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1.
BMC Health Serv Res ; 23(1): 885, 2023 Aug 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37608275

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is a direct financial investment that funds Primary Healthcare (PHC) to improve the quality of services. This study assessed the influence of the BHCPF in improving PHC services. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among PHC workers in 100 facilities randomly selected from the 484 designated PHCs for implementing the BHCPF project in Kano state. Using multiple sampling methods, 200 healthcare workers in PHC facilities were selected and assisted by trained data collectors to respond to the questionnaires. Chi-square analysis was used to show associated factors, while binary regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between factors influencing the BHCPF implementation in PHC. RESULT: The findings showed healthcare workers had higher awareness (61.7%) and good utilization (57.1%) of BHCPF. Challenges of the BHCPF implementation were insufficiently skilled health professionals (85%), lack of data management capacity (52.6%), low community participation and awareness (52.0%), delay in releasing funds (60.7%), poor infrastructure (87.8%), and weak financial management and accountability system (58.2%). Healthcare professionals having a diploma were four times more likely to have the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) in their facilities (AOR = 4.955, 95% CI = 1.120-21.036; P-value 0.035) than those without. Primary healthcare facilities were two times more likely to have the NHMIS (AOR = 2.549, 95% CI = 1.167-5.566: P-value 0. 019) than health post. CONCLUSION: The factors that influenced PHC facilities to promote the implementation of BHCPF included: periodic evaluation of the facilities, availability of functional storage facilities, and improving the standard of care in PHC facilities. There is a need for retraining healthcare workers and creating more community awareness of the BHCPF.


Subject(s)
Financial Management , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Nigeria , Primary Health Care , Delivery of Health Care
2.
Saúde debate ; 47(137): 76-89, abr.-jun. 2023. tab, graf
Article in Portuguese | LILACS-Express | LILACS | ID: biblio-1450462

ABSTRACT

RESUMO Discute-se o Fundo de Saúde do município de São Paulo, destacando a apropriação dos seus recursos pelo setor privado, especialmente pelas Organizações Sociais (OS). Para tanto, a primeira parte apresenta os fundamentos mais gerais do Fundo Público. A segunda parte analisa a trajetória histórica do Fundo Municipal de Saúde e a utilização de seus recursos, em grande medida, para o financiamento da atenção básica, via Programa de Saúde da Família, executado pelas OS. A terceira apresenta as características das OS, analisando a evolução da apropriação dos recursos do Fundo de Saúde entre 2011 e 2021. Percebe-se que os recursos do Fundo de Saúde passam a ser cada vez mais apropriados por essas entidades de caráter privado, apresentando uma tendência de crescimento, alcançando um patamar de 89,2% do total dos recursos em 2021. Desse modo, constata-se o movimento de mercantilização implícita, marcado pela lógica de ampliação dos mecanismos de mercado no Sistema Único de Saúde municipal.


ABSTRACT The Health Fund of the municipality of São Paulo has been discussed, highlighting the appropriation of its resources by the private sector, especially by Social Organizations (OS). To this end, the first part presents the more general foundations of the Public Fund. The second part analyzes the historical trajectory of the Municipal Health Fund and the use of its resources, to a large extent, to finance primary care, via the Family Health Program executed by the OS. The third part presents the characteristics of the OS, analyzing the evolution of the appropriation of resources of the Health Fund between 2011 and 2021. It can be seen that the Health Fund resources are increasingly appropriated by these private entities, with a growing trend, reaching a level of 89.2% of total resources in 2021. Thus, the movement of implicit mercantilization is verified, marked by the logic of expansion of market mechanisms in the municipal Unified Health System.

