As the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving, a growing number of countries are making use of information derived from mathematical models in policy and public communication. In a review conducted as of March 2020, 31 COVID-19 models were identified, with different objectives, methods and data/results reported in the public domain. The type of models employed by the countries vary but we …
Ghana’s HTA agenda and UHC, what difference could HTA make?
As we reflect on Universal Health Coverage day (UHC) from the end of last year, it seems that 2019 was an important year in Ghana’s journey towards achieving the target of UHC by 2030. According to the WHO, UHC is achieved when all people and communities can have access to the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services they …
HITAP developing book to highlight best buys, wasted buys and controversies in non-communicable diseases prevention
With Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2018 only just been and gone, the HITAP team are already gearing up for next year’s UHC Day – when we plan to launch a book detailing best buys, wasted buys and controversies in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The burden of NCDs remains high in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Reducing this …
60 seconds with… Patric Landin
iDSI caught up with Patric Landin, regional advisor for Sida’s (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights team, ahead of the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR) in Liverpool next week. A HSR 2018 satellite session, which will focus on health financing towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), has received funding from Sida, working on behalf …
Health Technology Assessment proves a hit as almost 100 delegates attend sustainable resource allocation event in Accra
Almost 100 delegates policy representatives from across Africa and Europe gathered in Accra, Ghana this month for a special event that focused on sustainable resource allocation policies for low and middle income countries (LMICs), co-hosted by iDSI and Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi). The two-day ‘Setting Priorities Fairly: Sustainable Policies for Effective Resource Allocation’ event, opened Ghana’s Deputy Minister for …
60 seconds with…Dr Yogan Pillay
iDSI caught up with Dr Yogan Pillay, Deputy Director-General for Communicable and Non-communicable Disease, Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation in the National Department of Health in South Africa, ahead of the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR) symposium in Liverpool next month. 1. You are a panel member in the sub-session, ‘Design of Health Benefit Packages’ during the HSR 2018 …
Five key points on Modicare: India’s soon to be rolled-out National Health Insurance Scheme
As India gets ready for the introduction of Modicare, reported to be the largest government-sponsored insurance scheme in the world with a target population of 500 million, we highlight five key points about the revolutionary health scheme. 1. The poor are the primary beneficiaries of this scheme Modicare’ s predecessor, the government-run health insurance programme Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), …
UHC Day 2017: The need for a sensible, fair and evidence based Health Benefits Package
The push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) must focus on designing a Health Benefits Package that is sensible, fair and evidence based – this was the take-home message from IDSI’s visit to Washington DC this week. The US capital was the setting for three days of meetings and events to mark UHC Day and the release of ‘What’s In, What’s …
A Policy Dialogue on Designing and Implementing a Health Services Package for South Africa – March 2017, South Africa
The South African government’s vision for 2030 is to provide quality health care for all. In alignment with this vision, South Africa is on a path towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the National Department of Health (NDoH) released a White Paper in December 2015 on a National Health Insurance (NHI) for South Africa, subsequently updated in June 2017. In …
Equality for women – can it help to achieve universal health coverage?
Focusing on universal health coverage and the sustainable development goals, Isabelle Parsons who recently completed work experience with the Global Health and Development Group at Imperial College London, shares her thoughts on the relationship between improving women’s rights and reducing healthcare costs. Maternal health care Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) is a basic human right but is something that a great …