Can revenue collection for public funding in health care be progressive? An assessment of 29 Countries.

Most research on health care equity focuses on accessing services, with less attention given to how revenue is collected to pay for a country's health care bill. This article examines the progressivity of revenue collection among publicly funded sources: income taxes, social insurance (often in the form of payroll) taxes, and consumption taxes (e.g.

End-of-life expenditure on health care for the older population: a scoping review.

Background: The existing evidence shows that the pattern of health expenditure differs considerably between people at the end-of-life and people in other periods of their lives. The awareness of these differences, combined with a detailed analysis of future mortality rates is one of the key pieces of information needed for health spending prognoses. The general objective of this review was to identify and map the existing empirical evidence on end-of-life expenditure related to health care for the older population.

The association between air pollutions and emergency hospitalizations due to COPD and asthma across 16 Polish cities: population-based study.

Objectives: In recent years numerous initiatives aimed at reducing air pollution have been undertaken in Poland. The general objective was to examine the correlation between air pollution measured by the level of particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter (PM) and emergency hospitalizations due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma in 16 Polish cities (capitals of the regions).

Material And Methods: The authors aimed to diagnose the situation across 16 cities over a 5‑year period (2014-2019).

Development of a tool for assessing the performance of long-term care systems in relation to care transition: Transitional Care Assessment Tool in Long-Term Care (TCAT-LTC).

Background: Improving the quality and safety of care transitions is a priority in many countries. Carrying out performance measurements play a significant role in improving quality of decisions undertaken by different actors involved in reforms. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to present the development of an evaluation tool for assessing the performance of long-term care systems in relation to care transition, namely the Transitional Care Assessment Tool in Long-Term Care (TCAT-LTC).

Unmet Health Care Needs of the Older Population in European Countries Based on Indicators Available in the Eurostat Database.

Access to healthcare may affect the health of the population, especially older people. The aim of this study is to analyze the reasons and factors influencing the unmet healthcare needs (UHCN) of the older population in the context of differences between age groups for 28 European countries. A self-reported UHCN indicator obtained from Eurostat database was used.

The Association Between Hospital Financial Performance and the Quality of Care - A Scoping Literature Review.

Background: Improving the quality of hospital care is an important policy objective. Hospitals operate under pressure to contain costs and might face challenges related to financial deficits. The objective of this paper was to identify and map the available evidence on the association between hospital financial performance (FP) and quality of care (Q).

Are Measures of Health Status for the Total Population Good Proxies for the Health of the Older Population in International Comparison Studies?

In the face of population aging, the health of older people is becoming especially important, impacting various areas of life, societies and countries' economies. To provide the basis for effective decisions to achieve better health, comparative analyses can be used to find best practices to follow. The aim of the research was to check whether drawing conclusions about the older population's health based on the health status of the total population is justified in international comparison analyses.

Key Care Provision Aspects That Affect Care Transition in the Long-Term Care Systems: Preliminary Review Findings.

The aim of this brief report is to present the protocol and preliminary findings of a systematic review on key aspects of care provision that affect care transition of older adults 60+ within the long-term care systems. This brief report describes and classifies the relevant literature found in the review with the purpose to provide a base for further full systematic reviews, and to outlines a model of organizational and financing aspects that affect care transition. Our search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL on 2 March 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes in the use and uptake of a national out-of-hours telephone triage service by younger and older patients seeking non-urgent unplanned care surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in Flanders (Belgium).

Background: This study seeks to examine if and how the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted changes in the use and uptake of a national out-of-hours (OOH) telephone triage service by younger and older patients seeking non-urgent unplanned care in Flanders (Belgium).

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using registry data obtained from the 1733 OOH telephone triage service in a Flemish region of Belgium. All calls received between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020 were analyzed.

Do financial aspects affect care transitions in long-term care systems? A systematic review.

Background: Suboptimal care transitions of older adults may ultimately lead to worse quality of care and increased costs for the health and social care systems. Currently, policies and financing often focus on care in specific settings only, and neglect quality of care during transitions between these settings. Therefore, appropriate financing mechanisms and improved care coordination are necessary for effective care transitions.

The application of the QALY measure in the assessment of the effects of health interventions on an older population: a systematic scoping review.

Background: One of the most commonly used types of evaluation methods is cost-utility analysis (CUA), using the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) indicator as a preference-based measure for assessing effects of a given programme. Such assessments are often translated into health-care provision priorities; therefore, effectively choosing the method of outcome evaluation is crucial for ensuring the best possible allocation of scarce resources. The main objective of this scoping review is to identify what kinds of problems and limitations may occur when the QALY indicator is used to assess the effects of health interventions in the older population.

The association between hospital financial performance and the quality of care-a scoping review protocol.

Background: Hospitals operate under constant pressure to contain costs and improve the quality of care. The literature suggests that there is an association between health care providers' financial performance and the quality of care. On the one hand, providers that are financially more stable might have better capacity to maintain reliable systems and resources for quality improvement.

Assessing Policy Challenges and Strategies Supporting Informal Caregivers in the European Union.

