OBJECTIVES Japan has a universal healthcare system, and this paper describes the reality of the healthcare services provided, as well as current issues with the system. METHODS Academic, government, and press reports on Japanese healthcare systems and healthcare guidelines were reviewed. RESULTS The universal healthcare system of Japan is considered internationally to be both low-cost and e...

Poverty, as a ‘well-being failure’, is multi-dimensional and goes beyond material conditions. Furthermore, material conditions reach beyond income (e.g., consumption, wealth). However, household income is the metric most commonly available in OECD countries, and where comparability issues are better understood. This paper focuses on the household income poverty indicators collected and analysed...

States are central to development and human well-being. In Afghanistan, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which for many contemporary commentators epitomize weak or fragile states, the inability to provide security and establish a presence throughout their territory has left local communities vulnerable to warlords and militias and undermined the prospect of economic growth and basic...

INTRODUCTION Economic recession periods can pose accentuated risks to population's mental health and well-being as well as additional threats to health systems. Users and health professionals are key stakeholders in care delivery; however, little attention has been given to their experiences of the crisis. This paper presents a qualitative study protocol to assess users' and health professional...

In this paper we discuss the Russian adult health crisis and its implications. Although some hope that economic growth will trigger improvements in health, we argue that a scenario is more likely in which the unfavorable health status would become a barrier to economic growth. We also show that ill health is negatively affecting the economic well-being of individuals and households. We provide ...

This paper examines the use of nutrition and health indicators for assessment of well-being and deprivation in the developing world, arguing that child anthropometric indicators provide a reliable, interesting, and readily available data source for comparison of absolute deprivation across populations and countries. Indicators of child malnutrition shortfall⎯especially height for age and weight...

The health and well-being of adolescents has a tremendous impact on the overall health of North Carolinians: the youths of today are tomorrow’s workforce, parents, teachers, and leaders. Ensuring that youths find a way to successfully navigate adolescence is of critical importance not only to their health and well-being but also to the economic growth of our state. Unfortunately, data show that...