies for achieving universal healthcare on public investment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Mulcahy
- The Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Ajay Mahal
- The Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Barbara McPake
- The Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sumit Kane
- The Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - John Tayu Lee
- The Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Braimoh T, Danat I, Abubakar M, Ajeroh O, Stanley M, Wiwa O, Prescott MR, Lam F. Private health care market shaping and changes in inequities in childhood diarrhoea treatment coverage: evidence from the analysis of baseline and endline surveys of an ORS and zinc scale-up program in Nigeria. Int J Equity Health 2021; 20:88. [PMID: 33789694 PMCID: PMC8011378 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-021-01425-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nearly 90,000 under-five children die from diarrhoea annually in Nigeria. Over 90% of the deaths can be prevented with oral rehydration salt (ORS) and zinc treatment but coverage nationally was less than 34% for ORS and 3% for zinc with wide inequities. A program was implemented in eight states to address critical barriers to the optimal functioning of the health care market to deliver these treatments. In this study, we examine changes in the inequities of coverage of ORS and zinc over the intervention period. METHODS Baseline and endline household surveys were used to measure ORS and zinc coverage and household assets. Principal component analysis was used to construct wealth quintiles. We used multi-level logistic regression models to estimate predictive coverage of ORS and zinc by wealth and urbanicity at each survey period. Simple measures of disparity and concentration indices and curves were used to evaluate changes in ORS and zinc coverage inequities. RESULTS At baseline, 28% (95% CI: 22-35%) of children with diarrhoea from the poorest wealth quintile received ORS compared to 50% (95% CI: 52-58%) from the richest. This inequality reduced at endline as ORS coverage increased by 21%-points (P < 0.001) for the poorest and 17%-points (P < 0.001) for the richest. Zinc coverage increased significantly for both quintiles at endline from an equally low baseline coverage level. Consistent with the findings of the pairwise comparison of the poorest and the richest, the summary measure of disparity across all wealth quintiles showed a narrowing of inequities from baseline to endline. Concentration curves shifted towards equality for both treatments, concentration indices declined from 0.1012 to 0.0480 for ORS and from 0.2640 to 0.0567 for zinc. Disparities in ORS and zinc coverage between rural and urban at both time points was insignificant except that the use of zinc in the rural at endline was significantly higher at 38% (95%CI: 35-41%) compared to 29% (95%CI, 25-33%) in the urban. CONCLUSION The results show a pro-rural improvement in coverage and a reduction in coverage inequities across wealth quintiles from baseline to endline. This gives an indication that initiatives focused on shaping healthcare market systems may be effective in reducing health coverage gaps without detracting from equity as a health policy objective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiwadayo Braimoh
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, No. 62, KG5 Avenue, Kacyiru, Kigali, Rwanda.
| | - Isaac Danat
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
| | | | | | | | - Owens Wiwa
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Felix Lam
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Khalid F, Raza W, Hotchkiss DR, Soelaeman RH. Health services utilization and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures in public and private facilities in Pakistan: an empirical analysis of the 2013-14 OOP health expenditure survey. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:178. [PMID: 33632234 PMCID: PMC7905921 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06170-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As low- and middle-income countries progress toward Universal Health Coverage, there is an increasing focus on measuring out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure and health services utilization within countries. While there have been several reforms to improve health services coverage and financial protection in Pakistan, there is limited empirical research comparing OOP expenditure and health services utilization between public and private facilities and exploring their determinants, a knowledge gap addressed in this study. METHODS We used data from 2013 to 14 OOP Health Expenditure Survey, a population-based household survey carried out for Pakistan's National Health Accounts. The analysis included 7969 encounters from 4293 households. We conducted bivariate analyses to describe patterns of care utilization, estimated annualized expenditures by type and sector of care, and assessed expenditure composition. We used multivariable logistic regression modeling to identify factors associated with sector of care and generalized linear model (GLM) with log link and gamma distribution to identify determinants of OOP expenditures stratified by type of care (inpatient and outpatient). RESULTS Most encounters (82.5%) were in the private sector and were for outpatient visits (85%). Several public-private differences were observed in annualized expenditures and expenditure components. Logistic regression results indicate males, wealthier individuals, Punjab and Sindh residents, and those in smaller households were more likely to access private outpatient care. In the inpatient model, rural residents were more likely to use a private provider, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents were less likely to use private care. GLM results indicate private sector inpatient expenditures were approximately PKR 6660 (USD 61.8) higher than public sector expenditures, but no public-private differences were observed for outpatient expenditures. Several demographic factors were significantly associated with outpatient and inpatient expenditures. Of note, expenditures increased with increasing wealth, decreased with increasing household size, and differed by province and region. