scholarly journals A prospective interoperable distributed e-Health system with loose coupling in improving healthcare services for developing countries

Array ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 100114
Author(s):  
Mahnuma Rahman Rinty ◽  
Uzzal Kumar Prodhan ◽  
Md Mijanur Rahman
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajad Vahedi ◽  
Amin Torabipour ◽  
Amirhossein Takian ◽  
Saeed Mohammadpur ◽  
Alireza Olyaeemanesh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Unmet need is a critical indicator of access to healthcare services. Despite concrete evidence about unmet need in Iran’s health system, no recent evidence of this negative outcome is available. This study aimed to measure the subjective unmet need (SUN), the factors associated with it and various reasons behind it in Iran. Methods We used the data of 13,005 respondents over the age of 15 from the Iranian Utilization of Healthcare Services Survey in 2016. SUN was defined as citizens whose needs were not sought through formal healthcare services, while they did not show a history of self-medication. The reasons for SUN were categorized into availability, accessibility, responsibility and acceptability of the health system. The multivariable logistic regression was used to determine significant predictors of SUN and associated major reasons. Results About 17% of the respondents (N = 2217) had unmet need for outpatient services. Nearly 40% of the respondents chose only accessibility, 4% selected only availability, 78% chose only responsibility, and 13% selected only acceptability as the main reasons for their unmet need. Higher outpatient needs was the only factor that significantly increased SUN, responsibility-related SUN and acceptability-related SUN. Low education was associated with higher SUN and responsibility-related SUN, while it could also reduce acceptability-related SUN. While SUN and responsibility-related SUN were prevalent among lower economic quintiles, having a complementary insurance was associated with decreased SUN and responsibility-related SUN. The people with basic insurance had lower chances to face with responsibility-related SUN, while employed individuals were at risk to experience SUN. Although the middle-aged group had higher odds to experience SUN, the responsibility-related SUN were prevalent among elderly, while higher age groups had significant chance to be exposed to acceptability-related SUN. Conclusion It seems that Iran is still suffering from unmet need for outpatient services, most of which emerges from its health system performance. The majority of the unmet health needs could be addressed through improving financial as well as organizational policies. Special attention is needed to address the unmet need among individuals with poor health status.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucylynn Lizarondo ◽  
Catherine Turnbull ◽  
Tracey Kroon ◽  
Karen Grimmer ◽  
Alison Bell ◽  
...  

Objective South Australia is taking an innovative step in transforming the way its healthcare is organised and delivered to better manage current and future demands on the health system. In an environment of transforming health services, there are clear opportunities for allied health to assist in determining solutions to various healthcare challenges. A recent opinion piece proposed 10 clinician-driven strategies to assist in maximising value and sustainability of healthcare in Australia. The present study aimed to seek the perspectives of allied health clinicians, educators, researchers, policy makers and managers on these strategies and their relevance to allied health. Methods A survey of allied health practitioners was undertaken to capture their perspectives on the 10 clinician-driven strategies for maximising value and sustainability of healthcare in Australia. Survey findings were then layered with evidence from the literature. Results Highly relevant across allied health are the strategies of discontinuation of low value practices, targeting clinical interventions to those getting greatest benefit, active involvement of patients in shared decision making and self-management and advocating for integrated systems of care. Conclusions Allied health professionals have been involved in the South Australian healthcare system for a prolonged period, but their services are poorly recognised, often overlooked and not greatly supported in existing traditional practices. The results of the present study highlight ways in which healthcare services can implement strategies not only to improve the quality of patient outcomes, but also to offer innovative solutions for future, sustainable healthcare. The findings call for concerted efforts to increase the utilisation of allied health services to ensure the ‘maximum value for spend’ of the increasingly scarce health dollar. What is known about the topic? In medicine, clinician-driven strategies have been proposed to minimise inappropriate and costly care and maximise highly appropriate and less expensive care. These strategies were developed based on clinical experiences and with supporting evidence from scientific studies. What does this paper add? Major changes to the health system are required to slow down the growth in healthcare expenditure. This paper describes opportunities in which allied health practitioners can implement similar strategies not only to improve the quality of patient outcomes, but also to offer cost-effective solutions for a sustainable healthcare. What are the implications for practitioners? Allied health practitioners can provide solutions to healthcare challenges and assist in the transformation of healthcare in Australia. However, for this to happen, there should be concerted efforts to increase recognition of and support for the use of allied health services.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1(J)) ◽  
pp. 69-77
Author(s):  
Kgothatso Brucely Shai ◽  
Olusola Ogunnubi

