World Health Organization Member States Research Articles

Approaches for delivery of refractive and optical care services in community and primary care settings.

Uncorrected refractive error is a leading cause of vision impairment which, in most cases, can be managed with the appropriate spectacle correction. In 2021, the World Health Assembly endorsed a global target of a 40-percentage-point increase in effective coverage of refractive error by 2030. To achieve this global target, equitable access to refractive and optical services within community and primary care settings needs to be strengthened. This review will inform the development of technical guidance to support improvements in the testing and correction of refractive error among World Health Organization (WHO) member states. To determine the range of approaches for delivery of refractive and optical care services in community and primary care settings, and the methods employed for their evaluation. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and Global Health databases, grey literature, and annual reports and websites of relevant organizations involved in eye-care delivery from January 2002 to November 2022 to identify approaches for refractive and optical service delivery. We included observational and interventional studies, reviews, and reports from relevant organizations related to delivering refractive services and optical services for preschool and school-aged children and adults in community and primary care settings published between January 2002 and November 2022. We searched for studies and reports published within the last 20 years because vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error has only recently become a public health and eye health priority, therefore we did not expect to find much relevant literature until after 2002. Two review authors screened titles, abstracts and full texts, and extracted data. We resolved any discrepancies through discussion. We synthesized data, and presented results as tables, figures, and case studies. This project was led by the World Health Organization (WHO) Vision and Eye Care Programme. We identified 175 studies from searches of databases and grey literature, 146 records from company reports, and 81 records from website searches of relevant organizations that matched our inclusion criteria. Delivery approaches for refractive and optical services in community care included school-based, pharmacy, and outreach models, whereas primary care approaches comprised vision centre, health centre, and a combination of vision or health centre and door-to-door delivery. In community care, school-based and outreach approaches were predominant, while in primary care, a vision-centre approach was mainly used. In the WHO African region, the school-based and outreach approaches were mainly reported while, in the Americas, the outreach approach was mostly used. Very few approaches for service delivery were reported in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. Prominent gaps exist in the evaluation of the approaches, and few studies attempted to evaluate the approaches for delivery of refractive and optical care services. We comprehensively describe a range of approaches for delivery of refractive and optical services in community and primary care. Further evaluation of their effectiveness will better inform the application of these service-delivery approaches. The study outcomes will help guide WHO member states in strengthening refractive and optical services at community and primary care levels. This scoping review was supported by the Vision and Eye care Programme, World Health Organization and ATscale Global Partnership. The protocol of this scoping review was published in the Open Source Framework.

Urgent pandemic messaging of WHO, World Bank, and G20 is inconsistent with their evidence base

AbstractWhen international agencies make claims of an “existential threat” to humanity and advocate for urgent action from countries, it should be a safe assumption that they are consistent with their own data. However, a review of the data and evidentiary citations underlying the claims of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, and the Group of Twenty (G20) reveals a troubling picture in which the stated urgency and burden of infectious disease outbreaks, namely those of pandemic threat, is grossly misrepresented. These discrepancies in key documents and subsequent recitations in pandemic preparedness proposals have significant policy and financial implications. Disproportionate pandemic preparedness based on these false premises risks a significant opportunity cost through unnecessary diversion of financial and political resources away from global health priorities of higher burden. As WHO Member States plan to transform the way international health emergencies are managed at the World Health Assembly in May 2024, there is a crucial need to pause, rethink, and ensure future policy reflects evidence of need.

Analysing governments' progress on the right to health.

To examine the influence of varying articulations of the right to health under domestic constitutions, legislation and jurisprudence on the scope of legal protection for health. We investigated legal recognition of the right to health, by conducting a three-level search. First, we searched databases containing constitutional texts. Second, we did a thematic analysis of those constitutional texts with explicit constitutional recognition of health rights, employing NVivo for coding. For the 54 World Health Organization (WHO) Member States without explicit constitutional provisions, we explored statutory paths, judicial constructions and instances where both methods contributed to the acknowledgement of health rights. Lastly, we confirmed evidence of jurisprudence constructing a right to health based on a combination of domestic law and international human rights norms incorporated directly into the text. We identified 140 WHO Member States with a constitutionalized right to health. Our analysis suggests there are notable variations in the legal scope of protection for health, including breadth of entitlements and the possibility of enforcing these rights through the legal system. We also highlight the critical importance of constitutional acknowledgement, legislative measures, and judicial interpretations in shaping the legal entitlements to health-care services, affecting their accessibility and financial support. The analysis offers insights for policy-makers to assess different approaches to health-related entitlements, with implications for health financing and the evaluation of Member States' strides towards universal access to comprehensive care. This analysis also illuminates how distinct formulations of the right to health have varied effects on reducing health disparities.