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study comprehensively investigating how healthcare utilization and OOP expenditures vary by sector, type of care, and socio-economic characteristics in Pakistan. The findings are expected to be particularly useful for the next phase of social health protection programs and supply side reforms, as they highlight sub-populations with higher OOP and private sector utilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F. Khalid
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana USA
- Present address:Universal Health Coverage/Health Systems Department, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Monazamet El Seha El Alamia Str, Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street, Nasr City, P.O. Box 7608, Cairo, 11371 Egypt
| | - W. Raza
- Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - D. R. Hotchkiss
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Dugle G, Kpinpuo SD, Ghartey BB. From paper to practice: an exploratory study of policy making and implementation in alternative forms of healthcare public-private partnership in Ghana. Int J Health Plann Manage 2021; 36:866-884. [PMID: 33617058 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been growing advocacy for public-private partnership (PPP) in healthcare in both policy and academic circles over the last 3 decades. However, our understanding of the tensions between the policy cycle and critical organisational trade-offs that characterise alternative forms of healthcare PPPs remains limited. In this paper, we use Walt and Gilson's policy analysis triangle to explore the policy and practice of two alternative models of healthcare PPPs-autonomous and integrative partnerships-at the sub-national level in Ghana, a typical case of a polycentric health management structure. The study is a sequential exploratory qualitative design, consisting of review of four policy documents and in-depth interviews with 13 key informants, comprising health managers from the regional and district health directorates, and medical directors of selected private health facilities. Our findings reveal that in spite of the natural potential of integrative PPP models to present a relatively stronger policy capacity to the private partner than autonomous models, the capacity of sub-national level public-private actors to participate in policy making and implementation remains very limited across both models. We further find that effective policy making and implementation requires significant governance attention to building the policy capacity of actors across vertical and horizontal levels of the partnership, regardless of the model of engagement. We suggest that this is achievable through instrumental multistakeholderism in PPP policy, planning and management. The paper contributes to developing understanding of the policy and practice of healthcare PPP in polycentric institutional settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Dugle
- Department of Management Studies, School of Business, S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana.,Centre for Health Innovation, Leadership and Learning, Nottingham University Business School, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham, UK
| | - Stephen Debar Kpinpuo
- Department of Management Studies, School of Business, S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Baisie Ghartey
- Department of Management Studies, School of Business, S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Chauhan A, Campbell C. Risk, trust and patients' strategic choices of healthcare practitioners. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2021; 43:82-98. [PMID: 33034906 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Research on patients' choice of healthcare practitioners has focussed on countries with regulated and controlled healthcare markets. In contrast, low- and middle-income countries have a pluralistic landscape where untrained, unqualified and unlicensed informal healthcare providers (IHPs) provide significant share of services. Using qualitative data from 58 interviews in an Indian village, this paper explores how patients choose between IHPs and qualified practitioners in the public and formal private sectors. The study found that patients' choices were structurally constrained by accessibility and affordability of care and choosing a practitioner from any sector presented some risk. Negotiation and engagement with risks depended on perceived severity of the health condition and trust in practitioners. Patients had low institutional trust in public and formal private sectors, whereas IHPs operated outside any institutional framework. Consequently, people relied on relational or competence-derived interpersonal trust. Care was sought from formal private practitioners for severe issues due to high-competence-based interpersonal trust in them, whereas for other issues IHPs were preferred due to high relationship-based interpersonal trust. The research shows that patients develop a strategic approach to practitioner choice by using trust to negotiate risks, and crucially, in low- and middle-income countries IHPs bridge a gap by providing accessible and affordable care imbued with relational-interpersonal trust.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Apurv Chauhan
