National cancer control plans across the Eastern Mediterranean region: challenges and opportunities to scale-up.

National cancer control planning is crucial for countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. This region is challenged with an increase in cancer incidence leading to substantial disease burden, premature deaths, and increasing health-care costs in most countries. Huge inequity in cancer control planning and implementation exists between and within the countries. Over half of the countries (12 [55%] of 22) have standalone comprehensive National Cancer Control Plans and six (27%) have non-communicable disease plans that include cancer. The implementation of cancer plans has common challenges related to weak governance structure, few coordination mechanisms within countries, and inadequate human and financial resources. In most countries, the plan is not costed. Yet, the majority of countries (20 [91%]) reported having fully or partially funded plans. Additionally, political instability and conflicts affecting over half of the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region have enormously affected cancer planning and implementation, both among the affected countries and those that host large numbers of refugees. In this Policy Review, we used the WHO regional framework for action on cancer to systematically analyse the status of cancer control planning and implementation across the six domains of cancer control, from prevention to palliation. We highlight the gaps, and the opportunities for bridging these gaps, to achieve scale-up on implementation of cancer control programmes in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

COVID-19 in Vietnam: A lesson of pre-preparation.

BACKGROUND: Vietnam was slowing the spread of COVID-19 to 200 cases by the end of March. From perspective of a relatively vulnerable healthcare systems, timely interventions were implemented to different stage of pandemic progress to limit the spread. METHOD: The authors compiled literature on different public health measures in Vietnam in compared to the progression of COVID-19 from January to March 2020. RESULTS: Three stages of pandemic progression of COVID-19 were recorded in Vietnam. At 213 confirmed cases under treatment and isolation, a range of interventions were enforced including intensive and expansive contact, mass testing, isolation, and sterilization. Many were in place before any case were reported. CONCLUSION: Preparation were key for Vietnam's healthcare system in the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 pandemic.

Impacto de la Ley de Dependencia sobre el gasto autonómico en servicios sociales / Impact of the Dependency Act on regional spending on social services

OBJETIVO: En este trabajo se cuestiona si el desarrollo del Sistema de Autonomía y Atención a la Dependencia (SAAD) contribuyó a incrementar el volumen de recursos del sistema público de servicios sociales (efecto desplazamiento) o, por el contrario, si dicho desarrollo se produjo a costa del resto de prestaciones de servicios sociales (efecto sustitución). MÉTODO: Se realiza una aproximación de datos de panel, orientada a explicar el comportamiento del gasto per cápita en servicios sociales para las comunidades autónomas españolas de régimen común en el periodo 2002-2016. RESULTADOS: La introducción del SAAD se asocia con un incremento del 14% en el gasto por habitante en servicios sociales. Este efecto se acerca al 25% cuando la variable explicada es el gasto en transferencias corrientes de carácter social. También se constata que los cambios legislativos introducidos en 2012 y 2013 se asociaron a una reducción del gasto per cápita en transferencias corrientes del 10%. CONCLUSIONES: Esta evidencia refutaría la hipótesis de que el SAAD ha originado meramente un efecto de «sustitución» en el gasto autonómico en servicios sociales

OBJECTIVE: In this paper we address whether the System for Personal Autonomy and Care of Dependent Persons contributes to increasing the volume of resources of the public social services system (displacement effect) or, on the contrary, whether this development has taken place at the expense of other social services (substitution effect). METHOD: Panel data analysis is used to explain how per capita expenditure on social services evolves in the Spanish Regions under the common regime in the period 2002-2016. RESULTS: The implementation of the Dependency Act is associated with a 14% increase in the level of per capita expenditure on social services. This effect raises 25% when the variable explained is expenditure on current transfers of a social nature. On the other hand, law changes introduced in 2012 and 2013 were associated with a reduction in per capita expenditure on current transfers of around 10%. CONCLUSIONS: This evidence would refute the hypothesis that the System for Personal Autonomy and Care of Dependent Persons had merely a "substitution" effect on autonomous spending on social services

La nutrición de yodo en España. Necesidades para el futuro / Iodine nutrition status in Spain Needs for the future

