2017–19 governmental decisions to allow home use of misoprostol for early medical abortion in the UK

Home use of misoprostol for early medical abortion has long been an established practice in several countries. It is a safe, effective, and dignified means of obtaining a legal abortion, with a low risk of complications. In the UK, however, the practice has only recently been permitted. Prior to the change, women were required to attend a clinic to be observed taking the drug, before being discharged to go home and see through the process. The requirement to attend a clinic was a result of political rather than medical reasoning; a desire not to provoke pro-life groups. It also highlighted an inconsistency whereby misoprostol was prescribed for home use to women who had suffered an incomplete miscarriage. Failure to permit home use of misoprostol for early medical abortion has caused women to suffer trauma when experiencing the effects of the drug when returning home from clinics, in addition to acting as an obstacle to access for women living in remote areas with no nearby clinic. Through an overview of recent developments in UK abortion policy, I demonstrate the lack of good, medical reasons for the delayed change. Further, I suggest appropriate future steps to be taken by policymakers.     

Effective vaccine management through social behavior change communication: Exploring solutions using a participatory action research approach in the Solomon Islands

Addressing vaccine management bottlenecks, including high vaccine wastage rates, has traditionally been addressed through health worker training and other didactic methods of technical assistance or support as required. It has been shown, though, that the high level of technical skills, expertise, and responsibility required in vaccine handling and management cannot be achieved by mere didactic learning. While gains have been made in vaccine management and handling with these approaches, there remain challenges of high vaccine wastage rates and poor vaccine management practices across the board. Interestingly, approaching vaccine management through social behavior change has not been documented. Through Participatory Action Research (PAR), which is increasingly being used in health sciences, we explore an attempt at strengthening vaccine management and thus reducing high vaccine wastage rates by working together with health workers to identify plausible, realistic solutions to vaccine management through social behavior change. Select health workers directly involved with the immunization program in the four major provinces of the Solomon Islands were identified purposively to use action media and come up with concepts and materials for social behavior change communication that will have an impact on effective vaccine management and reducing wastages. This is the first documented use of such methodology in addressing vaccine management issues.     

中国抗生素耐药性治理的政策演变及启示

目的:本研究系统梳理了我国在不同时期实施的抗生素耐药性治理,分析政策的演变历程和原因,旨在为下一步政策制定提供启示。方法:在国家卫生健康委员会等相关部委的官方网站上,系统检索有关抗生素耐药性问题的政策文件,提取关键信息并梳理政策内容与时间节点,归纳和总结中国为应对抗生素耐药性问题所采取的政策和行动。结果:中国抗生素耐药性治理的政策演变过程可划分为三个阶段:以药品管控为主要治理策略的第一阶段,以临床监测为主要治理手段的第二阶段,多领域参与的全面治理策略的第三阶段。结论:为进一步解决抗生素耐药性问题,中国应加强社区感染控制和抗生素合理使用,加强对农业和环境领域的耐药性治理,建立基于"One Health"框架下的跨部门、跨学科合作平台,并加大抗生素替代药品的研发力度。     

中国医疗不良事件报告与质量改进的分析研究

文章分析了来自国家卫生健康委员会医政医管局收集的82万例不良事件报告中最常见的三项错误，该三项错误占82万例不良事件的53％；还介绍了抽样医院主动报告的五类不良事件，以及国家药品不良事件反应网络监测中心的药品与器械不良事件报告。介绍了北京中卫云医疗数据分析与应用研究院100万例误诊报告的简要内容，简要列举了6个典型误诊病例。介绍了中国政府主要的质量政策以及通过医院评审工作落实政策，改善医院管理的做法，引用《柳叶刀》杂志对中国医疗状况的评价，说明质量政策与医院评审对提升医疗服务安全质量是有效的。同时指出要警惕新发疾病，减少误诊，关注新技术、新材料、新药品应用时可能出现新的不安全事件，以实现高质量发展的目标。     

European survey of hepatitis B vaccination policies for healthcare workers: An updated overview