Cost containment and the preferences of older adults are important stimuli for encouraging the provision of informal care worldwide. Nevertheless, informal caregiving can have negative effects on caregiver's health, wellbeing, and employment opportunities. Moreover, it is questionable whether informal caregivers can substantially contribute to meeting the increasing demand for care or serve as a substitute for formally provided services.

Assessing health systems' preparedness for providing care for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants: a scoping review.

Background: Health care systems and care professionals often face the challenge of providing adequate health care for migrant groups. The objective of this study is to answer the question of whether and how meeting the special health system requirements regarding refugees (R), asylum seekers (AS) and migrants (M) (RASM) is checked and evaluated.

Methods: A scoping review was used as a methodology of the research, with four electronic databases, websites of relevant organizations and European projects searched, using a strictly defined search strategy.

Financial Performance of Public Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study among Polish Providers.

There is growing evidence of a positive association between health care providers' financial standing and the quality of care. In Poland, the instable financial situation and growing debt of public hospitals has been a source of concern for more than two decades now. The objectives of this paper were to compare the financial performance of public hospitals in Poland, depending on the ownership and organizational form; and analyze whether there is an association between financial performance and the chosen variables.

Poland: Health System Review.

This analysis of the Polish health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health care provision, health reforms and health system performance. In late 2017, the Polish government committed to increase the share of public expenditures on health to 6% of GDP by 2024. If the GDP continues to grow in the years to come, this will present an opportunity to tackle mounting health challenges such as socioeconomic inequalities in health, high rates of obesity, rising burden of mental disorders and population ageing that put strain on health care resources.

Improving oncological care organization in Poland-The 2015 reform evaluation in the context of European experiences.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with a significant economic impact which has been increasing in recent decades. Numerous expert groups and/or international organizations have developed guidelines on how to build effective cancer control mechanisms, while in the European Union the majority of countries have developed national programmes. In Poland, cancer is the second leading cause of death.

Economic evaluation of health promotion interventions for older people: do applied economic studies meet the methodological challenges?

Background: In the light of demographic developments health promotion interventions for older people are gaining importance. In addition to methodological challenges arising from the economic evaluation of health promotion interventions in general, there are specific methodological problems for the particular target group of older people. There are especially four main methodological challenges that are discussed in the literature.

The impact of aging on different types of health care: The example of the Polish health insurance system.

The aging phenomenon, which is being observed all over the world, can strongly affect health policy and a planning in the health care sector. However, the impact of demographic changes on different parts of it can be varied. The main objective of this study was to check the possible impact of aging on health expenditure (HE) regarding different types of health care and to evaluate whether this impact is significant for all analyzed areas.

Economic evaluation of health promotion and primary prevention actions for older people-a systematic review.

Background: Healthy ageing and health promotion (HP) actions for older people have become an important health sector priority. At the same time, the application of economic evaluation methods in the field of health interventions in order to support allocative decision processes is of growing importance. The aims of the review were to analyze what the existing evidence is on cost-effectiveness of HP and/or primary prevention (PP) programmes for older people whilst providing deeper insight into methodological aspects of such studies, their overall quality and issues related to practical implementation of results.

The transparency of published health technology assessment-based recommendations on pharmaceutical reimbursement in Poland.

Background: The appropriate access to public information is very important for healthcare system stakeholders. The goal of this study was to examine how the execution of the formally existing right to public information on the HTA-based recommendations on reimbursement of new health technologies from public funds has been changing in Poland.

Methods: All recommendations published within two predefined equal periods of time between 2013 and 2015 were analyzed.

Economic evaluation of health promotion for older people-methodological problems and challenges.

Background: The support of health promotion activities for older people gains societal relevance in terms of enhancing the health and well-being of older people with a view to the efficient use of financial resources in the healthcare sector. Health economic evaluations have become an important instrument to support decision-making processes in many countries. Sound evidence on the cost-effectiveness of health promotion activities would encourage support for the implementation of health promotion activities for older people.

Production lost due to cervical cancer in Poland in 2012.

Background: Poland has one of the highest cervical cancer mortality rates in Europe. It is related to the problem of late diagnosis and low attendance rate in screening programs. The objective of the study has been to assess the annual production loss due to the cervical cancer morbidity and mortality in Poland in 2012.

[The effect of pharmacologic therapy of hyperthyroidism on automatic heart conduction].

Investigations of the heart automatism were carried out in 10 patients with hyperthyreoidism before thiamazol therapy and after restoration of the euthyroid status. A control group was comprised of 34 healthy subjects. In order to determine the electrophysiologic parameters the transoesophageal atrium extrastimulus technique and the over-driving stimulation were applied.

[Effect of drug therapy of hyperthyroidism on the electrophysiological parameters of the heart].

Investigations of heart automatism have been performed in 10 patients with hyperthyreosis prior and after the euthyreosis obtaining with the methizol therapy. The control group consisted of 34 healthy volunteers. The electrophysiologic parameters of heart were determined by the transoesophageal stimulation of atrium using the method of single impulse and rapid stimulation.