Science, scientists, and drug policy: A conversation with harry

An imaginary conversation between an advocate of drug policy reform and a defender of thestatus quo.     

Hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa: why we need more of what does not work as it should

This paper analyses the origins of today's crisis in the hospital sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Present trends in availability of hospital services are extrapolated to the future in order to provide a low-end estimate of the need for expansion of first referral level hospitals. This will not be possible without giving due priority to this sector, a commitment to considerable investments and reorientation of resources from tertiary to first referral level hospitals. It is to be feared that if this is not done, the backlog will increase, and, given the time lag before investments translate into operational services, there will be a major shortage of hospital services in sub-Saharan Africa within a decade.     

我国中央层面家庭医生签约服务政策量化评价：基于PMC指数模型

背景 我国人口老龄化形势日益严重,家庭医生签约服务对助推分级诊疗制度建设、建立合理有序就医秩序发挥着重要作用,目前学者对家庭医生签约服务政策的研究主要集中于定性评价,较少有学者利用工具聚焦代表性政策对各篇进行定量评价。目的 定量评价我国中央层面的6篇家庭医生签约服务相关政策,分析政策优劣,在此基础上,提出促进我国家庭医生签约服务高质量发展的对策和措施,助力健康中国战略实施。方法 于2022-04-30,以“家庭医生”为关键词在北大法宝数据库进行全文检索,并在国务院网站进行相关内容检索,检索时限为2015-01-01至今。采用ROSTCM 6.0软件进行文本挖掘,然后以其结果为依据选择其中具有代表性的中央层面家庭医生签约服务相关政策,并基于政策一致性评价（PMC）指数模型对其进行量化评价。结果 依据纳入与排除标准检索获得相关政策32篇,家庭医生签约服务领域排名前5位的高频关键词为“签约服务”（274次）、“健康”（272次）、“医疗”（264次）、“家庭医生”（225次）、“签约”（180次）,以其为依据共选择中央层面有代表性的家庭医生签约服务相关政策6篇,分别标记为P1～P6。政策量化...     

A whole‐genome linkage scan suggests several genomic regions potentially containing QTLs underlying the variation of stature

The word “serious” appears in laws and policies regarding genetics services but is not defined. Genetics professionals would most likely be consulted if definitions are made. We surveyed all U.S. board‐certified genetics services providers and all members of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG), Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG), and Ibero‐American Society of Human Genetics (IASHG), using anonymous, mailed questionnaires. Respondents were asked to list three conditions they considered lethal, three that were serious but not lethal, and three that were not serious. Of 3,317 asked to respond, 1,481 (45%) returned questionnaires. Analysis was limited to responses of the 1,264 (85%) who saw patients. Respondents listed 537 conditions, with extensive overlap between categories; 46% of conditions listed as serious were also listed as not serious and 41% were listed as lethal. Respondents did not want professional societies, laws, or national ethics committees to define serious. They favored individual patients as decision makers, with the help of individual doctors. Their reasons were that genetic disorders vary in expression, individuals perceive disorders differently, professional or legal definitions could be unfair to minority groups, definitions tend to be inflexible when new treatments appear. In the United States, most would not use a definition of serious to limit reproductive services, carrier screening, or neonatal intensive care; outside the United States, more supported limitations. There is not sufficient consensus among experienced genetics professionals to define serious genetic conditions for purposes of law or policy. Responses point to social and economic influences on perceptions of what constitutes a serious genetic disorder. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Some notes on uncertainty; Federal policy and innovation

The legislative background and current responsibilities of the new National Center for Health Care Technology (NCHCT) are discussed. The NCHCT's charge is to consider the stage of development, the actual or potential risks, costs and rate of use of health care technology. The role of Government in supporting new technologies, stimulating innovation and encouraging application of research products is considered. These issues are discussed in the context of the uncertainty inherent in planning and the formulation of public policy.     

