Filaggrin gene defects and risk of developing allergic sensitisation and allergic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To investigate whether filaggrin gene defects, present in up to one in 10 western Europeans and North Americans, increase the risk of developing allergic sensitisation and allergic disorders

Evidence-based restructuring of health and social care

In this Perspective, Aziz Sheikh discusses research to evaluate health policy changes in the provision of care, commenting on a study by James Lopez Bernal and colleagues that examined specialist-dominated hospital care versus community-based care in the United Kingdom

The notion of access to health care in a large-scale social health protection initiative: a case study of 'Sehat Sahulat Programme' at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

# Background Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP), a health insurance initiative, was launched by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) in Pakistan to improve access to quality health services. In this paper, we describe the notion of access under SSP, present stakeholders' views on access-related challenges, and suggest ways forward to realise SSP's access-related objective in the broader context of its contribution towards Pakistan's drive to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). # Methods We employed a case study design approach using three data sources. We used official GoKP programme documents to capture the chronology of events (policy interventions), in-depth interviews to explore the drivers behind the events and non-participant observations to understand the decision-making and implementation processes. We employed maximum variation sampling. Access to documents and observation sites was gained through the SSP director. We recruited interviewees through direct and indirect approaches and conducted thematic analysis. # Findings GoKP engaged the State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) of Pakistan as a purchaser. SLIC purchased services from public and private hospitals for SSP patients, up to 600,000 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) per family per year. Considering this insurance coverage, GoKP officials claimed SSP made health care accessible, which the development partners contested. Instead of the narrow finance-centric definition by GoKP, the development partners highlighted the broader dimensions of access, including the services’ acceptability and availability. Tensions existed between the interpretation of the stakeholders on different dimensions of access. For instance, GoKP and SLIC claimed that including private hospitals in SSP improved services’ availability, but development partners noted an under-supply of private providers in remote districts of the province. Bridging such an undersupply, SLIC made inter-district referrals, which the patient advocates noted led to travel costs and geographical barriers. Similarly, GoKP officials claimed SSP had good acceptability. The providers noted that SSP’s acceptability was damaged by limited patient choice, low package rates, and delayed claims payments. # Conclusions This analysis suggests that SSP had challenges with the acceptability and geographical dimensions of access which GoKP needed to address. A key transferrable lesson is that demand-side intervention (insurance) might not improve access with a weak supply side. Therefore, countries contemplating improving access to services enroute to achieving UHC need to address both supply and demand-side considerations

Archetypal trajectories of social, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing and distress in family care givers of patients with lung cancer: secondary analysis of serial qualitative interviews

Objective To assess if family care givers of patients with lung cancer experience the patterns of social, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing and distress typical of the patient, from diagnosis to death

The German Development Bank as a policy entrepreneur for social health protection: a case study of the development and implementation of the ‘Sehat Sahulat Programme’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

# Background The German Development Bank (KfW) supported the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) to design and implement its first social health protection (SHP) scheme, named the Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP). We described the role of KfW in the evolution of SSP with a view to identifying transferrable lessons for international development agencies working on similar initiatives in socioeconomically comparable contexts. # Methods We employed a qualitative instrumental case study design approach. First, we obtained and analysed key programme documents to describe the chronology of events and policy changes. We then undertook in-depth interviews to understand factors influencing policy changes. Finally, we carried out non-participant observations to understand how policy decisions were made and implemented. We employed maximum variation sampling to recruit participants and conducted a thematic analysis of data. # Results SSP was described by GoKP officials as an innovative financing strategy and a flagship project of the government formed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). First, programme officials reported that KfW was instrumental in both designing and financing SSP, which had plans to provide free health insurance to low-income families and raise revenue through paid enrollment of the wealthy (solidarity). Second, GoKP deviated from this model and covered the entire population of KP free of cost. Through SSP, GoKP envisaged service provision through private hospitals (subsidiarity). In the third year, GoKP included public sector hospitals in the programme. Although planned supplementary insurance products might result in inequitable utilisation, KfW continued supporting SSP and committed funding for piloting outpatient department services for two years, 2023 and 2024. # Conclusions This in-depth case study has highlighted the potentially positive role of international development assistance in introducing innovative financing strategies to promote universal health coverage. However, development partners might have limited control over how things evolve