Mobile cell-phones (M-phones) in telemicroscopy: increasing connectivity of isolated laboratories

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The development of modern information telecommunication (ITC) technology and its use in telemedicine plays an increasingly important role in facilitating access to some diagnostic services even to people living in the most remote areas. However, physical and economical constraints in the access to broad band data-transmission network, still represent a considerable obstacle to the transmission of images for the purpose of tele-pathology.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Indifferently using m-phones of different brands, and a variety of microscopic preparations, images were taken without the use of any adaptor simply approaching the lens of the mobile cell phone camera to the ocular of common optical microscopes, and subsequently sent via Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) to distant reference centres for tele-diagnosis. Access to MMS service was reviewed with specific reference to the African information communication technology (ICT) market.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Images of any pathologic preparation could be captured and sent over the mobile phone with an MMS, without being limited by appropriate access to the internet for transmission (i.e. access to broad-band services). The quality of the image was not influenced by the brand or model of the mobile-phone used, but only by its digital resolution, with any resolution above 0.8 megapixel resulting in images sufficient for diagnosis.</p> <p>Access to MMS services is increasingly reaching remote disadvantaged areas. Current penetration of the service in Africa was mapped appearing already available in almost every country, with penetration index varying from 1.5% to 92.2%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of otherwise already widely available technologies, without any need for adaptors or otherwise additional technology, could significantly increase opportunities and quality diagnostics while lowering costs and considerably increasing connectivity between most isolated laboratories and distant reference center.</p

Health workers and sustainable systems for health in a post-growth society

The Agenda 2030 signed by the Heads of State and Government in 2015 set out 17 indivisible and universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. Among others the Agenda 2030 proposes to achieve "sustainable, inclusive and sustained growth" (SDG 8), in fact an oxymoron due to the "limits of growth" in a finite ecosystem. The SDG 3, "Ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being for all at all ages", included among others the target "3.8: achieving universal health coverage”. Besides representing a substantial regression from the original WHO’s Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy, which addressed among others the social and economic determinants of health, the UHC target and the SDG3 are deemed to be unattainable due to the constant increase in demand on the one side and inappropriate offer of health services on the other, both largely determined by factors outside the health sector and linked to the present hegemonic unsustainable growth-defined development model. Focusing on the health care model and the generation of its human resources, we highlight how both remained mostly anchored to standardized and, today, globalized biomedical hospital-centric models, which are inadequate to meet populations’ health needs and expectations. We then suggest the need for a paradigmatic shift in the health and social care organization (toward a human rights and&nbsp; social determinants approach, home- community-based care, integrated-holistic approaches, patients’ empowerment, etc.) and the health workers’ educational model (linking it to the specific characteristics of local contexts in terms of needs and resources, and to a new ethical framework). Both are&nbsp; pillars of the transformation of health systems toward a post-growth society

Decarbonisation, climate change, and human rights: a road map for the future of Puglia region

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Understanding the Context of Global Health Policies: Their Post-Colonial

The systemic inadequacies of models of health systems propagated by the advocates of global health policies (GHPs) have fragmented health service systems, particularly in middle- and lower-income countries. GHPs are underpinned by economic interests and the need for control by the global elite, irrespective of people’s health needs. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the advocates of GHPs, leading to calls for a movement for “decolonisation” of global health. Much of this narrative on the “decolonisation” of GHPs critiques its northern knowledge base, and the power derived from it at individual, institutional and national levels. This, it argues, has led to an unequal exchange of knowledge, making it impossible to end decades of oppressive hegemony and to prevent inappropriate decision-making on GHPs. Despite these legitimate concerns, little in the literature on the decolonisation of GHPs extends beyond epistemological critiques. This article offers a radically different perspective. It is based on an understanding of the role of transnational capital in extracting wealth from the economies of low- and middle-income countries resulting in influencing and shaping public health policy and practice, including interactions between the environment and health. It mobilises historical evidence of distorted priorities underpinning GHPs and the damaging consequences for health services throughout the world

coal mining and coal use the european perspective

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BRICS' role in global health and the promotion of universal health coverage: the debate continues.

