Health Equity: March 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

[EQ] Ethics and governance of global health inequalities

Ethics and governance of global health inequalities

J P Ruger

J Epidemiol Community Health 2006;60:998–100

Article: http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/60/11/998?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&author1=ruger&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&fdate=//&tdate=//&resourcetype=HWCIT,HWELTR

Background:
A world divided by health inequalities poses ethical challenges for global health. International and national responses to health disparities must be rooted in ethical values about health and its distribution; this is because ethical claims have the power to motivate, delineate principles, duties and responsibilities, and hold global and national actors morally responsible for achieving common goals.

Theories of justice are necessary to define duties and obligations of institutions and actors in reducing inequalities. The problem is the lack of a moral framework for solving problems of global health justice.

Aim:
To study why global health inequalities are morally troubling, why efforts to reduce them are morally justified, how they should be measured and evaluated; how much priority disadvantaged groups should receive; and to delineate roles and responsibilities of national and international actors and institutions.

Discussion and conclusions: Duties and obligations of international and state actors in reducing global health inequalities are outlined. The ethical principles endorsed include the intrinsic value of health to well-being and equal respect for all human life, the importance of health for individual and collective agency, the concept of a shortfall from the health status of a reference group, and the need for a disproportionate effort to help disadvantaged groups.

This approach does not seek to find ways in which global and national actors address global health inequalities by virtue of their self-interest, national interest, collective security or humanitarian assistance. It endorses the more robust concept of ‘‘human flourishing’’ and the desire to live in a world where all people have the capability to be healthy. Unlike cosmopolitan theory, this approach places the role of the nation-state in the forefront with primary, though not sole, moral responsibility Rather shared health governance is essential for delivering health equity on a global scale…..”

* * *

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues. [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website
Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.

[EQ] Database of Health Services Research Projects in Progress

HSRProj (Health Services Research Projects in Progress)

National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR)

Website: http://wwwcf.nlm.nih.gov/hsr_project/home_proj.cfm

A free, online database of current HSR projects. HSRProj contains descriptions on more than 6,000 ongoing health services research projects funded by government and state agencies, foundations, and private organizations.

The HSRProj (Health Services Research Projects in Progress) database provides information about grants and contracts in health services research that are still in progress. Search HSRProj to find research in the pipeline.

Accessible for free, HSRProj is a database of ongoing health services research. It is also accessible as part of the "Other Collections" category of resources in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Internet Gateway. The National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR) coordinates its continued development for NLM.

Records include both grants and contracts awarded by major public and private funding agencies and foundations. Individuals can retrieve names of organizations that are either conducting or sponsoring research, principal investigator contact information, beginning and end dates of a project, and information about study design and methodology.

Records are indexed with NLM’s Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®). Project abstracts are included whenever possible.

By listing ongoing and recently completed projects, HSRProj can provide researchers and policymakers with a vital link to information that is not readily available from other sources.

HSRProj is a joint effort of the AcademyHealth and the Cecil G. Sheps Center at the University of North Carolina with funding from the NLM.
The National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR) (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nichsr/) coordinates its continued development for NLM.

* * *

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.

Monday, March 30, 2009

[EQ] Open source software in public health

Opening up public health:
a strategy of information and communication technology to support population health

Prof Daniel D Reidpath PhDa, , and Pascale Allotey PhDa

aCentre for Public Health Research, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK

The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9668, 21 March 2009-27 March 2009

Website:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T1B-4VW5889-X&_user=3824252&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000055308&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=3824252&md5=699493c890a6c0339fc636b34d4101ef

“………Information saves lives because it is fundamental to public health practice. Strategic decisions for the benefit of populations cannot be made without such information. As a part of the routine activities of public health, information is created, obtained, analysed, synthesised, manipulated, and transferred. The information could be as unassuming as a memorandum sent to colleagues, as routine as the collection of vital statistics, or as crucial as the manipulation of the national health accounts.

The volume and complexity of knowledge and information have outstripped the capacity of health systems to function at their best without the support of information management systems. Consequently, electronic information and communication technology (ICT) has become indispensable.1 SY Kwankam, What e-health can offer?, Bull World Health Organ 82 (2004), pp. 800–802

Despite the importance of ICT to public health, most of us barely give a second thought to it. We take for granted the instruments that facilitate our functioning, except with occasional irritation when they fail us. However, important resource implications are associated with our neglect. Globally, billions of euros are spent every year on proprietary software to support the management of public health information. And the money is spent at every level, from national governments, non-governmental organisations, UN organisations, and research institutions, down to private individuals………..”