- School of Applied Social Science (SASS), University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
| | - Catherine Campbell
- Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Ravindran TKS, Govender V. Sexual and reproductive health services in universal health coverage: a review of recent evidence from low- and middle-income countries. Sex Reprod Health Matters 2020; 28:1779632. [PMID: 32530387 PMCID: PMC7887992 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2020.1779632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
If universal health coverage (UHC) cannot be achieved without the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the population being met, what then is the current situation vis-à-vis universal coverage of SRH services, and the extent to which SRH services have been prioritised in national UHC plans and processes? This was the central question that guided this critical review of more than 200 publications between 2010 and 2019. The findings are the following. The Essential Package of Healthcare Services (EPHS) across many countries excludes several critical SRH services (e.g. safe abortion services, reproductive cancers) that are already poorly available. Inadequate international and domestic public funding of SRH services contributes to a sustained burden of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and inequities in access to SRH services. Policy and legal barriers, restrictive gender norms and gender-based inequalities challenge the delivery and access to quality SRH services. The evidence is mixed as to whether an expanded role and scope of the private sector improves availability and access to services of underserved populations. As momentum gathers towards SRH and UHC, the following actions are necessary and urgent. Advocacy for greater priority for SRH in government EPHS and health budgets aligned with SRH and UHC goals is needed. Implementation of stable and sustained financing mechanisms that would reduce the proportion of SRH-financing from OOPE is a priority. Evidence, moving from descriptive towards explanatory studies which provide insights into the "hows" and "whys" of processes and pathways are essential for guiding policy and programme actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T. K. Sundari Ravindran
- Principal Visiting Fellow, United Nations University, International Institute for Global Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Veloshnee Govender
- Scientist, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Honda A, Obse A. Payment Arrangements for Private Healthcare Purchasing Under Publicly Funded Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Issues and Implications. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2020; 18:811-823. [PMID: 31965556 PMCID: PMC7716847 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-019-00550-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This paper examines private healthcare purchasing under publicly financed health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to argue that the payment methods and rates applied to private and public health providers need careful attention to ensure equity, efficiency and quality in healthcare service provision. Specifically, public purchasers should develop a clear mechanism to establish justifiable payment rates for the purchase of private health services under publicly funded systems, using cost information and appropriate engagement with private health providers. In order to determine the validity of payment arrangements with private providers, clarification of the shared roles and responsibilities of public and private healthcare providers is required, including specification of types of services to be delivered by public and private providers, and the services for which public providers receive government budget and salaries above payments for other publicly funded services. In addition, carefully designed payment methods should include incentives to encourage healthcare providers to deliver efficient, equitable and quality health services, which requires consideration of how the healthcare purchasing market is structured. Furthermore, governments should establish sound legal frameworks to ensure that public purchasers establish 'strategic' payment arrangements with healthcare providers and that healthcare providers are able to respond to the incentives sent by the payment arrangements. To deepen understanding of public purchasing of private healthcare services and gain further insight in the LMIC context, in-depth empirical studies are necessary on the payment methods and rates used by public purchasers in a range of settings and the implications of payment arrangements on efficiency, equity and quality in healthcare service provision.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Honda
- Department of Economics, Sophia University, 7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8554, Japan.