3.
J Pharm Policy Pract ; 15(1): 106, 2022 Dec 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36582002

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In low- and middle-income countries, too, public-private partnerships in health insurance schemes are crucial for improving access to health services. Problems in the public supply chain of medicines often lead to medicine stock-outs which then negatively influence enrolment in and satisfaction with health insurance schemes. To address this challenge, the government of Tanzania embarked on a redesign of the Community Health Fund (CHF) and established a Prime Vendor System (Jazia PVS). Informal and rural population groups, however, rely heavily on another public-private partnership, the Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs). This study takes up this public demand and explores the potentials, pitfalls, and modalities for linking the improved CHF (iCHF) with ADDOs. METHODS: This was a qualitative exploratory study employing different methods of data collection: in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. RESULTS: Study participants saw a great potential for linking ADDOs with iCHF, following continuous community complaints about medicine stock-out challenges at public health facilities, a situation that also affects the healthcare staff's working environment. The Jazia PVS was said to have improved the situation of medicine availability at public health facilities, although not fully measuring up to the challenge. Study participants thought linking ADDOs with the iCHF would not only improve access to medicine but also increase member enrolment in the scheme. The main pitfalls that may threaten this linkage include the high price of medicines at ADDOs that cannot be accommodated within the iCHF payment model and inadequate digital skills relevant for communication between iCHF and ADDOs. Participants recommended linking ADDOs with the iCHF by piloting the connection with a few ADDOs meeting the selected criteria, while applying similar modalities for linking private retail outlets with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). CONCLUSIONS: As the government of Tanzania is moving toward the Single National Health Insurance Fund, there is a great opportunity to link the iCHF with ADDOs, building on established connections between the NHIF and ADDOs and the lessons learnt from the Jazia PVS. This study provides insights into the relevance of expanding public-private partnership in health insurance schemes in low- and middle-income countries.

4.
Res Econ ; 76(3): 163-169, 2022 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35855736

ABSTRACT

This study examines the importance of incorporating public sector efficiency considerations in the design of a "COVID Fund" in the euro area, aimed at providing insurance for member states against common health shocks. To test our proposition, we examine the efficiency of government spending on health during periods of severe resource constraints, which mirrors what occurs during pandemics like COVID-19. Specifically, we considered 19 administrations in the euro area during the global financial crisis and euro area sovereign debt crisis that followed. The results support our proposition. First, they reveal the average efficiency for all 19 administrations to be 0.950, which implies that member countries had wasted about 5% of funds allocated to health during this period. This suggests the need for the supranational institution to first of all ensure improvements in the use of public funds allocated to health by national governments in order to prevent wastage of the financial aid transferred to them during pandemics. Also, two of the four administrations that adopted the Economic and Financial Adjustment Programme of the troika (Portugal and Greece) during the twin crisis were among the most efficient. This suggest that making conditionalities an integral part of the central coordination of health funds during pandemics will result in improvements in the efficiency of funds transferred to member states.

5.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35565000

ABSTRACT

Community-based health insurance schemes help households to afford healthcare services. This paper describes healthcare facilities and community factors that are associated with the Improved Community Health Fund (iCHF) scheme in the Ubungo district of Tanzania. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using online questionnaires that were completed by healthcare providers and community members in public-owned healthcare facilities in the Ubungo Municipal Council district of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between October and November 2021. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-squared test of association. We found a statistically significant relationship between income level and satisfaction with the iCHF scheme. For community-related factors, income level was statistically significant in the level of involvement in iCHF implementation among local leaders. Further, income level was statistically significant in relation to community behavior/culture toward the iCHF. Occupation was statistically significant in iCHF implementation, iCHF premiums, and iCHF membership size. A statistically significant relationship was also found between income, iCHF membership size, and iCHF premiums. Moreover, people would be willing to pay the required premiums if the quality of the healthcare services under the iCHF scheme improves. Therefore, the government should allocate resources to reduce the challenges that are facing iCHF implementation, such as the preference for a user fee scheme over the iCHF, the issues that are faced by enrollment officers, and inadequate iCHF premiums and membership size.


Subject(s)
Community-Based Health Insurance , Financial Management , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Public Health , Tanzania
6.
BMC Public Health ; 21(1): 1, 2021 Jan 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33388037

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Micro-health insurance (MHI) has been identified as a possible interim solution to foster progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Still, MHI schemes suffer from chronically low penetration rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Initiatives to promote and sustain enrolment have yielded limited effect, yet little effort has been channelled towards understanding how such initiatives are implemented. We aimed to fill this gap in knowledge by examining heterogeneity in implementation outcomes and their moderating factors within the context of the Redesigned Community Health Fund in the Dodoma region in Tanzania. METHODS: We adopted a mixed-methods design to examine implementation outcomes, defined as adoption and fidelity of implementation (FOI) as well as their moderating factors. A survey questionnaire collected individual level data and a document review checklist and in-depth interview guide collected district level data. We relied on descriptive statistics, a chi square test and thematic analysis to analyse our data. RESULTS: A review of district level data revealed high adoption (78%) and FOI (77%) supported also by qualitative interviews. In contrast, survey participants reported relatively low adoption (55%) and FOI (58%). Heterogeneity in adoption and FOI was observed across the districts and was attributed to organisational weakness or strengths, communication and facilitation strategies, resource availability (fiscal capacity, human resources and materials), reward systems, the number of stakeholders, leadership engagement, and implementer's skills. At an individual level, heterogeneity in adoption and FOI of scheme components was explained by the survey participant's level of education, occupation, years of stay in the district and duration of working in the scheme. For example, the adoption of job description was statistically associated with occupation (p = 0.001) and wworking in the scheme for more than 20 months had marginal significant association with FOI (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that assessing the implementation processes helps to detect implementation weaknesses and therefore address such weaknesses as the interventions are implemented or rolled out to other settings. Attention to contextual and individual implementer elements should be paid in advance to adjust implementation strategies and ensure greater adoption and fidelity of implementation.


