T U.S. health care system has a lot going for it – tremendous resources, a talented workforce and cutting-edge science and technology – yet by many accounts, it is a mess. In 2004, medical spending in this country reached a staggering $1.9 trillion and grew 7.9 percent over the previous year. Although this was the slowest growth rate since 2000, health care spending still rose faster than wages...

INTRODUCTION The Democratic Republic of the Congo is today one of the poorest countries in the world; the health status of the population ranks among the worst in Sub-Saharan Africa. Public health services charge user fees and drug prices. Since 2008, north-eastern Congo is facing a guerrilla war. Malteser International is assisting with free health care for internally displaced persons as well...

Rapid growth in the share of the nation's gross national product devoted to health expenditure has heightened concern over the survival of government entitlement programs and has led to debate of the desirability of current methods of financing health care. In this article, the authors present the data at the heart of the issue, quantifying spending for various types of health care in 1982 and ...

To cite: Puri L, Das J, Pai M, et al. BMJ Stel 2017;3(Suppl 1):S15–S22. ABSTRACT Background Quality of medical care in low income and middle income countries (LMICs) is variable, resulting in significant medical errors and adverse patient outcomes. Integration of simulation-based training and assessment may be considered to enhance quality of patient care in LMICs. The aim of this study was to ...

BACKGROUND The majority of global cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden falls on people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In order to reduce preventable CVD mortality and morbidity, LMIC health systems and health care providers need to improve the delivery and quality of CVD care. OBJECTIVES As part of the Disease Control Priorities Three (DCP3) Study efforts addressing qualit...

BACKGROUND Diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and constitute a leading cause of mortality. Although a call for global action has been resonating for years, the progress in national policy development in LMICs has not been assessed. This review of strategies to prevent NCDs in LMICs provides a benchmark against which po...

Locating GHA to address the digital divide in global health research GHA was launched at the end of May 2008 as a collaborative effort between Umeå Centre for Global Health Research at Umeå University and Co-Action Publishing. The journal was established to ‘contribute to fuelling a more concrete, hands-on approach to global health challenge’, and to address the global health agenda, with a str...

BACKGROUND Universal health coverage (UHC) is critical to global poverty alleviation and equity of health systems. Many low-income and middle-income countries, including small island states in the Pacific, have committed to UHC and reforming their health financing systems to better align with UHC goals. This study provides the first comprehensive evidence on equity of the health financing syste...

BACKGROUND We present a literature review on trauma exposure and spirit possession in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the World Health Organization's objective of culturally appropriate mental health care in the Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, and the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to consider local idioms of distress and to collaborate with local ...

BACKGROUND The number of Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasing, but questions have been raised regarding the relevance of their outcomes and impacts on context. Although processes for validating public health competencies have taken place in recent years in many high-income countries, validation in LMICs is needed. Furthermore, impact...