* * *

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.

[EQ] Public health science and practice: From fragmentation to alignment

The Population Health Intervention Research Initiative for Canada
L'Initiative de recherche interventionnelle en santé des populations du Canada

January/February 2009, Vol. 100, No. 1, Special Insert

Canadian Journal of Public Health

A network of researchers and decision-makers from funding agencies, health related non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public health organizations came together to form the Population Heath Intervention Research Initiative for Canada (PHIRIC).

The aim is to build capacity in population health intervention research – its quantity, quality and use by policy-makers and practitioners. This special insert in the Canadian Journal of Public Health has been created by PHIRIC to promote discussion and increase awareness about population health intervention research.

Table of Contents: http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/issue/view/270

Articles

Public health science and practice: From fragmentation to alignment (Foreword) PDF

Science et pratique de la santé publique : de la fragmentation à la concordance (Avant-propos) PDF

“….There continue to be gaps between science, policy and practice in population and public health.1 Several influential reports,2,3 literature reviews4 and project-specific needs analyses have identified persistent issues and gaps in knowledge development and use with respect to informing public health decisions, especially about healthy living and chronic disease prevention. Some of these issues and gaps highlight several needs:

• to develop more congruence between the needs of research users (including but not limited to policy-makers) and the research questions being formulated and addressed by investigators;

• to improve linkages between databases of surveillance and research evidence (e.g., National Diabetes Surveillance System);

• to develop explicit strategies, structures and partnerships to facilitate knowledge uptake into practice and policy decisionmaking (e.g., improving access to and use of systematic reviews; decision-making skills in accessing, appraising and using evidence); and

• to learn from practice (e.g., generate “practice-based evidence”)…………………..”

Introduction to the Population Health Intervention Research Initiative for Canada

Abstract PDF

Voice l'Initiative de recherche interventionnelle en santé des populations du Canada
Abstract PDF

What is population health intervention research?
Abstract PDF

Canadian Institutes of Health Research support for population health intervention research in Canada
Abstract PDF

Can the Canadian Heart Health Initiative inform the Population Health Intervention Research Initiative for Canada?
Abstract PDF

The imperative of strategic alignment across organizations:
The experience of the Canadian Cancer Society's Centre for Behavioural Research and Program
Abstract PDF

Commentary on Population Health Intervention
Abstract PDF

* * *

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.

[EQ] Better Aid Managing Development Resources: The Use of Country Systems in Public Financial Management

Better Aid Managing Development Resources:
The Use of Country Systems in Public Financial Management

Complete Edition - ISBN 9789264056169) 2009, vol. 2009, no. 3, pp. 1 - 95
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD

Available online at : http://oberon.sourceoecd.org/vl=1863864/cl=11/nw=1/rpsv/ij/oecdthemes/99980010/v2009n3/s1/p1l

“………….Successful development depends in large part on the efficiency, integrity and effectiveness with which the state raises, manages and expends public resources. Improving the rules and institutions governing these activities should be a major component, therefore, of any development approach.

Given that strengthening Public Financial Management (PFM) is at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals, and good governance more generally, the Paris Declaration (2005) seeks to promote joint efforts in this area between donors and partner countries. In particular, partner authorities committed to strengthening their PFM systems and donors committed to using those systems to the maximum extent possible. The Joint Venture on Public Financial Management, bringing together donors and partner authorities, was created to facilitate the implementation of the Paris Declaration as it relates to PFM.

As part of the Joint Venture's ongoing work in this area, this report takes stock of progress and provides recommendations on how best to facilitate achieving the 2010 targets set out in the Paris Declaration. It:

- Sets out the benefits of and rationale for using country systems,

- Assesses progress in meeting the Paris Declaration targets,

- Reviews the landscape of PFM reforms in partner countries,

- Looks at drivers of successful PFM reforms.

- Examines the factors that influence decisions to use country PFM systems, focusing on the perceived risks and their assessment and management,

- Describes the PEFA (Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability) assessment, which provides information on the quality of a country's PFM system. …”

Table of Contents
Development , pp.1-9

Executive Summary
Development , pp.10-15

Background, Definitions and Scope of the Report
Development , pp.16-22

Aid Effectiveness and the Use of Country PFM Systems: Rationale and Findings
Development , pp.23-30

Strengthening Country PFM Systems
Development , pp.31-45

Practices in the Use of Country PFM Systems
Development , pp.46-60

Measuring the Performance of Country PFM Systems
Development , pp.61-74

Annexes
Development , pp.75-105

* * *

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.