Neurosurgery and the World Health Organization Intersectoral Global Action Plan for Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022-2031.

The World Health Organization's Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Diseases 2022-2031 is a holistic, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral plan with a strong focus on equity and human rights. The IGAP was unanimously approved by all World Health Organization Member States at the 75th World Health Assembly in May 2022 and provides a framework for researchers and clinicians to study and address national and global inadequacies in the evaluation and management of people suffering from neurological disorders and their prevention. While IGAP has applied epilepsy as an entry point for other neurological disorders, advocacy by neurologists and neurosurgeons has broadened it to include diseases with a large and growing global health footprint such as stroke, hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, and brain and spine cancers. The IGAP is important to neurosurgeons globally because it provides the first ever roadmap for comprehensively addressing unmet neurological and neurosurgical care in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, it creates an opportunity for neurologists and neurosurgeons to scale up services for neurological diseases in tandem. As such, it provides a structure for the neurosurgery community to become involved in global health initiatives at all levels.

The 2020 immunization programme landscape: Piloting an assessment metric to evaluate the maturity of national immunization programmes across the life course

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) encourages countries to provide appropriate vaccinations for children, adolescents, and relevant adult populations. Childhood programme have been the focus of global investments, but recent pandemics have increasingly demonstrated the value of life course vaccination. Our objective is to compare national life course immunization programmatic maturity prior to mass COVID-19 vaccine introduction, the largest adult vaccination programme, globally. As coverage estimates (typically used to assess childhood programmes) are not available for adult vaccinations, this analysis pilots a standardized quantitative metric of programmatic maturity. MethodsThrough consultation with vaccination experts, we developed a standardized approach to assess national immunization programme maturity across the life course. In accordance with expert input, five vaccines were selected to represent delivery across the life course: diphtheria tetanus toxoid and pertussis (DTP); measles (MCV) second dose; human papillomavirus (HPV) final dose; pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) final dose; and seasonal influenza annual dose. Experts recommended inclusion of the following indicators for each vaccine: a legal mandate (national policy), experience delivering the vaccine (programme duration), and vaccine use (uptake for relevant populations). We developed a metric accordingly that provides up to 5 points per vaccine (“vaccine specific maturity score”) which when summed forms the “life course maturity score”, with a maximum score of 25. We analysed the prevalence of national policies, experience, and use by region and World Bank income group. ResultsMore than 55% of the 194 WHO Member States had childhood vaccine policies for all three of the vaccines considered (DTP, MCV, and PCV) compared to 60% for HPV (proxy for adolescent vaccination programme) and 52% for seasonal influenza (proxy for adult vaccination programme). Childhood vaccination programmes (e.g., MCV and DTP) had the highest vaccine specific maturity scores, while seasonal influenza and HPV vaccination programmes had much lower scores. The national life course maturity scores ranged from 1 to 23, with a global median of 12 (IQR: 8; 16). DiscussionThe piloted metric provides an overview of the maturity of life course immunization programmes. The metric is structured to be a flexible, rapid resource that can be used to assess other combinations of vaccines across the life course. The findings from this paper provide a baseline of immunization programme maturity for childhood, adolescent, and adult vaccination programmes immediately prior to the COVID-19 vaccine introduction. This maturity score, or adaptations of this approach, could be used to monitor the trajectory of national immunization programme maturity across the life course in the years ahead.

The Global Demand and Supply Balance of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Implications for the Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.

As of November 2023, 140 World Health Organization (WHO) member states had introduced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in their routine immunization schedules. Despite a continuously increasing demand from countries across all income groups, supply constraints, COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, and other factors have slowed the pace of introduction, particularly in low-resource settings. Using a population-based forecasting methodology and leveraging the WHO's yearly vaccine supply data collection, we updated global demand and supply projections for the HPV vaccine for the period of 2022-2031. The analysis aimed at clarifying the magnitude of the challenges to bringing in equitable access to HPV vaccines, which can hinder the achievement of the Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. The results of this analysis show that the risk of HPV shortages has significantly decreased, and global supply is now, under normal circumstances, sufficient to meet global demand. In the long term, HPV supply will be more than sufficient to meet the Global Strategy's goal of 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years. Nonetheless, paying attention to the formulation of policies and carefully managing demand and supply will be required to ensure the long-term sustainability of the HPV vaccine program.