Subject(s)
Financial Management , Public Health , Humans , Poverty , Tanzania , Universal Health Insurance
7.
Glob Health Action ; 13(1): 1841962, 2020 12 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33236698

ABSTRACT

Background: Health care systems in developing countries such as Tanzania depend heavily on out-of-pocket payments. This mechanism contributes to inefficiency, inequity and cost, and is a barrier to patients seeking access to care. There are efforts to expand health insurance coverage to vulnerable groups, including older adults, in Sub-Saharan African countries. Objective: To analyse the association between health insurance and health service use in rural residents aged 60 and above in Tanzania. Methods: Data were obtained from a household survey conducted in the Nzega and Igunga districts. A standardised survey instrument from the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health was used. This comprised of questions regarding demographic and socio-economic characteristics, health and insurance status, health seeking behaviours, sickness history (three months and one year prior to the survey), and the receipt of health care. A multistage sampling method was used to select wards, villages and respondents in each district. Local ward and hamlet officers guided the researchers in identifying households with older people. Crude and adjusted logistic regression methods were used to explore associations between health insurance and outpatient and inpatient health care use. Results: The study sample comprised 1,899 people aged 60 and above of whom 44% reported having health insurance. A positive statistically significant association between health insurance and the utilisation of outpatient and inpatient care was observed in all models. The odds of using outpatient (adjusted OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.54, 3.14) and inpatient services (adjusted OR = 3.20; 95% CI: 2.46, 4.15) were higher among the insured. Conclusion: Health insurance is a predictor of outpatient and inpatient health services in people aged 60 and above in rural Tanzania. Further research is needed to understand the perceptions of both the insured and uninsured regarding the quality of care received.


Subject(s)
Health Services , Insurance, Health , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delivery of Health Care , Humans , Middle Aged , Tanzania
8.
BMJ Glob Health ; 4(5): e001735, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31637026

ABSTRACT

Countries have implemented a range of reforms in health financing and provision to advance towards universal health coverage (UHC). These reforms often change the role of a ministry of health (MOH) in traditionally unitary national health service systems. An exploratory comparative case study of four upper middle-income and high-income countries provides insights into how these reforms in pursuit of UHC are likely to affect health governance and the organisational functioning of an MOH accustomed to controlling the financing and delivery of healthcare. These reforms often do not result in simple transfers of responsibility from MOH to other actors in the health system. The resulting configuration of responsibilities and organisational changes within a health system is specific to the capacities within the health system and the sociopolitical context. Formal prescriptions that accompany reform proposals often do not fully represent what actually takes place. An MOH may retain considerable influence in financing and delivery even when reforms appear to formally shift those powers to other organisational units. MOHs have limited ability to independently achieve fundamental system restructuring in health systems that are strongly subject to public sector rules and policies. Our comparative study shows that within these constraints, MOHs can drive organisational change through four mechanisms: establishing a high-level interministerial team to provide political commitment and reduce institutional barriers; establishing an MOH 'change team' to lead implementation of organisational change; securing key components of systemic change through legislation; and leveraging emerging political change windows of opportunity for the introduction of health reforms.

