scholarly journals Bringing Data Analytics to the Design of Optimized Diagnostic Networks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Process, Terms and Definitions

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Kameko Nichols ◽  
Sarah J. Girdwood ◽  
Andrew Inglis ◽  
Pascale Ondoa ◽  
Karla Therese L. Sy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analytics ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Limited Application ◽  
Manual Methods ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Diagnostics services are an essential component of healthcare systems, advancing universal health coverage and ensuring global health security, but are often unavailable or under-resourced in low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries. Typically, diagnostics are delivered at various tiers of the laboratory network based on population needs, and resource and infrastructure constraints. A diagnostic network additionally incorporates screening and includes point-of-care testing that may occur outside of a laboratory in the community and clinic settings; it also emphasizes the importance of supportive network elements, including specimen referral systems, as being critical for the functioning of the diagnostic network. To date, design and planning of diagnostic networks in LMICs has largely been driven by infectious diseases such as TB and HIV, relying on manual methods and expert consensus, with a limited application of data analytics. Recently, there have been efforts to improve diagnostic network planning, including diagnostic network optimization (DNO). The DNO process involves the collection, mapping, and spatial analysis of baseline data; selection and development of scenarios to model and optimize; and lastly, implementing changes and measuring impact. This review outlines the goals of DNO and steps in the process, and provides clarity on commonly used terms.

scholarly journals Healthcare Financing in Low and Middle-Income Countries and Achieving Universal Health Coverage

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-94
Author(s):  
Amadou Baubacar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
System Approach ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Financing ◽  
Sovereign Wealth Funds ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Using a comparative healthcare system approach, this paper discusses the existing healthcare financing methods in low-and middle-income countries in the move towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC). The article finds that traditional channels of financing the health sector in these countries include government’s budget, donors’ aid, national health insurance, and out-of-pocket model. Moreover, the paper explores other alternative mechanisms for raising resources for the health sector including tax on demerit goods, remittances, and sovereign wealth funds’ revenues. This paper is of particular interest to policymakers in low-and middle-income countries targeting to achieve UHC.

scholarly journals National Pharmacy Associations in the Commonwealth -current scenario and future needs to maximise effective contributions of the pharmacy profession towards Universal health coverage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Iqbal ◽  
Victoria Rutter ◽  
Gizem Gülpınar ◽  
Manjula Halai ◽  
Briella Awele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Pharmacy Education ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Priority Areas ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Pharmacy Profession ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: The Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) is a charity representing pharmacists across the Commonwealth, with the vision of empowering and collaboratively develop the profession and fully utilise the potential of pharmacists to strengthen health systems through supporting better access to, quality and use of medicines and related services. Commonwealth comprises predominantly of low and middle-income countries where limited data often exists in pharmacy practice. There is a recognised need across the Commonwealth to focus on developing, implementing and fully utilising pharmacy professional services to progress universal health coverage and achieve the sustainable development goals, particularly in low and middle-income countries; however, currently a knowledge gap exists in understanding the national priorities in Commonwealth nations. CPA is ideally positioned to access to these nations. The aim of this study was thus to explore the priorities and focus areas of NPAs across the Commonwealth and create evidence for a needs-based approach to inform the support that the Commonwealth pharmacists association can collaboratively and strategically provide to its members to progress towards shared goals.Methods: Data was collected virtually on Zoom by conducting interviews using a semi-structured interview guide developed for this study with CPA councillors representing NPAs or their equivalents if no official body existed. An inductive, reflexive, thematic analysis was performed for data analysis. Results: In total, 30 councillors were interviewed from 30 low- and medium-income countries. The three main overarching priority areas identified across respective Commonwealth nations developing extended pharmacy services, improving pharmacy education, and developing and redefining the role of NPAs.Conclusions: This novel study highlights the collective priorities for the pharmacy profession across the low and middle-income countries of the Commonwealth and the urgent need for supporting NPAs around the three identified overarching priority areas. The mapped-out priorities will inform an evidence-based approach for the CPA to better support NPAs in their mission through advocacy and practitioner development, to fully harness pharmacists’ unique skill set and maximise their contribution to progressing universal health coverage.

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