Aunque la nutrición de yodo en España ha mejorado en los últimos años, el problema no está resuelto del todo. Es preciso que las Instituciones sanitarias establezcan medidas para garantizar que la nutrición de yodo de toda la población sea la adecuada, especialmente entre los colectivos de mayor riesgo (niños y adolescentes, mujeres en edad fértil, mujeres embarazadas y madres lactantes). Debe aconsejarse un bajo consumo de sal, pero que esta sea yodada. También es imprescindible que las agencias de control alimentario establezcan un control efectivo sobre una adecuada yodación de la sal. En las futuras encuestas de salud debería incluirse indicadores sobre la nutrición de yodo. El estudio EUthyroid y la Declaración de Cracovia sobre la nutrición de yodo brindan una oportunidad para establecer un plan paneuropeo para la prevención de la deficiencia de yodo que debería ser considerada y aprovechada por las autoridades sanitarias

Although iodine nutrition in Spain has improved in recent years, the problem is not completely resolved. It is necessary that health institutions establish measures to ensure an adequate iodine nutrition of the population, especially among the highest risk groups (children and adolescents, women of childbearing age, pregnant women and nursing mothers). A low salt intake should be advised, but it should be iodized. It is also imperative that food control agencies establish effective control over adequate iodization of salt. Indicators on iodine nutrition should be included in future health surveys. The EUthyroid study and the Krakow Declaration on iodine nutrition provide an opportunity to set up a pan-European plan for the prevention of iodine deficiency that should be considered and used by health authorities

Momento normativo dos Planos Nacionais de Saúde do Brasil e do Canadá à luz de Mario Testa / Normative moment of National Health Plans of Brazil and Canada in the light of Mario Testa

RESUMO O estudo objetivou comparar as principais diretrizes dos Planos Nacionais de Saúde do Brasil e do Canadá à luz de Mario Testa. Foram analisados o momento normativo de ambos os documentos, considerando as diretrizes dos planos citados, analisadas de acordo com as estratégias do pensamento estratégico abordadas por Mario Testa. Foi utilizado o programa Atlas.ti, explorando como categorias de análise as palavras-chave que identificam cada uma das diretrizes, assim como as três estratégias: institucionais, programáticas e sociais. Como principais resultados, encontrou-se que os planos nacionais de saúde do Brasil e do Canadá convergem quanto às palavras-chave referentes às ações de cuidado diretamente, apesar de o país norte-americano planejar um maior número de atividades de vigilância sanitária em relação ao Brasil. Ambos os países norteiam o momento normativo do planejamento por meio de estratégias programáticas, as quais têm caráter intersetorial no cenário brasileiro. As divergências apontam para a atuação intersetorial no Brasil e para a organização da assistência com níveis hierárquicos de atenção à saúde bem delimitados. No entanto, o predomínio de estratégias programáticas no Canadá permite inferir que esse cenário goza de consolidação dos processos decisórios, bem como assegura os direitos sociais da população, resultando em estratégias institucionais e sociais pontuais.

ABSTRACT The study aims to compare the main guidelines of the National Health Plans of Brazil and Canada in the light of Mario Testa. The normative moment of both documents were compared, considering the guidelines of the mentioned plans, analyzed according to the strategies of strategic thinking addressed by Mario Testa. The Atlas.ti program was used, exploring as analysis categories the keywords that identify each of the guidelines, as well as the three strategies: institutional, programmatic, and social. As main results, we find that the national health plans of Brazil and Canada converge on the keywords related to care actions directly, although the North American country plans a greater number of health surveillance activities compared to Brazil. Both countries guide the normative moment of planning through programmatic strategies, which are intersectoral in the Brazilian scenario. Differences point to intersectoral action in Brazil and the organization of care with well-defined hierarchical levels of health care. However, the predominance of programmatic strategies in Canada allows us to infer that this scenario enjoys the consolidation of decision-making processes, as well as ensuring the social rights of the population, resulting in specific institutional and social strategies.

Core elements of national cancer control plans: a tool to support plan development and review.