BackgroundThe risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) to healthcare workers (HCWs) is well known. In 2005 we performed a survey on HBV prevention in HCWs in the European Union (EU). An update of the 2005 survey deemed necessary as an EU Council Directive (2010/32/EU) on sharps injuries was to be implemented into national legislation by 11 May 2013 and more countries were starting universal HBV vaccination.MethodsWe performed an electronic survey in 2016, among national representatives from the Occupational Medicine section of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), to find out how policies have been put into practice in the European Union countries (plus Norway and Switzerland). The data were updated in 2019.ResultsAnswers were received from 21 countries (among them 19 EU Member States), representing 78% of the population and 60% of HCWs in the EU-28. HBV vaccination was mandatory for medical and nursing staff in 10 countries; for other paramedical staff, medical and nursing students in 9 countries; for paramedical students in 8 countries; for cleaning staff in 7 countries; and for technical staff in 5 countries; it was recommended in all but one of other countries. Serotesting before vaccination was done in 7 countries. The vaccination schedule most often used was 0, 1, 6 months (18countries), monovalent HBV vaccine was used in 14 countries, and combined (HAV + HBV) vaccine in 11 countries. Serotesting after vaccination was done in 18 countries and boosters were recommended in 14 countries. A non-responder policy was present in 18 countries. HBV vaccination coverage (5 countries) was 70–95%. Sharps injuries were reported in 13 countries, nationwide in 7 of them; European-wide reporting was not mentioned by respondents.DiscussionThese results show the variation in the implementation of EU legislation in the participating countries. More consultation between actors at EU level, including enhancing medical surveillance in occupational medicine could help to optimise policies in European countries in order to further reduce HBV transmission to HCWs.     

Unintended effects of reimbursement schedules in mental health care

We evaluate the introduction of a reimbursement schedule for self-employed mental health care providers in the Netherlands in 2008. The reimbursement schedule follows a discontinuous discrete step function—once the provider has passed a treatment duration threshold the fee is flat until a next threshold is reached. We use administrative mental health care data of the total Dutch population from 2008 to 2010. We find an “efficiency” effect: on the flat part of the fee schedule providers reduce treatment duration by 2 to 7% compared to a control group. However, we also find unintended effects: providers treat patients longer to reach a next threshold and obtain a higher fee. The data shows gaps and bunches in the distribution function of treatment durations, just before and after a threshold. About 11 to 13% of treatments are shifted over a next threshold, resulting in a cost increase of approximately 7 to 9%.     

Six lessons from introducing sweetened beverage taxes in Berkeley,Cook County,and Philadelphia: A case study comparison in agenda setting and decision making

Sweetened beverage (SB) taxes have recently been introduced to prevent obesity by several governments, but limited information on related policy adoption processes hampers further diffusion. We investigated the agenda-setting and decision-making phases of SB tax reforms in Berkeley and Philadelphia (where it was successfully adopted), and Cook County (where it was repealed). A web-based survey, semi structured stakeholder interviews, and a local media coverage analysis were used to collect information. Findings were structured and analyzed using the health policy triangle of Buse, Mays and Walt. Six general lessons emerged. First, the policy was coupled to existing high-agenda items (e.g., financing pre-kindergarten in Philadelphia). Second, policy framing had to align prevailing political sentiments, as expressed in media (e.g., ‘Berkeley vs. Big Soda’ echoed skepticism of corporate influence in politics). Third, existing tax policies and political decision-making rules were important (e.g., confusion how the SB tax related to state and federal taxes fueled Cook County opposition). Fourth, the tax structure required technical and political considerations during policy formulation (e.g., artificially-sweetened beverages were included in Philadelphia to counteract arguments that the tax was regressive). Fifth, it was important to build an advocacy coalition upfront (e.g., the Berkeley coalition was constructed prior to announcing the attempt). Sixth, successful advocacy coalitions were locally grounded and influenced local media (e.g., the Cook County opposition engaged local retailers).     

Should we screen for lung cancer? A 10-country analysis identifying key decision-making factors

The need for early detection, both early diagnosis and screening is essential for improved prognosis in lung cancer. The effectiveness of lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for high-risk patients has been shown by extensive clinical evidence including the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) and the Dutch-Belgian lung cancer screening trial (NELSON) which has triggered political consideration of a formal programme across countries. However, implementation of these is still limited. This study investigates how governments make decisions on the implementation of lung cancer screening, identifying key consideration factors through 10 case study countries: Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, UK, and US. We identified five decision-making factors (1) recognition of the disease burden and the value of early detection, (2) strong clinical data showing mortality reduction and benefit-risk analysis relevant to the local context, (3) cost-effectiveness data and budget impact, (4) local feasibility demonstration and (5) a clear and integrated decision-making mechanism involving relevant stakeholders. The set of factors identified in this paper can help advocates address knowledge gaps, identify the key focus areas for discussions with policymakers evaluating the opportunities for lung cancer screening programmes in their local context. Ultimately, this should allow policymakers to make more informed decisions on lung cancer screening to best improve lung cancer outcomes.