For more than two decades, 21st March has been canonised and celebrated among South Africans as Human Rights Day. Earmarked by the newly democratic and inclusive South Africa, it commemorates the Sharpeville and Langa massacres. As history recorded, on the 21st March 1960, residents of Sharpeville and subsequently, Langa embarked on a peaceful anti-pass campaign led by the African National Congress (ANC) breakaway party, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The pass (also known as dompas) was one of the most despised symbols of apartheid; a system declared internationally as a crime against humanity. In the post-apartheid era, it is expectedthat all South Africans enjoy and celebrate the full extent of their human rights. However, it appears that the envisaged rights are not equally enjoyed by all. This is because widening inequalities in the health-care system, in schooling, and in the lucrative sporting arena have not been amicably and irrevocably resolved. Furthermore, it is still the norm that the most vulnerable of South Africans, especially rural Africans, find it difficult, and sometimes, impossible to access adequate and even essential healthcare services. Central to the possible questions to emerge from this discourse are the following(i) What is the current state of South Africa’s health system at the turn of 23 years of its majority rule? (ii) Why is the South African health system still unable to sufficiently deliver the socioeconomic health rights of most South African people? It is against this background that this article uses a critical discourse analysis approach in its broadest form to provide a nuanced Afrocentric assessment of South Africa’s human rights record in the health sector since the year 1994. Data for this article is generated through the review of the cauldron of published and unpublished academic, official and popular literature. 


Author(s):  
Fikreyohannes Lemma ◽  
Mieso K. Denko ◽  
Joseph K. Tan ◽  
Samuel Kinde Kassegne

Poor infrastructures in developing countries such as Ethiopia and much of Sub-Saharan Africa have caused these nations to suffer from lack of efficient and effective delivery of basic and extended medical and healthcare services. Often, such limitation is further accompanied by low patient-doctor ratios, resulting in unwarranted rationing of services. Apparently, e-medicine awareness among both governmental policy makers and private health professionals is motivating the gradual adoption of technological innovations in these countries. It is argued, however, that there still is a gap between current e-medicine efforts in developing countries and the existing connectivity infrastructure leading to faulty, inefficient and expensive designs. The particular case of Ethiopia, one such developing country where e-medicine continues to carry significant promises, is investigated and reported in this article.


2021 ◽  
pp. 301-322
Author(s):  
Thein T. Htay ◽  
Yu Mon Saw ◽  
James Levinson ◽  
S.M. Kadri ◽  
Ailbhe Helen Brady ◽  
...  

The purpose of this chapter is to underscore the role of an integrated stewardship process and decentralization of healthcare services through high standards of governance towards effective health policies in developing countries. Changing disease patterns and challenging health status in developing countries calls for a rigorous monitoring and evaluation of prevailing health systems so that their new health policies be able to tackle these emerging health needs. Three stages of health transition and globalization have highlighted their impacts on health problems and health policies. The optimal composition and interactions of actors in health policy have influenced the strategic directions and policy implementation. In implementing the global and national health policies within the context of health system strengthening, national policies will better assure that health priorities in local settings are addressed and country-led while international assistance supports the health sector priorities. With the creation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and now the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), more attention is being given in these countries to policies and programmes which are results- and outcome-oriented. Possible strategies to improve health policy and the overall status of health in developing countries are recommended including Universal Health Coverage and the SDGs, among others.


Author(s):  
Nigel Crisp

Priority setting is a normal and important task in any health system. The starting point is current knowledge and evidence, but priority setting is also about judgement, which goes beyond what can be based on evidence. Wherever possible, judgement needs to be based on transparent and systematic methods that are open to question and debate by others....


Author(s):  
Bruno M. C. Silva ◽  
Joel J. P. C. Rodrigues ◽  
Andre Ramos ◽  
Kashif Saleem ◽  
Isabel de la Torre ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Fikreyohannes Lemma ◽  
Mieso K. Denko ◽  
Joseph K. Tan ◽  
Samuel Kinde Kassegne

Poor infrastructures in developing countries such as Ethiopia and much of Sub-Saharan Africa have caused these nations to suffer from lack of efficient and effective delivery of basic and extended medical and healthcare services. Often, such limitation is further accompanied by low patient-doctor ratios, resulting in unwarranted rationing of services. Apparently, e-medicine awareness among both governmental policy makers and private health professionals is motivating the gradual adoption of technological innovations in these countries. It is argued, however, that there still is a gap between current e-medicine efforts in developing countries and the existing connectivity infrastructure leading to faulty, inefficient and expensive designs. The particular case of Ethiopia, one such developing country where emedicine continues to carry significant promises, is investigated and reported in this article.


2011 ◽  
pp. 1322-1341
Author(s):  
Fikreyohannes Lemma ◽  
Mieso K. Denko ◽  
Joseph K. Tan ◽  
Samuel Kinde Kassegne

Poor infrastructures in developing countries such as Ethiopia and much of Sub-Saharan Africa have caused these nations to suffer from lack of efficient and effective delivery of basic and extended medical and healthcare services. Often, such limitation is further accompanied by low patient-doctor ratios, resulting in unwarranted rationing of services. Apparently, e-medicine awareness among both governmental policy makers and private health professionals is motivating the gradual adoption of technological innovations in these countries. It is argued, however, that there still is a gap between current e-medicine efforts in developing countries and the existing connectivity infrastructure leading to faulty, inefficient and expensive designs. The particular case of Ethiopia, one such developing country where emedicine continues to carry significant promises, is investigated and reported in this article.


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