9.
BMJ Open ; 9(7): e025673, 2019 07 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31352409

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the utilisation (overall and by specialty) and the characteristics of second-opinion seekers by insurance type (either health fund or supplementary insurance) in a mixed private-public healthcare. DESIGN: An observational study. SETTING: Secondary care visits provided by a large public health fund and a large supplementary health insurance in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: The entire sample included 1 392 907 patients aged 21 years and above who visited at least one specialist over an 18 months period, either in the secondary care or privately via the supplementary insurance. OUTCOMES MEASURES: An algorithm was developed to identify potential second-opinion instances in the dataset using visits and claims data. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify characteristics of second-opinion seekers by the type of insurance they used. RESULTS: 143 371 (13%) out of 1 080 892 patients who had supplementary insurance sought a single second opinion, mostly from orthopaedic surgeons. Relatively to patients who sought second opinion via the supplementary insurance, second-opinion seekers via the health fund tended to be females (OR=1.2, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.23), of age 40-59 years (OR=1.36, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.42) and with chronic conditions (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.18). In contrast, second-opinion seekers via the supplementary insurance tended to be native-born and established immigrants (OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.84), in a high socioeconomic level (OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.37 to 0. 4) and living in central areas (OR=0.88, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Certain patient profiles tended to seek second opinions via the supplementary insurance more than others. People from the centre of the country and with a high socioeconomic status tended to do so, as medical specialists tend to reside in central urban areas. Further research is recommended to examine the availability of medical specialists by specialty and residence.


Subject(s)
Insurance, Health , Medicine , Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Algorithms , Delivery of Health Care , Female , Humans , Israel , Male , Middle Aged , Private Sector , Public Sector
10.
Front Public Health ; 6: 200, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30083533

ABSTRACT

Background: A special health fund was established in Nigeria in 2014 and is known as the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The fund is equivalent to at least 1% of the Consolidated Revenue of the Federation. The BHCPF will provide additional revenue to fund primary healthcare services and help Nigeria to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). This fund is to be matched with counterpart funds from states and local government areas (LGAs), and is expected to provide at least a basic benefit health package that will cover maternal and child health (MCH) services for pregnant women and under-five children. Objective: To determine the financial feasibility of using the BHCPF to provide a minimum benefit package to cover all pregnant women and under-five children in Nigeria. Methods: The study focused on three states in Nigeria: Imo, Kaduna, and Niger. The feasibility analysis was performed using 3 scenarios but the main analysis was Scenario 1, which was based on the funding of drugs and consumables only. All the costs and revenues were in 2015 levels. The standard costs of a minimum benefit package for the different states were multiplied by the number of target beneficiaries to determine the amount required for the year. Financial feasibility is determined by the excess or otherwise of revenue over costs. Findings: It was found that in the best case funding scenario of using 95% of the CRF with 25% counterpart funding from states and LGAs, the entire available funds were not adequate to cover the benefit package for all the pregnant women and under-five children in the three states. The funds were also inadequate to cover the target beneficiaries that live below the poverty line in two of the states. Conclusion: The BHCPF is a good step toward providing essential MCH services, but the current level of funding will not assure UHC for all the target beneficiaries. However, the available funds should be used immediately to target priority mothers and children such as vulnerable groups, whilst sourcing for additional funds to ensure universal coverage of MCH services.

11.
Int J Health Plann Manage ; 33(1): 121-135, 2018 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28066918

ABSTRACT

The need to understand how an intervention is received by the beneficiary community is well recognised and particularly neglected in the micro-health insurance (MHI) domain. This study explored the views and reactions of the beneficiary community of the redesigned Community Health Fund (CHF) implemented in the Dodoma region of Tanzania. We collected data from focus group discussions with 24 groups of villagers (CHF members and nonmembers) and in-depth interviews with 12 key informants (enrolment officers and health care workers). The transcribed material was analysed thematically. We found that participants highly appreciate the scheme, but to be resolved are the challenges posed by the implementation strategies adopted. The responses of the community were nested within a complex pathway relating to their interaction with the implementation strategies and their ongoing reflections regarding the benefits of the scheme. Community reactions ranged from accepting to rejecting the scheme, demanding the right to receive benefit packages once enrolled, and dropping out of the scheme when it failed to meet their expectations. Reported drivers of the responses included intensity of CHF communication activities, management of enrolment procedures, delivery of benefit packages, critical features of the scheme, and contextual factors (health system and socio-political context). This study highlights that scheme design and implementation strategies that address people's needs, voices, and values can improve uptake of MHI interventions. The study adds to the knowledge base on implementing MHI initiatives and could promote interests in assessing the response to interventions within the MHI domain and beyond.


Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Community Health Services/organization & administration , Healthcare Financing , Rural Health Services/organization & administration , Community Health Services/economics , Health Personnel , Humans , Insurance, Health/organization & administration , Interviews as Topic , Qualitative Research , Rural Health Services/economics , Tanzania
12.
Bio sci. (En línea) ; 1(1): 10-14, 2018. tab.
Article in Spanish | LILACS | ID: biblio-1050093

ABSTRACT

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de artritis reumatoidea en pacientes que asisten del policlínico 3 de abril CNS del municipio de Camargo. Se trata de un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, tranversal realizado en los meses de marzo del año 2017 a marzo de 2018, con 81 pacientes asegurados a la C.N.S. que acudieron al laboratorio. Entre los resultados se obtuvo que existe una prevalencia del 20% de artritis reumatoide, siendo más prevalente ne la población de sexo femenino (63%) y entre las edades de 66 a 75 años


The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in patients attending the polyclinic april 3 CNS of the municipality of camargo. This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in the months of march 2017 to march 2018, with 81 patients insured to the C.N.S. they went to the lab. Among the results it was obtained that there is a 20% prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, being more prevalent in the female population (63%) and between the ages of 66 to 75 years


Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
13.
Int J Health Policy Manag ; 6(5): 257-265, 2017 05 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28812813

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In early 1990s, Tanzania like other African countries, adopted health sector reform (HSR). The most strongly held centralisation system that informed the nature of services provision including health was, thus, disintegrated giving rise to decentralisation system. It was within the realm of HSR process, user fees were introduced in the health sector. Along with user fees, various types of health insurances, including the Community Health Fund (CHF), were introduced. While the country's level of enrolment in the CHF is low, there are marked variations among districts. This paper highlights the role of decentralised health management and leadership practices in the uptake of the CHF in Tanzania. METHODS: A comparative exploratory case study of high and low performing districts was carried out. In-depth interviews were conducted with the members of the Council Health Service Board (CHSB), Council Health Management Team (CHMT), Health Facility Committees (HFCs), in-charges of health facilities, healthcare providers, and Community Development Officers (CDOs). Minutes of the meetings of the committees and district annual health plans and district annual implementation reports were also used to verify and triangulate the data. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the collected data. We employed both inductive and deductive (mixed coding) to arrive to the themes. RESULTS: There were no differences in the level of education and experience of the district health managers in the two study districts. Almost all district health managers responsible for the management of the CHF had attended some training on management and leadership. However, there were variations in the personal initiatives of the top-district health leaders, particularly the district health managers, the council health services board and local government officials. Similarly, there were differences in the supervision mechanisms, and incentives available for the health providers, HFCs and board members in the two study districts. CONCLUSION: This paper adds to the stock of knowledge on CHFs functioning in Tanzania. By comparing the best practices with the worst practices, the paper contributes valuable insights on how CHF can be scaled up and maintained. The study clearly indicates that the performance of the community-based health financing largely depends on the personal initiatives of the top-district health leaders, particularly the district health managers and local government officials. This implies that the regional health management team (RHMT) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) should strengthen supportive supervision mechanisms to the district health managers and health facilities. More important, there is need for the MoHSW to provide opportunities for the well performing districts to share good practices to other districts in order to increase uptake of the community-based health insurance.


Subject(s)
Community Health Services/economics , Financing, Organized/organization & administration , Health Plan Implementation/economics , Insurance, Health/organization & administration , Politics , Efficiency, Organizational , Health Personnel/economics , Health Services Accessibility/economics , Humans , Leadership , Organizational Case Studies , Tanzania
14.
Ann Agric Environ Med ; 24(2): 190-193, 2017 May 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28664692

ABSTRACT

[b] Abstract Objective.[/b] The aim of the study was an assessment of direct costs of patients hospitalised for for skin adverse drug reactions during 2002-2012 in the Department of Dermatology at the Military Institute of Medicine (Ministry of Defence) in Warsaw. The analysis was carried out from the perspectives of the public payer and service provider. [b]Materials and method. [/b]The retrospective study was carried out in a group of 164 adult patients due to skin adverse drug reactions. Analysis was based on data from patient medical records and medical orders which provided information on the used resources, including diagnostic tests, medical consultations, medicinal products, hospitalisation duration, together with cost estimation, regardless of the treatment being the cause of the skin reaction. [b]Results[/b]. According to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems(ICD) diagnosis and scores, assigned by the National Healthcare Fund, it has been estimated that patient hospitalisation at the Department of Dermatology for skin drug reaction incurred costs at the average amount of €717.00 per patient. The complex diagnostics and pharmacotherapy of the same group of patients generated costs for the hospital at the average amount of €680 per patient. [b]Conclusions[/b]. As a result of the analysis, the therapy for skin adverse drug effects generates significant costs, both for the payer and the service provider. Since the costs are comparable, it seems that the pricing of medical procedures by the public payer is adequate for the costs incurred by the medical service provider.


