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Health Ministries (health + ministry)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	66%

Selected Abstracts

Cost-comparison of DDT and alternative insecticides for malaria control

MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
K. Walker
Summary In anti-malaria operations the use of DDT for indoor residual spraying has declined substantially over the past 30 years, but this insecticide is still considered valuable for malaria control, mainly because of its low cost relative to alternative insecticides. Despite the development of resistance to DDT in some populations of malaria vector Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), DDT remains generally effective when used for house-spraying against most species of Anopheles, due to excitorepellency as well as insecticidal effects. A 1990 cost comparison by the World Health Organization (WHO) found DDT to be considerably less expensive than other insecticides, which cost 2 to 23 times more on the basis of cost per house per 6 months of control. To determine whether such a cost advantage still prevails for DDT, this paper compares recent price quotes from manufacturers and WHO suppliers for DDT and appropriate formulations of nine other insecticides (two carbamates, two organophosphates and five pyrethroids) commonly used for residual house-spraying in malaria control programmes. Based on these ,global' price quotes, detailed calculations show that DDT is still the least expensive insecticide on a cost per house basis, although the price appears to be rising as DDT production declines. At the same time, the prices of pyrethroids are declining, making some only slightly more expensive than DDT at low application dosages. Other costs, including operations (labour), transportation and human safety may also increase the price advantages of DDT and some pyrethroids vs. organophosphates and carbamates, although possible environmental impacts from DDT remain a concern. However, a global cost comparison may not realistically reflect local costs or effective application dosages at the country level. Recent data on insecticide prices paid by the health ministries of individual countries showed that prices of particular insecticides can vary substantially in the open market. Therefore, the most cost-effective insecticide in any given country or region must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Regional coordination of procurement of public health insecticides could improve access to affordable products. [source]

Institutional design and the closure of public facilities in transition economies

THE ECONOMICS OF TRANSITION, Issue 3 2002
William Jack
As part of the reforms of their systems for financing and delivering health care, many transition economies, particularly in central and eastern Europe, have adopted national insurance funds that are institutionally separate from ministries of health. Most of these countries have also grappled with the problem of restructuring the delivery system, especially the need to reduce hospital capacity. Although improving the performance of medical care providers through a shift from passive budgeting to explicitly incentive mechanisms is important, why this change in financial relations between the government and providers could not be implemented simply by reforming the role of health ministries is not obvious. This paper presents an explicit rationale for the separation of powers between the regulator (the ministry of health) and the financing body (the insurance fund), based on the inability of a single agency to commit to closing hospitals. JEL classification: L51, P20, P35, I18. [source]

Increasing access to clinical and educational studies

CANCER, Issue S8 2006
Ronald E. Myers PhD
Abstract In 2001, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) provided funds to support the Increasing Access to Clinical and Educational Studies (ACES) Project of the Thomas Jefferson University, Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia. The ACES Project enabled the Center to engage in the systematic development of approaches for reducing cancer health disparities among African Americans in Philadelphia. This project brought together community partners, clinical partners, cancer prevention and control experts, and staff from an NCI-designated cancer center to develop and implement a community-based outreach education program, a special populations investigator (SPI) training program, and SPI pilot studies in cancer screening and clinical trials participation. At the end of 5 years, the ACES Project had 1) organized a steering committee, expert panel, and a network of community collaborators and clinical partners; 2) implemented a clinical trials education program for community-based nurses, lay health advocates active in community organizations, and health ministries in community churches; 3) mentored 4 SPIs in cancer prevention and control research; 4) completed SPI pilot studies; and 5) leveraged these activities to gain support for cancer health disparities related research. The Project established a successful dialogue between an NCI-designated cancer center and the African American population related to cancer research, and enabled SPIs from the community to adapt evidence-informed interventions for application in cancer prevention and control research. Lessons learned from the Project can guide the implementation of such projects in the future. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society. [source]

Role of volume outcome data in assuring quality in HPB surgery

HPB, Issue 5 2007
BERNARD LANGER
Abstract Many studies have shown an association between both surgeon and hospital operative procedure volumes and outcomes, particularly operative mortality. It is also recognized that volume is only one of a number of factors, including 1) surgeon training and experience, and 2) hospital resources, organization, and processes of care, which can also influence outcomes. The Surgical Oncology Program at Cancer Care Ontario has included hospital volumes in a set of standards for the conduct of major pancreatic cancer surgery, along with recommendations for surgeon training and hospital resources, organization, support services, and processes of care to encourage regionalization of major HPB surgery. Cooperation with these recommendations was encouraged by the public reporting of mortality data and by an educational program directed at both surgeons and senior administrators in Ontario hospitals with the support of the provincial health ministry. The provincial mortality rate from major pancreatic cancer surgery has decreased by more than 50% since the introduction of this program. [source]

Parish Nursing: Nurturing Body, Mind, Spirit, and Community

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 2 2003
Ingrid Brudenell R.N., Ph.D.
Abstract Parish nursing is a model of nursing care that focuses on health promotion and disease prevention within a faith community. A descriptive study was conducted in the intermountain West to determine how faith communities form parish nursing programs and what their effect is. Thirteen congregations representing eight denominations with parish nurse/health ministries participated. Parish nurses, parish nurse coordinators from two medical centers, pastors, and hospital chaplains (n = 24) were interviewed and provided documents from their programs. Over time, congregations formed parish nursing/health ministries using strategies in a developmental process. The process involved significant support from the pastor, congregation members, and the parish nurses. Collaboration between faith communities and health organizations were successful using a limited domain approach to attain specific health goals. Parish nursing is making a contribution to integrating faith and health practices, promoting health, and increasing accessibility to health care and congregational activities. Conclusions and recommendations are included for future research, practice, and education. [source]