Identifying beneficiaries for user fee waivers: ethical challenges in public health.

Shortages in the public budget for government health services led to the adoption of a system of user fees for healthcare in many developing countries. The Government of India introduced user charges in public health services on a pilot basis as a part of its health sector reforms in the late 1990s and early 2000. A major criticism of user charges relates to 'equity'. Full waiver of the fees has been recommended for the poor to ensure equitable access to services. Waiver is a right conferred on an individual that entitles him/her to obtain health services in certain health facilities at no direct charge or at a reduced price.

Modelo multidimensional para o controle da dengue: uma proposta com base na reprodução social e situações de riscos / Multidimensional model for dengue control: a proposal based on social reproduction and risk situations

O objetivo do artigo consiste em apresentar e discutir um modelo compreensivo/explicativo, de caráter ecossistêmico, sobre o processo de transmissão da dengue nos níveis de micro e macrocontexto, a partir da identificação das situações de riscos envolvidas. Considerou-se a dengue como doença infecciosa viral de transmissão vetorial que traz, na sua dinâmica de transmissão, elementos das dimensões biológicas, de conduta, ecológicas, políticas e econômicas, o que a caracteriza como um problema complexo e exige um enfoque sistêmico para seu controle. Assim, para a construção da modelagem, utilizaram-se o enfoque teórico da reprodução social de Juan Samaja e seus condicionantes de macro e microcontexto, e o enfoque operativo ecossistêmico, que buscou responder à pergunta condutora desta construção: quais são as situações de risco para transmissão da dengue, considerando as diversas dimensões da "reprodução social da saúde" no nível local? A visão ampliada das inter-relações entre as diversas situações de risco envolvidas na determinação multidimensional da dengue poderá servir como eixo direcionador para uma gestão integrada das ações do programa de controle da doença, articuladas entre os diversos setores envolvidos.

This paper aims to present and discuss a comprehensive / explanatory model, of ecosystem approach, on the process of transmission of dengue in the levels of micro and macro context, from the identification of the risks involved. Dengue was considered a viral infectious disease of vectorial transmission that carries on its transmission dynamics, elements of the biological, behavioral, ecological, political and economic dimensions, that make it a complex problem and require a systemic approach to its control. Thus, for the construction of modeling, we used the theoretical framework of social reproduction of Juan Samaja and its conditions of macro and micro-context, and the operating ecosystem approach, which sought to answer the question driving this construction: what are the risk situations for the transmission of dengue, considering the different dimensions of "social reproduction of health" at the local level? The enlarged view of the interrelationships among the various risk situations involved in determining multidimensional dengue could guide the integrated management of actions of a disease control program, coordinated by the several sectors involved.

A Comparison of Smoking Control Strategies in Korea and the United States / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to compare smoking control strategies between Korea and the United States. Korea and other developing countries may learn from the experience of the United States in dealing with the growing epidemic of cigarettes. In particular, smoking control objectives, structures, laws and regulations, funds, programs and activities, research, and surveillance systems were compared. The comparison was conducted at the federal, states/provincial, and county levels of the two countries. The data were collected through various governmental websites, contact with people directly, and a literature review. Based on the comparison, seven recommendations for smoking control strategies were made primarily for Korea.

Coverage and costs of mass immunization of an oral cholera vaccine in Vietnam.

The objective of this study was to describe a mass-immunization campaign of a locally-produced oral, killed whole-cell cholera vaccine in Hue city, Vietnam. Mass immunization with a 2-dose regimen of the vaccine was conducted in 13 communes in early 1998. The total, age- and sex-specific vaccine coverage was calculated using data from the vaccination records and the government census. The number of vaccine doses procured, administered, wasted, and left over, and the human and other resources required to prepare and conduct the vaccination campaign were systematically recorded. Government expenditure for planning, procurement, and delivery of the vaccine were documented. In total, 118,555 (79%) of the 49,557 targeted population were fully vaccinated during the mass-vaccination campaign. The total expenditure for the project was US dollar 105,447, resulting in a cost per fully-vaccinated person of US dollar 0.89. Mass immunization with this locally-produced oral, killed cholera vaccine was found to be feasible and affordable with attainment of high vaccination coverage.