Psychopathology and Public Policy

An effective definition of psychopathology would be helpful in distinguishing between normal and abnormal behavior and would provide guidance for important public policy decisions. Overinclusive definitions, such as the capacity/disability formulation, do not provide meaningful direction for defining need or assessing eligibility for insurance or other entitlements. Coping failures due to lack of skill, inadequate preparation, or other factors should be distinguished from those due to dysfunction or disturbance of psychological mechanisms. The capacity/disability formulation encourages confusion between different performance decrements and gives no guidance for appropriate boundaries for psychotherapy.     

Evaluating plasma holds in the presence of multiple infections

To protect plasma supplies, donors are screened for infectiousdiseases. As an added measure of protection, donations are identifiedand stored for a period of time to allow future discard in theevent that an identified donor subsequently tests positive forsome screened disease. Previous models for evaluating such plasmaholds have only addressed the case of a single infectious disease.This paper extends the analysis to the case of multiple infections.Given knowledge of the marginal incidence rates for those infectionschecked, upper and lower bounds for important quantities suchas the probability of interdicting an infectious but undetecteddonation, the expected number of infections interdicted perdonation, and the net economic benefits of the holding policyare developed. Several examples are developed, illustratinghow the models can be used to evaluate the consequences of aplasma hold.     

科技期刊关联数据开放共享及出版政策研究

【目的】 搭建一个适合我国科技期刊关联数据出版的框架,为科技期刊制订关联数据开放共享及出版政策提供参考。【方法】 通过文献分析和网络调研方法,对国内外出版机构及科技期刊在关联数据出版方面的政策进行跟踪调研,并基于数据FAIR原则,分别从数据的可发现、可获取、可互操作和可重用4个维度进行具体分析,明确科技期刊关联数据出版的要素。【结果】 结合我国科技期刊发展现状及规划,通过共享分级并将数据出版要素纳入其中,提出符合国际数据共享政策、面向我国科技期刊的关联数据出版通用数据政策框架。【结论】 所提出的期刊关联数据共享分级策略,可为不同期刊数据政策的制订提供参考。     

政策反馈理论视域：中国医疗卫生政策钟摆式变迁及其逻辑

新中国成立以来,党和国家不断强化医疗卫生建设,70余年来医疗卫生政策演进呈钟摆式变迁的特征,即从公益导向的福利性医疗卫生政策摆向效率导向的市场化政策,再摆向公益为主兼顾效率的民生导向政策,在公益与效率间发生三次摆动。本文借助政策反馈理论分析医疗卫生政策钟摆式变迁的内在逻辑,发现政策变迁过程中原有政策通过资源效应、解释效应、演化效应和学习效应影响新政策的制定,使得新政策留有原政策的烙印,呈现出摆动式变迁而非剧烈或范式变迁。政策反馈理论为医疗卫生政策制定提供新视角,制定医疗卫生政策需注重原政策的历史影响力,以公共价值引领医疗医保医药政策,从多重政策反馈效应视角出发优化卫生政策的制定。     

Scanning and synthesizing Canadian policies that address the school-to-work transition of youth and young adults with disabilities

BackgroundDisability faced by a young person can impact the school-to-work transition and shape health and well-being over the life course. Unique barriers to entry and advancement within the labor market that are relevant to young people with disabilities underscore the need for tailored policy-level supports.ObjectivesTo examine and describe policies that support the school-to-work transition of young people with disabilities in Canada.MethodsA scan of policies which focused on the school-to-work transition of young people with disabilities across Canada was conducted between June 2019 and January 2020. Searches were completed within federal, provincial and territorial policy portals. Each policy relating to employment participation of people with disabilities was summarized. Policies that focused on the school-to-work-specific were synthesized using Bemelmans-Vidic, Rist and Vedung's policy tool framework.ResultsA total of 36 policies were identified by our scan that focused on the employment of people with disabilities. Only five policies explicitly addressed the school-to-work transition. All existing policies were implemented at the provincial level and aimed to promote entry into employment. The synthesis of policies revealed that financial policy tools were primarily used to incentivize employment, provision of workplace accommodations, or the development and implementation of job readiness programs.ConclusionOur analysis of federal, provincial and territorial policies in Canada uncovered a limited number of policies that specifically support the school-to-work transition. Addressing these policy gaps can increase the inclusion of young people with disabilities in the labor market.