When developed and implemented effectively, national cancer control plans (NCCPs) improve cancer outcomes at the population level. However, many countries do not have a high-quality, operational NCCP, contributing to disparate cancer outcomes globally. Until now, a standard reference of NCCP core elements has not been available to guide development and evaluation across diverse countries and contexts. In this Policy Review, we describe the methods, process, and outcome of an initiative to develop an itemised and evidence-based comprehensive checklist of core elements for NCCP formulation. The final list provides a ready-to-use guide to support NCCP development and to facilitate internal and external critical appraisal of existing NCCPs for countries of all income levels and settings. Governments, policy makers, and stakeholders can utilise this checklist, while considering their own unique contexts and priorities, from the drafting through to the implementation of NCCPs.

Developing governance models and funding mechanisms of state-civil society partnerships for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention based on lessons from Ghana.

The contribution of civil society organisations (CSOs) to national HIV/AIDS responses in sub-Saharan African countries, with Global Health Initiatives' (GHIs) funding channelled through National AIDS Commissions (NACs), is well researched. Less well understood are the governance models and funding mechanisms being used to successfully engage CSOs in the HIV/AIDS response. Using data from government, donor, CSO and documentary sources, this article characterises the organisational principles and practices and unique funding models adopted by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) to effectively and efficiently engage CSOs in the HIV/AIDS response. It found four major governance principles and practices that target: 1) strategic planning for service delivery; 2) focussed expressions of interest; 3) competitive tendering and contracting for service delivery; and 4) adoption of results-based management. It also identified three predominant funding models that illustrate the application of these guiding principles to harness the inherent strengths of CSOs to more effectively respond to HIV/AIDS, namely: 1) direct funding of locally-based CSOs; 2) funding international and national NGOs to engage local CSOs in partnership; and 3) funding umbrella organisations. These findings are significant for Ghana but they may also have relevance for other low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) that have limited experience delivering HIV/AIDS services through state-civil society partnerships, as well as broader debates on the role of donors, governments and CSOs working in partnership to fight HIV/AIDS.

The evolution of New Zealand's health workforce policy and planning system: a study of workforce governance and health reform.

INTRODUCTION: While considerable attention has been given to improving health workforce planning practice, few articles focus on the relationship between health workforce governance and health reform. By outlining a sequence of health reforms, we reveal how New Zealand's health workforce governance and practices came under pressure, leading to a rethink and the introduction of innovative approaches and initiatives. CASE DESCRIPTION: New Zealand's health system was quite stable up to the late 1980s, after which 30 years of structural and system reform was undertaken. This had the effect of replacing the centralised medically led health workforce policy and planning system with a market-driven and short-run employer-led planning approach. The increasing pressures and inconsistencies this approach produced ultimately led to the re-centralisation of some governance functions and brought with it a new vision of how to better prepare for future health needs. While significant gain has been made implementing this new vision, issues remain for achieving more effective innovation diffusion and improved integrated care orientations. DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION: The case reveals that there was a failure to consider the health workforce in almost all of the reforms. Health and workforce policy became increasingly disconnected at the central and regional levels, leading to fragmentation, duplication and widening gaps. New Zealand's more recent workforce policy and planning approach has adopted new tools and techniques to overcome these weaknesses that have implications for the workforce and service delivery, workforce governance and planning methodologies. However, further strengthening of workforce governance is required to embed the changes in policy and planning and to improve organisational capabilities to diffuse innovation and respond to evolving roles and team-based models of care. CONCLUSION: The case reveals that disconnecting the workforce from reform policy leads to a range of debilitating effects. By addressing how it approaches workforce planning and policy, New Zealand is now better placed to plan for a future of integrated and team-based health care. The case provides cues for other countries considering reform agendas, the most important being to include and consider the health workforce in health reform processes.

Lei n. 141/2012 e seus aspectos: Respostas aos que questionamentos dos estados

Foi publicada no dia 13 de janeiro de 2012 a Lei Complementar n. 141, que regulamenta a Emenda Constitucional n. 29, com a definição sobre a aplicação de recursos em ações e serviços de saúde por parte da União, estados e Distrito Federal, e municípios brasileiros. Ela também esclarece critérios de rateio de recursos e transferências para a saúde, assim como para fiscalização, avaliação e controle das despesas nas três esferas de governo e revoga dispositivos das leis n. 8.080, de setembro de 1990, e n. 8.698, de julho de 1993. Tendo em vista a importância da Lei para a gestão do SUS, o CONASS promoveu uma reunião ampliada entre a sua Câmara Técnica de Gestão e Financiamento (CTGF), o Ministério da Saúde e especialistas em orçamento público, no dia 6 de março de 2012, em Brasília/DF.

