ISPRM discussion paper: proposing dimensions for an International Classification System for Service Organization in Health-related Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: Rehabilitation is 1 of 4 main health strategies. The World Report on Disability identifies deficits in rehabilitation care for people with disabilities as an important barrier to full inclusion in society or to achieve optimal functioning. In order to overcome such deficits, to close gaps in national and/or regional rehabilitation systems, and to develop appropriate rehabilitation services, it is crucial to define uniform criteria and a widely accepted language to describe and classify rehabilitation services. The aim of this paper was therefore to develop a list of dimensions and categories to describe the organization of health-related rehabilitation services. METHODS: The classification is based on a series of expert workshops including members of the International and European Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. RESULTS: The proposed classification has 2 levels (dimensions and categories). The upper level distinguishes 3 dimensions: the service provider (with 9 categories), the funding of the service (with 3 categories), and the service delivery (8 subcategories). A further specification of the categories in a 3-level classification (including value sets) is needed. CONCLUSION: This paper is an intermediate step towards development of a classification system with distinct categories and dimensions.

Energy, climate, food and health.

On June 3-5, 2008, international organizations and heads of state met in Rome to discuss the critical situation in global food supplies and prices during the World Food Crisis Summit. The intent of this column is to provide approaches to identifying the complex issues that impact public health, public safety, and nutrition on a global basis. The Web sites selected provide a background for the complex issues involved (energy, climate and environment, agriculture, and politics) and reveal controversial and competing agendas with many far-reaching implications.

[The transition from 'international' to 'global' public health and the World Health Organization]. / A transição de saúde pública 'internacional' para 'global' e a Organização Mundial de Saúde.

Within the context of international public health, 'global health' seems to be emerging as a recognized term of preference. This article presents a critical analysis of the meaning and importance of 'global health' and situates its growing popularity within a historical context. A specific focus of this work is the role of the World Health Organization - WHO in both 'international' and 'global' health, and as na agent of transition from one to the other. Between 1948 and 1998, the WHO went through a period of hardship as it came up against an organizational crisis, budget cuts and a diminished status, especially when confronted with the growing influence of new, power players like the World Bank. We suggest that the WHO has responded to this changing international context by inititating its own process of restructuring and repositioning as an agent for coordinating, strategically planning and leading 'global health' initiatives.

Dead letter or living document? Ten years of the Code of Conduct for disaster relief.

This paper examines the present value of the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief, in view of discussions on neutrality and the Western bias of the humanitarian aid system, and assesses how it can retain its relevance in future. The Code of Conduct was launched just after the Rwanda genocide of April 1994. A decade later, the crises in Afghanistan and Iraq have sparked renewed interest in humanitarian principles and in whether the code can serve as an instrument to define humanitarianism and guide humanitarian decision-making and coordination. More than 300 organisations have now subscribed to it. This paper is based on the findings of a survey of code signatories and the outcomes of a conference on the value and future of the code, held in The Hague, Netherlands, in September 2004 to mark its tenth anniversary.

The landscape in global tobacco control research: a guide to gaining a foothold.

Smoking prevalence is shifting from more- to less-developed countries. In higher-income countries, smoking surveillance data, tailored treatments, public health campaigns, and research-based policy implementation have led to a decrease in tobacco use. In low- and middle-income countries, translating research into practice and policy is integral for tobacco control. We describe the landscape of existing resources, both financial and structural, to support global tobacco control research and strengthen research capacity in developing countries. We identify key organizations that support international efforts, provide examples of partnerships between developed and developing countries, and make recommendations for advancing global tobacco research. There is a need for increased commitment from organizations to support global tobacco control research.

Carbon black should not be classified as a human carcinogen based on rodent bioassay data.

Numerous epidemiology studies have failed to adequately demonstrate an increased risk of lung cancer due to occupational exposure to carbon black (CB). CB is not carcinogenic to mice (oral, skin or inhalation), hamsters (inhalation or intratracheal), guinea pigs (inhalation), rabbits (skin or inhalation), primates (skin or inhalation) or rats (oral). Only studies conducted by inhalation and intratracheal administration in rats have shown significant increases in benign and malignant lung tumors and lesions described as benign cystic keratinizing squamous-cell (KSC) tumors. CB-induced lung tumor formation, including KSC lesions, occurs only in rats. An expert panel reviewing KSC lesions (induced in rats by TiO2 or p-aramid) concluded that KSC lesions are not seen in humans. Lung tumors in humans are primarily located in the bronchial airways, whereas in the rat they occur in the parenchyma and are alveolar in origin. This species-specific response (tumor formation and KSC lesions) by the rat to CB, not seen in any other laboratory species and which has not been reported in humans, strongly suggests that the results of the rat inhalation bioassay should not be considered directly relevant when assessing human risk. Therefore, CB should not be classified as carcinogenic to humans based on the rodent bioassay data.

Dental aid organisations: baseline data about their reality today.

AIM: To collect basic data about non-governmental dental aid organisations on a global scale and thus contribute to a better understanding of their diversity, activities and limitations. METHODS: Data was collected through a mailed questionnaire to all organisations listed by the FDI World Dental Federation. A second questionnaire was e-mailed to those organisations identified as non-governmental organisations (NGO) by the first questionnaire. FINDINGS: The response rate to the first questionnaire to detect NGOs was 36.2%, to the second e-mailed form 84.4%. About two thirds of NGOs originated in developed countries, one third responded from developing countries. The majority had been established after 1980. Developed countries dental NGOs tended to have larger membership and disposed of greater budgets. In general, income was generated predominantly from donations and own resources. The workforce was primarily based on volunteers. High priority activities: service provision, education and training, technical assistance, community development. Measures for quality assurance showed low complexity. Frequent areas of problems were associated with funding and staff. Collaborative links with other stakeholders in development were weak and focussed on information exchange. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for NGOs, donors, FDI and future research are developed.

Asi piensan los Bolivianos No.81 Los Organismos Internacionales / Thus think the Bolivians No.81 The International Organizations

El trabajo se asienta sobre una encuesta efectuada a hogares de todo nivel socio-economico, en eleje central: La Paz,El Alto,Cochabamba y Santa Cruz.Los organismos internacionales han jugado en la vida del país un papel fundamental,no solo por el aporte económico que ofrecen constantemente,sino por su activa participación en el desarrollo.(au)