| | - Amarech Obse
- Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Montagu D, Suchman L, Seefeld CA. Equity lessons from a large scale private-sector healthcare intervention in Ghana and Kenya: Results for a multi-year qualitative study. Gates Open Res 2020; 4:129. [PMID: 33134857 PMCID: PMC7520554 DOI: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13142.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The poor fall sick more frequently than the wealthy, and are less likely to seek care when they do. Private provision in many Low- and Middle-Income Countries makes up half or more of all outpatient care, including among poor paitents. Understanding the preferences of poor patients which impel them to choose private providers, and how 3
rd party payment influences these preferences, is important for policy makers considering expansion of national health insurance financing to advance Universal Health Coverage. This paper reports on the results of a qualitative evaluation of the African Health Markets for Equity intiative (AHME), a multi-year initiative in Ghana and Kenya to increase options and improve quality for outpatient services, especially for the poor. Methods: Interviews with patients from private clinics were conducted annually between 2013 and 2018. Field staff recruited women for exit interviews as they were leaving these clinics. In the final round of data collection (2018), interviewers screened patients for wealth quintile and selected one third of the sample (approximately 10 patients per country) that fell into the two lowest wealth quintiles (Q1 and Q2). Transcripts were coded using Atlas.ti and coded for analysis using an inductive, thematic approach. Results: We found four primary drivers of patient preferences for private clinics:
convenience; efficiency and predictability, perceived higher
quality, and
empowerment which was derived from greater choice in where to go. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that more options will lead to more opportunities for treatment, and decrease the percentage of those, mostly poor, who become ill and go without care of any kind. This should be considered as a priority by policy makers seeking to make the best use of existing national infrastructure and expertise to assure equal health for all. In this way, private providers offer an opportunity to advance national goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Montagu
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94157, USA
| | - Lauren Suchman
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94157, USA
| | - Charlotte Avery Seefeld
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94157, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Cowley P, Chu A. Comparison of Private Sector Hospital Involvement for UHC in the Western Pacific Region. Health Syst Reform 2020; 5:59-65. [PMID: 30924748 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2018.1545511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Cowley
- a Division of Health Systems , World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific , Manila , Philippines
| | - Annie Chu
- a Division of Health Systems , World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific , Manila , Philippines
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Oyeyemi AS, Oladepo O, Adeyemi AO, Titiloye MA, Burnett SM, Apera I. The potential role of patent and proprietary medicine vendors' associations in improving the quality of services in Nigeria's drug shops. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:567. [PMID: 32571381 PMCID: PMC7310190 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05379-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) play a major role in Nigeria's health care delivery but regulation and monitoring of their practice needs appreciable improvement to ensure they deliver quality services. Most PPMVs belong to associations which may be useful in improving their regulation. However, little is known about how the PPMV associations function and how they can partner with relevant regulatory agencies to ensure members' compliance and observance of good practice. This study sought to describe the PPMV associations' structure and operations and the regulatory environment in which PPMVs function. With this information we explore ways in which the associations could help improve the coverage of Nigeria's population with basic quality health care services. METHODS A mixed methods study was conducted across four rural local government areas (LGAs) (districts) in two Nigerian states of Bayelsa and Oyo. The study comprises a quantitative data collection of 160 randomly selected PPMVs and their shops, eight PPMV focus group discussions, in-depth interviews with 26 PPMV association executives and eight regulatory agency representatives overseeing PPMVs' practice. RESULTS The majority of the PPMVs in the four LGAs belonged to the local chapters of National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED). The associations were led by executive members and had regular monthly meetings. NAPPMED monitored members' activities, provided professional and social support, and offered protection from regulatory agencies. More than 80% of PPMVs received at least one monitoring visit in the previous 6 months and local NAPPMED was the organization that monitored PPMVs the most, having visited 68.8% of respondents. The three major regulators, who reached 30.0-36.3% of PPMVs reported lack of human and financial resources as the main challenge they faced in regulation. CONCLUSIONS Quality services at drug shops would benefit from stronger monitoring and regulation. The PPMV associations already play a role in monitoring their members. Regulatory agencies and other organizations could partner with the PPMV associations to strengthen the regulatory environment and expand access to basic quality health services at PPMV shops in Nigeria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abisoye S Oyeyemi
- Department of Community Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
| | - Oladimeji Oladepo
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Adedayo O Adeyemi
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Evaluation, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Musibau A Titiloye
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Sarah M Burnett
- Accordia Global Health Foundation, now Africare, Washington, DC, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Where Does Open Science Lead Us During a Pandemic? A Public Good Argument to Prioritize Rights in the Open Commons. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2020; 30:11-24. [PMID: 32498725 PMCID: PMC7378370 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180120000456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, open science has become central to experimental, public health, and clinical responses across the globe. Open science (OS) is described as an open commons, in which a right to science renders all possible scientific data for everyone to access and use. In this common space, capitalist platforms now provide many essential services and are taking the lead in public health activities. These neoliberal businesses, however, have a problematic role in the capture of public goods. This paper argues that the open commons is a community of rights, consisting of people and institutions whose interests mutually support the public good. If OS is a cornerstone of public health, then reaffirming the public good is its overriding purpose, and unethical platforms ought to be excluded from the commons and its benefits.