The acronym BRIC was coined by Jim O’Neill, a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, to denote four emerging national economies: Brazil, the Russian Federation, India and China. Although BRICS and other multinational groupings may be useful to policy-makers involved in the development of some foreign policies, it remains unclear if such groupings have a role in the study and development of global health policy. We examine the debate around this issue and focus on BRICS’ potential role in the promotion of universal health coverage – an “umbrella” goal for health in the post-2015 development framework. We do not argue that BRICS has no value as a grouping. The constituent nations do have some things in common: they are all large, populous, diverse countries with many different ethnic, social and – in some cases – religious divisions. They share these characteristics with some other countries, such as Indonesia, Nigeria, Indonesia and Pakistan, that have made less progress toward universal health coverage but may be able to learn from BRICS’ experiences. There is no doubt that, in the promotion of universal health coverage, there is a need for collaboration and shared learning. However, a grouping of countries that may make sense in the coordination of global macroeconomic policy cannot be assumed to be relevant in the development of any global health policy

An Online Survey of the Perceptions of Clinical and Non-Clinical Professionals on Healthcare for Non-Communicable Diseases and COVID-19 Measures During the Pandemic in Malaysia

Objectives: This study assesses the opinions of health professionals in Malaysia on the disruption of non-communicable disease (NCD) services during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to January 2022. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 191 non-clinical public health workers and clinical health service workers in Malaysia from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants were recruited by the Malaysian Ministry of Health using major networks including key experts and practitioners. Secondary respondents were subsequently enrolled through snowballing. Results: The most notable issues raised by the survey participants relate to NCD service disruption, the redirection of NCD care resources, and NCD care being overburdened post-pandemic. Respondents also reported accounts of resilience and prompt reaction from the healthcare system, as well as calls for innovation. Conclusion: Most respondents perceived that the challenges arising from COVID-19 were mostly managed well by the healthcare system, which was able to provide the necessary services to NCD patients during this health emergency. However, the study identifies gaps in the health system response and preparedness capacity, and highlights solutions for strengthening NCD services

An Online Survey of the Perceptions of Clinical Professionals on Healthcare for Non-Communicable Diseases and Covid-19 Measures During the Pandemic in Malaysia

El material suplementario del artículo puede ser encontrado de manera online en: https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605861/full#supplementary-material Este artículo está sujeto a una licencia CC BY 4.0.Objectives: This study assesses the opinions of health professionals in Malaysia on the disruption of non-communicable disease (NCD) services during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to January 2022. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 191 non-clinical public health workers and clinical health service workers in Malaysia from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants were recruited by the Malaysian Ministry of Health using major networks including key experts and practitioners. Secondary respondents were subsequently enrolled through snowballing. Results: The most notable issues raised by the survey participants relate to NCD service disruption, the redirection of NCD care resources, and NCD care being overburdened post-pandemic. Respondents also reported accounts of resilience and prompt reaction from the healthcare system, as well as calls for innovation. Conclusion: Most respondents perceived that the challenges arising from COVID-19 were mostly managed well by the healthcare system, which was able to provide the necessary services to NCD patients during this health emergency. However, the study identifies gaps in the health system response and preparedness capacity, and highlights solutions for strengthening NCD services.Peer reviewe

Exploring key-stakeholder perceptions on non-communicable disease care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya

Este artículo está sujeto a una licencia CC BY 4.0Introduction: over one third of total Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years lost in Kenya are due to non-communicable diseases (NCD). In response, the Government declared significant commitment towards improving NCD care. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the burden on the already overstretched health systems in Kenya. The aims of this study are to assess whether health care providers perceived NCD care to be optimal during the pandemic and explore how to improve responses to future emergencies. Methods: this cross-sectional online survey included healthcare personnel with non-clinical roles (public health workers and policy-makers) and those delivering health care (doctors and nurses). Respondents were recruited between May and September 2021 by random sampling, completed by snowball sampling. Results: among 236 participants (42% in clinical, 58% in non-clinical roles) there was an overall consensus between respondents on NCD care being disrupted and compromised during the pandemic in Kenya. Detracted supplies, funding, and technical resources affected the continuity of NCDs response, despite government efforts. Respondents agreed that the enhanced personnel capacity and competencies to manage COVID-19 patients were positive, but noted a lack of guidance for redirecting care for chronic diseases, and advocated for digital innovation as a solution. Conclusion: this paper explores the perceptions of key stakeholders involved in the management of NCDs in Kenya to improve planning for future emergency responses. Gaps were identified in health system response and preparedness capacity during the pandemic including the perceived need to strengthen NCD services, with solutions offered to guide resilience efforts to protect the health system from disruption.Peer reviewe