Universal pensions in Mauritius: lessons for the rest of us

Abstract That the Government of Mauritius provides nearly every resident over the age of 60 with a non-contributory, basic pension is one of the best-kept secrets in the world. The scheme dates from 1950 and became universal in 1958, following abolition of a means test. Remarkably, introduction of a compulsory, contributory scheme for workers in the private sector appears to have strengthened the non-contributory regime without affecting its universality. This paper examines the past and future of non-contributory, universal pensions in Mauritius, and draws lessons that might be useful for other countries, especially those in the developing world

The Future of Government: Lessons Learned from around the World

The report provides a summary of the discussions that have taken place within the framework of Forum activities on how the strategies, structures and practices of governments must change in the coming years, and how new networks and technologies can be leveraged to transform government capacity. It includes a series of policy briefs, which distils some of the most current and vital information for government modernization available, and concludes with case studies from around the world

The role of mutational analysis of KIT and PDGFRA in gastrointestinal stromal tumors in a clinical setting

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Most GIST harbor a mutation affecting either the KIT or PDGFRA genes, whereas a small subgroup of tumors is wild type for mutations

A Rasch-Based Dimension of Delivery Experience: Spontaneous versus medically Assisted Conception

Aims and objectives To devise a set of indices representative of a latent dimension of delivery perception, aimed at the assessment of birth experience after both spontaneous and medically assisted conception. Background Birth experience is of great importance for its prognostic value for the woman and newborn's psychophysical well-being, especially after the experience of assisted reproduction technology. Up to date, a delivery perception assessment measure targeted to both spontaneously and medically assisted conceiving women does not exist yet. Design Measure development and psychometric analysis; quantitative and qualitative analysis of women's delivery experience measures. Methods Thirty-one indices characterising seven relevant aspects of birth perception were devised from the literature and evaluated on a 4-point Likert-type scale by 98 childbearing women (54 spontaneously and 44 medically assisted conceiving) in the 24–48 hours postpartum time frame. Women's obstetric history information was also collected. The dimension psychometric definition was pursued within a latent trait perspective, by applying the many-facet Rasch measurement model. Results A latent delivery perception dimension composed of 18 valid and reliable indices, qualifying six labour and delivery perception clinical aspects, was identified. Medically assisted conceiving women evidenced a more positive birth perception, but when analysing each index, they showed peculiar intense worries about themselves and their baby's health, even if they felt more satisfied, safer and stronger in almost every labour and birth aspect. Conclusions The delivery perception dimension integrates all relevant birth experience aspects in 18 easy-to-administer indices and provides a valid, reliable and feasible assessment tool for both the clinical practice and research purposes. Relevance to clinical practice The delivery perception dimension clearly discriminates between women's types of conception and identifies relevant differences in their birth experience, which are interesting for their clinical implications within a prognostic and intervention perspective of support provision in the early postpartum period