Collapse
|
43
|
Haque M, Islam T, Rahman NAA, McKimm J, Abdullah A, Dhingra S. Strengthening Primary Health-Care Services to Help Prevent and Control Long-Term (Chronic) Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2020; 13:409-426. [PMID: 32547272 PMCID: PMC7244358 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s239074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of long-term (chronic) non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing globally due to an ageing global population, urbanization, changes in lifestyles, and inequitable access to healthcare. Although previously more common in high- and upper-middle-income countries, lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) are more affected, with NCDs in LMICs currently accounting for 85–90% of premature deaths among 30–69 years old. NCDs have both high morbidity and mortality and high treatment costs, not only for the diseases themselves but also for their complications. Primary health care (PHC) services are a vital component in the prevention and control of long-term NCDs, particularly in LMICs, where the health infrastructure and hospital services may be under strain. Drawing from published studies, this review analyses how PHC services can be utilized and strengthened to help prevent and control long-term NCDs in LMICs. The review finds that a PHC service approach, which deals with health in a comprehensive way, including the promotion, prevention, and control of diseases, can be useful in both high and low resource settings. Further, a PHC based approach also provides opportunities for communities to better access appropriate healthcare, which ensures more significant equity, efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and timeliness, empowers service users, and helps healthcare providers to achieve better health outcomes at lower costs. ![]()
Point your SmartPhone at the code above. If you have a QR code reader the video abstract will appear. Or use: https://youtu.be/33l6gK1RNFo
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mainul Haque
- Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Tariqul Islam
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh
| | - Nor Azlina A Rahman
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, 25200, Malaysia
| | - Judy McKimm
- Swansea University School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Adnan Abdullah
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Sameer Dhingra
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Mount Hope, Trinidad & Tobago
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Jacobs B, Sam Oeun S, Ir P, Rifkin S, Van Damme W. Can social accountability improve access to free public health care for the poor? Analysis of three Health Equity Fund configurations in Cambodia, 2015–17. Health Policy Plan 2020; 35:635-645. [DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czaa019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractWithin the context of universal health coverage, community participation has been identified as instrumental to facilitate access to health services. Social accountability whereby citizens hold providers and policymakers accountable is one popular approach. This article describes one example, that of Community-Managed Health Equity Funds (CMHEFs), as an approach to community engagement in Cambodia to improve poor people’s use of their entitlement to fee-free health care at public health facilities. The objectives of this article are to describe the size of its operations and its ability to enable poor people continued access to health care. Using data collected routinely, we compare the uptake of curative health services by eligible poor people under three configurations of Health Equity Funds (HEFs) during a 24-month period (July 2015–June 2017): Standard HEF that operated without community engagement, Mature CMHEFs established years before the study period and New CMHEFs initiated just before the study period. One year within the study, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) stopped operating the HEF nationwide and only the community-participation aspects of New CMHEF continued receiving technical assistance from an NGO. Using utilization figures for curative services by non-poor people for comparison, following the cessation of HEF management by the NGOs, outpatient consultation figures declined for all three configurations in comparison with the year before but only significantly for Standard HEF. The three HEF configurations experienced a highly statistically significant reduction in monthly inpatient admissions following halting of NGO management of HEFs. This study shows that enhancing access to free health care through social accountability is optimized at health centres through engagement of a wide range of community representatives. Such effect at hospitals was only observed to a limited extent, suggesting the need for more engagement of hospital management authorities in social accountability mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bart Jacobs
- Social Health Protection Project, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Social Health Protection Network P4H, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sam Sam Oeun
- Buddhism for Health, National Road 1, Borey Peng Huoth, #64, St. P-10E Khan Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Por Ir
- Technical Bureau, National Institute of Public Health, lot no. 80, Samdach Penn Nouth Blvd (St. 289), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Susan Rifkin
- Distance Learning, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Wim Van Damme
- Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Atinga RA. Beyond wages: Why dual practice physicians discriminate care quality towards private patients in Ghana. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/20479700.2020.1756102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roger A. Atinga
- Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Makinde OA, Odimegwu CO. Compliance with disease surveillance and notification by private health providers in South-West Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 35:114. [PMID: 32637012 PMCID: PMC7320761 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.35.114.21188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Private health facilities are important contributors to health service delivery across several low and middle income countries. In Nigeria, they make up 33% of the health facilities, account for more than 70% of healthcare spending and over 60% of healthcare contacts are estimated to take place within them However, their level of participation in the disease surveillance system has been questioned. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 507 private health facilities in South-West Nigeria to investigate the level of compliance with disease surveillance reporting and the factors that affect their participation. Results We found only 40% of the private health facilities to be complying with routine disease surveillance reporting which ranged from 17% to 60% across the six states in the region. Thirty-four percent of the private health facilities had the requisite data collection tools, 49% had designated professionals assigned to health records management and only 7% of the clinicians could properly identify the three data collection tools for disease surveillance. Some important factors such as awareness of a law on disease surveillance (OR=1.55 95% CI=1.08-2.24), availability of reporting tools (OR=13.69, 95% CI=8.85-21.62), availability of a designated health records officer (OR=3.9, 95% CI=2.68-5.73), and health records officers (OR=10.51, 95%CI=2.86-67.70) and clinicians (OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.22-5.25) with knowledge of disease surveillance system were important predictive factors to compliance with disease surveillance participation. Conclusion Private health facilities are poorly compliant with disease surveillance in Nigeria resulting in missed opportunities for prompt identification and response to threats of infectious disease outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olusesan Ayodeji Makinde
- Demography and Population Studies Program, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Viable Knowledge Masters, Plot C114 (Platinum Plaza), First Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Clifford Obby Odimegwu
- Demography and Population Studies Program, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Jacobs B, Hui K, Lo V, Thiede M, Appelt B, Flessa S. Costing for universal health coverage: insight into essential economic data from three provinces in Cambodia. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2019; 9:29. [PMID: 31667671 PMCID: PMC6822335 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-019-0246-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge of the costs of health services improves health facility management and aids in health financing for universal health coverage. Because of resource requirements that are often not present in low- and middle-income countries, costing exercises are rare and infrequent. Here we report findings from the initial phase of establishing a routine costing system for health services implemented in three provinces in Cambodia. METHODS Data was collected for the 2016 financial year from 20 health centres (including four with beds) and five hospitals (three district hospitals and two provincial hospitals). The costs to the providers for health centres were calculated using step-down allocations for selected costing units, including preventive and curative services, delivery, and patient contact, while for hospitals this was complemented with bed-day and inpatient day per department. Costs were compared by type of facility and between provinces. RESULTS All required information was not readily available at health facilities and had to be recovered from various sources. Costs per outpatient consultation at health centres varied between provinces (from US$2.33 to US$4.89), as well as within provinces. Generally, costs were inversely correlated with the quantity of service output. Costs per contact were higher at health centres with beds than health centres without beds (US$4.59, compared to US$3.00). Conversely, costs for delivery were lower in health centres with beds (US$128.7, compared to US$413.7), mainly because of low performing health centres without beds. Costs per inpatient-day varied from US$27.61 to US$55.87 and were most expensive at the lowest level hospital. CONCLUSIONS Establishing a routine health service costing system appears feasible if recording and accounting procedures are improved. Information on service costs by health facility level can provide useful information to optimise the use of available financial and human resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bart Jacobs
- Social Health Protection Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ), c/o NIPH, No.2, Street 289, Khan Toul Kork, P.O. Box 1238, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Social Health Protection Network P4H, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Kelvin Hui
- Social Health Protection Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ), c/o NIPH, No.2, Street 289, Khan Toul Kork, P.O. Box 1238, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Veasnakiry Lo
- Department of Planning and Health Information, Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | - Bernd Appelt
- Social Health Protection Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ), c/o NIPH, No.2, Street 289, Khan Toul Kork, P.O. Box 1238, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Steffen Flessa