Lei n. 141/2012 e seus aspectos: Transparência e visibilidade

Foi publicada no dia 13 de janeiro de 2012 a Lei Complementar n. 141, que regulamenta a Emenda Constitucional n. 29, com a definição sobre a aplicação de recursos em ações e serviços de saúde por parte da União, estados e Distrito Federal, e municípios brasileiros. Ela também esclarece critérios de rateio de recursos e transferências para a saúde, assim como para fiscalização, avaliação e controle das despesas nas três esferas de governo e revoga dispositivos das leis n. 8.080, de setembro de 1990, e n. 8.698, de julho de 1993. Tendo em vista a importância da Lei para a gestão do SUS, o CONASS promoveu uma reunião ampliada entre a sua Câmara Técnica de Gestão e Financiamento (CTGF), o Ministério da Saúde e especialistas em orçamento público, no dia 6 de março de 2012, em Brasília/DF.

Experiências NE: Rio Grande do Norte

Estado da arte do processo de REVISÃO DA PORTARIA GM/MS n°2.914/2011

Moonshot to Cancer Cure: Recruiting Policy to Break Down Silos.

Funded by the 21st Century Cures Act, The Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative is broad, deep, integrative, and intended to expediently address cancer's most vexing problems. Launched in 2015, it is an effort to accelerate the pace of cancer research with a focus on breaking down silos through cross-pollination of research, recruitment of multidisciplinary clinical and basic science research teams, sharing of complex scientific databases, and the creation of public-private research partnerships. This audacious approach to cancer treatment is intended to alleviate the current burden of cancer within countries and across borders. At its core is the rapid development of safe drug therapies across different disciplines through the employment of genomics, targeted proteomics with predictive analytics, and other emerging drug therapies. It will use expansive patient registries and increase early access to clinical trials. The initiative is cocooned in forward-thinking drug policies that consider the specific needs of all oncology stakeholder groups both nationally and internationally.

National cancer control plans: a global analysis.

There is increasing global recognition that national cancer plans are crucial to effectively address the cancer burden and to prioritise and coordinate programmes. We did a global analysis of available national cancer-related health plans using a standardised assessment questionnaire to assess their inclusion of elements that characterise an effective cancer plan and, thereby, improve understanding of the strengths and limitations of existing plans. The results show progress in the development of cancer plans, as well as in the inclusion of stakeholders in plan development, but little evidence of their implementation. Areas of continued unmet need include setting of realistic priorities, specification of programmes for cancer management, allocation of appropriate budgets, monitoring and evaluation of plan implementation, promotion of research, and strengthening of information systems. We found that countries with a non-communicable disease (NCD) plan but no national cancer control plan (NCCP) were less likely than countries with an NCCP and NCP plan or an NCCP only to have comprehensive, coherent, or consistent plans. As countries move towards universal health coverage, greater emphasis is needed on developing NCCPs that are evidence based, financed, and implemented to ensure translation into action.

Planning for large epidemics and pandemics: challenges from a policy perspective.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Less than two decades into the 21st century, the world has already witnessed numerous large epidemics or pandemics. These events have highlighted inadequacies in both national and international capacity for outbreak prevention, detection, and response. Here, we review some of the major challenges from a policy perspective. RECENT FINDINGS: The most important challenges facing policymakers include financing outbreak preparedness and response in a complex political environment with limited resources, coordinating response efforts among a growing and diverse range of national and international actors, accurately assessing national outbreak preparedness, addressing the shortfall in the global biomedical workforce, building surge capacity of both human and material resources, balancing investments in public health and curative services, building capacity for outbreak-related research and development, and reinforcing measures for infection prevention and control. SUMMARY: In recent years, numerous epidemics and pandemics have caused not only considerable loss of life but also billions of dollars of economic loss. Although the events have served as a wake-up call and led to the implementation of relevant policies and counter-measures, such as the Global Health Security Agenda, many questions remain and much work to be done. Wise policies and approaches for outbreak control exist, but will require the political will to implement them.