Subject(s)
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/economics , Skin Diseases/economics , Adult , Cost of Illness , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/etiology , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/therapy , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pharmaceutical Preparations/economics , Retrospective Studies , Skin Diseases/etiology , Skin Diseases/therapy , United States
15.
Kardiol Pol ; 74(9): 1016-24, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27112942

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension (AH) represents a public health problem in Poland, firstly due to the huge, still growing population of patients (10.45 million patients based on NATPOL 2011 and PolSenior Surveys), and secondly because of the substantial cost of reimbursement from the National Health Fund (NHF). The most commonly used drugs in the treatment of AH include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), the latter being associated with significantly higher unit reimbursement cost. Recent meta-analyses of randomised, controlled trials indicate that there is no medical reason to favour ARBs over ACEIs in AH treatment. AIM: To assess the clinical benefit of using ACEIs instead of ARBs and to calculate the potential savings for the payer and patients associated with changing the treatment paradigm to preferential use of ACEIs. METHODS: The assessment of clinical consequences includes differences between ACEIs and ARBs in terms of average life expectancy and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. The impact of these drugs on general mortality was estimated based on the meta-analysis carried out by van Vark et al. in 2012. Patients' health-related quality of life was adjusted with Polish population utility norms derived for the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire and additionally for ACEI-induced cough-related utility decrease. Potential savings for the payer on a yearly basis were calculated for a hypothetical cohort of patients who are currently treated with ARBs and might be switched to ACEIs. The number of patients treated with ARBs and ACEIs was estimated based on NHF and IMS Health data. RESULTS: ACEIs were associated with a statistically significant 10% reduction in all-cause mortality, which results in extra life gained of 0.354 years (4.2 months) or an additional 0.201 QALY (2.4 months). Potential annual savings could amount to 112.0 million PLN (25.7 million EUR) and 10.5 million PLN (2.4 million EUR) for the public payer (NHF) and patients, respectively; and 1768 cardiovascular deaths per year could be prevented. CONCLUSIONS: Preferential use of ACEIs in comparison with ARBs in the treatment of AH is associated with substantial extension of life (including quality-adjusted life), reduction of cardiovascular deaths, and savings for the NHF and patients.


Subject(s)
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Hypertension/drug therapy , Life Expectancy , Quality-Adjusted Life Years , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/economics , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/economics , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Hypertension/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Poland , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
16.
Glob Health Action ; 8: 29648, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26679408

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the implementation of various initiatives to address low enrollment in voluntary micro health insurance (MHI) schemes in sub-Saharan Africa, the problem of low enrollment remains unresolved. The lack of process evaluations of such interventions makes it difficult to ascertain whether their poor results are because of design failures or implementation weaknesses. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we describe a process evaluation protocol aimed at opening the 'black box' to evaluate the implementation processes of the Redesigned Community Health Fund (CHF) program in the Dodoma region of Tanzania. DESIGN: The study employs a cross-sectional mixed methods design and is being carried out 3 years after the launch of the Redesigned CHF program. The study is grounded in a conceptual framework which rests on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Implementation Fidelity Framework. The study utilizes a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools (questionnaires, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and document review), and aligns the evaluation to the Theory of Intervention developed by our team. Quantitative data will be used to measure program adoption, implementation fidelity, and their moderating factors. Qualitative data will be used to explore the responses of stakeholders to the intervention, contextual factors, and moderators of adoption, implementation fidelity, and sustainability. DISCUSSION: This protocol describes a systematic process evaluation in relation to the implementation of a reformed MHI. We trust that the theoretical approaches and methodologies described in our protocol may be useful to inform the design of future process evaluations focused on the assessment of complex interventions, such as MHI schemes.


Subject(s)
Insurance, Health/statistics & numerical data , Program Evaluation/methods , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Focus Groups , Humans , Insurance, Health/economics , Interviews as Topic , Poverty , Public Health , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tanzania
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