- Department of General Business Administration and Health Care Management, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Tumusiime P, Kwamie A, Akogun OB, Elongo T, Nabyonga-Orem J. Towards universal health coverage: reforming the neglected district health system in Africa. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001498. [PMID: 31681483 PMCID: PMC6797439 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In most African countries, the district sphere of governance is a colonial creation for harnessing resources from the communities that are located far away from the centre with the assistance of minimally skilled personnel who are subordinate to the central authority with respect to decision-making and initiative. Unfortunately, postcolonial reforms of district governance have retained the hierarchical structure of the local government. Anchored to such a district arrangement, the (district) health system (DHS) is too weak and impoverished to function in spite of enormous knowledge and natural resources for a seamless implementation of universal health coverage (UHC). Sadly, the quick-fix projects of the 1990s with the laudable intention to reduce the burden of disease within a specified time-point dealt the fatal blow on the DHS administration by diminishing it to a stop-post and a warehouse for commodities (such as bednets and vaccines) destined for the communities. We reviewed the situation of the district in sub-Saharan African countries and identified five attributes that are critical for developing a UHC-friendly DHS. In this analytical paper, we discuss decision-making authority, coordination, resource control, development initiative and management skills as critical factors. We highlight the required strategic shifts and recommend a dialogue for charting an African regional course for a reformed DHS for UHC. Further examination of these factors and perhaps other ancillary criteria will be useful for developing a checklist for assessing the suitability of a DHS for the UHC that Africa deserves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prosper Tumusiime
- Health Systems and Services Cluster, WHO Regional office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Aku Kwamie
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Oladele B Akogun
- Tropical Health and Diseases Research, Federal University of Technology Yola, Yola, Nigeria
- Common Heritage Foundation, Common Heritage Foundation, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Tarcisse Elongo
- Health Systems and Services Cluster, WHO Regional office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Juliet Nabyonga-Orem
- Health systems and services cluster, World Health Organization, Inter-Country Support Team for Eastern & Southern Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ir P, Jacobs B, Asante AD, Liverani M, Jan S, Chhim S, Wiseman V. Exploring the determinants of distress health financing in Cambodia. Health Policy Plan 2019; 34:i26-i37. [PMID: 31644799 PMCID: PMC6807511 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czz006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrowing is a common coping strategy for households to meet healthcare costs in countries where social health protection is limited or non-existent. Borrowing with interest, hereinafter termed distress health financing or distress financing, can push households into heavy indebtedness and exacerbate the financial consequences of healthcare costs. We investigated distress health financing practices and associated factors among Cambodian households, using primary data from a nationally representative household survey of 5000 households. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with distress health financing. Results showed that 28.1% of households consuming healthcare borrowed to pay for that healthcare with 55% of these subjected to distress financing. The median loan was US$125 (US$200 for loans with interest and US$75 for loans without interest). Approximately 50.6% of healthcare-related loans were to pay for the costs of outpatient care in the past month, 45.8% for inpatient care and 3.6% for preventive care in the past 12 months. While the average period to pay off the loan was 8 months, 78% of households were still indebted from loans taken over 12 months before the survey. Distress financing is strongly associated with household poverty-the poorer the household the more likely it is to borrow, fall into debt and unable to pay off the debt-even for members of the health equity funds, a national scheme designed to improve financial access to health services for the poor. Other determinants of distress financing were household size, use of inpatient care and outpatient consultations with private providers or with both private and public providers. In order to ensure effective financial risk protection, Cambodia should establish a more comprehensive and effective social health protection scheme that provides maximum population coverage and prioritizes services for populations at risk of distress financing, especially poorer and larger households.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Por Ir
- National Institute of Public Health, Lot No. 80, Street 289, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Bart Jacobs
- Social Health Protection Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ), Lot No. 80, Street 289, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Augustine D Asante
- School of Public Health & Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marco Liverani
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Pl, Kings Cross, London, UK
| | - Stephen Jan
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, 1 King St Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Srean Chhim
- National Institute of Public Health, Lot No. 80, Street 289, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Virginia Wiseman
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Pl, Kings Cross, London, UK
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, High St, Kensington NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Asante AD, Jacobs B, Wiseman V. Transforming health systems financing in Lower Mekong: making sure the poor are not left behind. Health Policy Plan 2019; 34:i1-i3. [PMID: 31644796 PMCID: PMC6807521 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czz098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Augustine D Asante
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Samuels Building, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bart Jacobs
- Social Health Protection Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), #2 Street 289, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Social Health Protection Network P4H #2 Street 289, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Virginia Wiseman
- Department of Global Health and Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15–17 Tavistock Pl, Kings Cross, London, UK
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Wallace Wurth Building, High St, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|