Friday, March 27, 2009

[EQ] Live Webcast: Health in times of global economic crisis

-----Original Message-----
From: David McDaid LSE Health and Social Care

Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009

May be of interest to some of you.

There will be a live webcast of the WHO/ Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care services organised meeting on the implications of the global recession on health in the WHO European region that is taking place in Oslo next week on April 1 and April 2

Links to materials, conference programme and the webcast can be found at

url:

http://www.euro.who.int/healthsystems/econcrisis/20090316_1

Global economic crisis

Oslo, Norway, 1-2 April 2009

The global economic downturn occurs as the world is also confronted with the consequences of major demographic changes and global environmental and energy problems. The crisis therefore represents a major threat for both health and health and social protection systems.

The objectives of the meeting are:

- to review the situation in the WHO European Region by identifying the main risks for health and health systems and the main opportunities for action;

- to discuss policy options for responding to the negative impacts of the economic crisis on health systems and
health outcomes in low-, middle- and high-income Member States in the European Region;

- to identify health- and health systems- related measures that could be used in the short and medium terms
to counter the economic downturn and, in the longer term, to help address (some) structural issues confronting our societies.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 1 April 2009

13:00 – 13:15 Welcome and opening

Objectives and scope of the meeting

Mr Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Minister of Health and Care Services

Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe

Message from the WHO Director-general Dr Margaret Chan

Session 1: Impact of the economic downturn on health systems and health outcomes in the Member States in the WHO European Region

The ongoing financial and economic crisis: main effects on society and on health systems

Chair: Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe

Opening speech by Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway

Keynote speakers:

Prof Alan Maynard, Professor of Health Economics, University of York

Prof Guillem López-Casasnovas, Professor in Economics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra

and Member of the Board of the Bank of Spain

Prof Tomica Milosavljevic, Minister of Health of Serbia

Chair: Dr Bjørn-Inge Larsen, Director-General, Norwegian Directorate of Health

Keynote speaker:

Prof Sir Michael Marmot, Director, International Institute for Society and Health and MRC

Research Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College

London, United Kingdom

Thursday, 2 April 2009

Session 2: Strengthening health and health systems in the context of the crisis

The Millennium Development Goals in the light of the ongoing economic crisis

Message from Mr Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway

Financial and human resource aspects of the crisis; effects on the migration of health personnel

Chair: Prof Elias Mossialos, Director, LSE Health, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom

Keynote speakers:

Mr Philippe Douste-Blazy, Chair of the Executive Board of UNITAID

Mrs Mary Robinson, President, Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative and Co-chair, Health Workers Global Policy Advisory Council

09:50-10:30 Panel with representatives of Member States

10:30-11:00 Debate and conclusions moderated by Prof Elias Mossialos

11:30-11:50 Protecting public health through strengthened health systems in the European Region

Chair: Dr Bjørn-Inge Larsen, Director-General, Norwegian Directorate of Health

Keynote speaker:

Prof Martin McKee, Research Director, European Centre on Health of Societies in

Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom

Session 3: Strategies to overcome health consequences of crisis

14:15-14:35 Chair: Dr Nata Menabde, Deputy Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Europe

Keynote speaker:

Mr Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Minister of Health and Care Services

14:35-15:20 Panel with partners’ representatives

15:20-16:00 Recommendations of the meeting. Final remarks and closure

Dr Bjørn-Inge Larsen, Director-General, Norwegian Directorate of Health

Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe

Webcast

The meeting will be webcast live from Holmenkollen Park Hotel in Oslo, Norway.

The direct link to the webcast will be available here when the meeting is taking place.

If you would like to show the webcast live via your own web pages then please choose one of the following options:

1) If you have a webTV player where you would like to send the webcast, publishing points will be established by the webcast provider, Smartcom:TV.
Please contact Vegard Günther at Smartcom:tv, +47 92 89 10 11, Veegard.gunther@smartcomtv.no for further information.

2) If you do not have webTV player but would like to publish the link to the webcast on your web pages,
please contact Vegard Günther at Smartcom:tv, +47 92 89 10 11, Veegard.gunther@smartcomtv.no for further information.
You will then receive the correct link to the live, on demand webcast.

* * *

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.