World Health Day 2013: High blood pressure

The WHO celebrated yesterday the world health day 2013. The theme for this year is high blood pressure. More information here.

Steps to reduce the deficit of health insurance: Colombia and the US

Regulation of health insurance is one of the most complex challenges to contemporary states. We have two pieces on systems that have been more researched, on on North America, one on Latin America. On Colombia, David Bardey y Marcela Melendez announce the end of the setup defined since 1994 due to its inability to control expenditures. They wonder if the adjustments are eliminating desirable features of the 1994 reform. On the US, Becker and Posner point out that facilitating the work of those over 60-years of age can reduce the deficit of Medicare in a fair amount.

World Bank´s universal health coverage study series

The World Bank conducted a series of studies of universal health coverage from 22 countries and Massachusetts. These countries have implemented programs to expand coverage from the bottom up—programs that have started with the poor and vulnerable. The series provides knowledge and operational tools to help countries tackle challenges in ways that are fiscally sustainable and that enhance equity and efficiency. Click here for the entire study series. 

Impacts of the health reform in the US

read the note here

New PAHO Director

The CISS congratulates Dr. Carissa F. Etienne for her new appointment as Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Her first message can be read here.

On United States healthcare reform

The federal government will extend the period for the implementation of "insurance markets" in the context of the health reform. See the note here. To learn more about the US healthcare reform, and other recent reforms in the American continent, access our CISS Health Systems and Insurance Report. 2006-2010 reforms here.  

UN Resolution on universal health insurance

The UN has issued a resolution that supports universal coverage for health insurance. The Resolution can be read here, while the newspaper note here.

2012 National Survey of Health and Nutrition in Mexico

Here you can access the results of the new National Survey of Health and Nutrition in Mexico (Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición - ENSANUT).

"Health Savings Accounts in Brazil"

The financing of healthcare for pensioners, and elderly in general, is an unsolved topic. In Brazil there are discussion for the implementation of Health Savings Accounts. HSA will allow workers to contribute during their active live to an account (similar to an Individual Retirement Account), and at retirement withdraw the money to complement the healthcare provided by the State. Read the note here (in Portuguese).

Today begins the 28th Pan American Sanitary Conference

The official link here

Causal effects of publicly provided health insurance

In the past years several countries around the world have implemented publicly subsidized health insurance aiming at extending coverage (see a CISS report on recent reforms in the Continent here). it is expected that these programs increase access to healthcare services and reduce out of pocket payments. The Oregon Health Study implemented a randomized experiment to assess the causal effect of social health insurance on these two variables. Results are positive. You can read the note here and the academic paper here.

Colombian Healthcare system problems

Follow here the news of the problems faced by the Colombian healthcare system.

Health Expenditure Trends in OECD countries

According to OECD Health Data 2012, in 2010 health spending grew slowly or even decline in real terms in almost all OECD countries, reversing a long-term trend of rapid increases.

Florida will not apply President Obama's health care reform

In Florida, the Obama's health care reform will not apply, as the governor believes that the reform would hurt their objectives to create jobs, contain the cost of living and education finance. For more information see here and here.

EU Supreme Court Lets Obama's Health Law Largely Stand

The United States Supreme Court on Thursday largely let stand President Obamas's health care overhaul. The Supreme Court considered the "individual mandate" requiring Americans to purchase health insurance or pay a fine, in case they do not, as a tax, and therefore, Congress did not exceed the limits imposed by the Constitution to approve it. The decision represents a striking victory in the context of campaigns for the presidency of EU. More information here.

Issues with the supply of drugs in Spain

The supply of drugs is turning out as a difficult toic in Spain due to the contraction of public budgets.

Health co-payment is imposed in Spain

In order to obtain an estimated saving of 7,000 million euros, the Spanish government announced on Tuesday the royal decree of the Spanish health care reform. This decree imposes a pharmaceutical copayment to medicines, prostheses and ambulances. The measure must be adopted before July 1st.  More information here and here.

Obama´s health-care law will increase the deficit

A U.S. study claims that the Obama´s health care law will add more than US$340 billion to the deficit that currently exists in the country. More information here.

World Health Day - 7 April

World Health Day was celebrated on 7 April. This year the World Health Organization (WHO) chose the theme "Ageing and health: Good health adds life to years" as a topic of major interest. With this, the WHO aims to show how good health throughout life can help older men and women lead full and productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities.

Academics and Healthcare reforms

An interesting note of how researchers support decision-making.