#WhatsYourPlan – expediting progress towards targets of the WHO Global Action Plan on Dementia

AbstractBackgroundIn 2017, all 194 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) unanimously adopted the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia 2017‐2025, the primary aim being for countries to implement National Dementia Plans (NDP). However, as outlined in Alzheimer’s Disease International’s (ADI) recent From Plan to Impact report, WHO Member States have been far too slow to act ‐ falling far short of the 146 countries target. In response, ADI launched the #WhatsYourPlan campaign, in collaboration with ADI Members, with the single‐minded aim of galvanising governments to act on their 2017 commitment.MethodStrategizing and working with ADI Members, official communications were sent to relevant ministries to enquire as to the status of the NDP, and to request a formal meeting. For Ministries where a response was not obtained, subsequent letters were sent to elicit a response. ADI has also, in some instances, sought advice and utilised WHO regional and national offices, and other multilateral bodies and stakeholders, to help follow up with Ministries of Health for those that have been willing to engage.ResultTo date, 52 ADI members and thus 52 countries have joined the campaign. In total from the onset of the campaign, over 205 official communications have been shared with Member States, resulting in a total of 29 high‐level meetings. In total 20 Member States have committed to developing an NDP, just over a third of all participating ADI Members and over half of the number of plans already in existence in WHO Member States.ConclusionOnly with robust NDPs can governments prepare their health and care systems to meet the complex needs of those affected by dementia. As ADI moves forwards into the second year of the campaign, the mission and scope remain, however with added urgency as the 2025 deadline gets nearer. The campaign will expand accordingly through awareness raising campaigns, media and social media engagement, and regional ADI/WHO meetings, whilst solidifying the successes of the previous year. Ultimately, with the intention of educating the public on why NDPs are so important, and to empower them to ask their own governments: #WhatsYourPlan?

Education components of school vaccine mandates: An environmental scan

BackgroundSchool vaccine mandates (SVMs) are population health interventions that require monitoring and communicating about vaccination of school-aged children, with an aim of controlling infectious disease outbreaks. While 43 % of World Health Organization member states report having some sort of SVM, their details vary. A newer element of some SVMs is an “education component” requiring compulsory information, education, or counseling of parents/guardians who decline to vaccinate their children for non-medical reasons. MethodsThis environmental scan sought, mapped, and synthesized evidence on the existence, format, and impacts of education components of SVMs in 18 affluent Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development comparator countries. FindingsWe found current SVMs in nine of the 18 comparator countries, but education components to those SVMs only in Canada (n = 2) and the U.S. (n = 9), where such policies were made at the provincial/state level. The earliest was implemented in 2011 and most recent has not yet been implemented. Education components were used as requirements for obtaining non-medical exemptions from SVMs, and involved either an informational paper to be read and signed, a counseling or information session from a health professional (public health worker or licensed provider such as family doctor), or an online module to be completed. Peer-reviewed research on in-person sessions suggests association with at least short-term increased vaccine uptake and reduction of non-medical exemptions. Available data on online module education components suggests similar impacts, but research to date is limited. ConclusionSVMs with educational components are uncommon but have been increasing since 2011. The details of these education components vary, although topics covered in online modules are relatively consistent. Evidence to date suggests at least short-term reduction in non-medical exemptions associated with implementation of SVM education components, but additional research is required to follow-up and confirm, especially as regards online education modules.

Shared Problems

AbstractSeveral pieces in the November‐December 2023 issue of the Hastings Center Report contribute to developing an expansive vision of bioethics. In the lead article, Sean Valles calls on the field to work against the problem of mass incarceration in the United States not only by addressing “what happens to people once they are inside prisons” but also with respect to the “ripple effects” the system has on health and well‐being in surrounding communities. Commentaries by Homer Venters and Jennifer Elyse James underscore and extend Valles's recommendations. In an essay, Jalayne Arias and colleagues propose a research agenda to shape a better response to the care needs of older incarcerated people. And in two other essays, Lawrence Gostin and colleagues call for strengthening the International Health Regulations, which are legally binding on World Health Organization member states, and Andrew Schroeder argues that a nation's public health policy should be responsive to the public's values as deliberated upon by the public itself.

‘EQUITY’ IN THE PANDEMIC TREATY: THE FALSE HOPE OF ‘ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING’

AbstractDuring the COVID-19 pandemic the international community repeatedly called for the equitable distribution of vaccines and other medical countermeasures. However, there was a substantial gap between this rhetoric and State action. High-income countries secured significantly more doses than they required, leaving many low-income countries unable to vaccinate their populations. Current negotiations for the new Pandemic Treaty under the World Health Organization (WHO) attempt to narrow the gap between rhetoric and behaviour by building the concept of equity into the Treaty's substantive content. However, equity is difficult to define, much less to operationalize. Presently, WHO Member States appear to have chosen ‘access and benefit-sharing’ (ABS) as the predominant mechanism for operationalizing equity in the Treaty. This article examines ABS as a mechanism, its use in public health, and argues that ABS is fundamentally flawed, unable to achieve equity. It proposes other options for an equitable international response to future pandemic threats.

Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: Global Epidemiology and Public Policy Implications.

Global trends in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancers (HNC), specifically in the oropharynx subsite, have been dynamically changing, leading to new staging and treatment paradigms. Epidemiologic studies have noted regional variations in HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). While HPV vaccination remains the main preventative approach, vaccination policy in relation to gender neutrality is heterogeneous and particularly sparse in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of global cancer cases and HPV-associated HNC are not well-characterized in certain regions. This review summarizes the existing literature on regional variations of HPV-associated OPSCC and gender-neutral vaccine policies. Based on available data, the incidence of HPV-associated OPSCC is highest in North America, Europe, and Oceania. As of 2022, 122 of 195 (63%) World Health Organization (WHO) member states had incorporated HPV vaccinations nationally; of these, 41 of 122 (34%) member states have introduced gender-neutral vaccine coverage. Future research is needed to describe continued evolving trends in HPV-associated OPSCC, understand underlying risk factors leading to regional variation in disease, and implement gender-neutral policy more broadly.

Methodological reflections: Developing the WHO database of Violence against Women policies.

This paper presents methodological reflections from the development of the WHO Violence against Women (VAW) Policies Database to inform future efforts to create similar public health policy databases for government accountability. Using the WHO Global Plan of Action on Violence accountability measures as a starting point, the Database was developed over a two-year period in consultation with a reference group. A subset of indicators was piloted before finalization of a full list and the structure of the Database. Available VAW policies from 194 WHO Member States were reviewed by a team of consultants, who conducted content analysis and data entry. A 'Manual and User Guide' was developed to record decisions related to the processes for developing the Database. This guide was used to draw out key reflections in relation to policy indicators; inclusion criteria for policy documents; languages and analysis; quality assurance; and sustainability. The process of developing the Database evolved iteratively in response to many factors, including the content of policies and the specificities of policy-making in each jurisdiction. Pragmatic decisions about the number of indicators and the types of policies to review were informed by pilot tests across a range of geographies. Standardization of analysis and data entry was ensured through the provision of in-depth guidance for researchers, and regular and open communication within the team was key to quality assurance. Online translation services enabled review of policy documents in most languages. Documentation of the methodology ensured that others could replicate processes with fidelity in the future. Despite complexities, it is possible to develop a sound methodology for analyzing the content of policy documents in a manner that yields findings that are useful in holding governments accountable for the commitments to address VAW and other public health issues in policy.

코로나19 이후 국제보건법과 팬데믹 조약

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the process of considering a treaty for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response has been entirely led by World Health Organization (WHO) member states. To overcome the fundamental limitations of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR 2005) system, it is possible to consider a more comprehensive revision of the IHR, perhaps even more drastic than the 2005 revision. Alternatively, a new fundamental and comprehensive treaty for pandemic response could be considered, independent of any revision of the IHR. The WHO and its member states have chosen the latter option and are now pursuing a two-track legislative process to adopt a new pandemic treaty in parallel with some revisions to the IHR.
 This article examines the international community's efforts to improve international health law for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. To do so, it first examines the failures of international health rules and lessons learned from COVID-19, and then analyzes the progress of the WHO's Member States in revising IHR and negotiating a draft pandemic treaty, as well as the differences in legal basis articles under the WHO’s Constitution. The IHR have not responded effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as Report of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the IHR during the COVID-19 response, revision of the Regulations seems inevitable. However, IHR revision alone are not enought to address the problems that have arisen during the pandemic. While a major revision of the IHR could be considered, it would be more difficult to incorporate new legislation into the existing framework of the IHR to create a harmonized and unified normative framework than to create a new treaty. Furthermore, maintaining the form of the Rules in Article 21 is not the best option, despite the fact that the WHO’s Constitution authorizes the Organization to enter into “conventions or agreements” under Article 19. In this regard, amending the International Health Regulations and creating a new pandemic treaty at the same time is the most effective legislative approach in the current context to prevent, prepare for, and respond to diseases that could cause an international health crisis.
 This article reviews the highlights of ｢the Zero Draft of the WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (“WHO CA+”)｣, published in February 2023, for consideration by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB). The Zero Draft provides a framework for legal regulation at all levels of the pandemic response and is extensive in its substantive content. The Zero Draft emphasizes equity at all levels and provides concrete measures to achieve it. It covers and documents many issues relevant to pandemic governance, from crisis-resilient health systems and a strong health workforce to measures related to one health and antibiotic resistance, health literacy, and even social determinants of health. The Zero Draft is completely open-ended, meaning that it could change over the course of future negotiations, but it is unlikely to change much in terms of the main content that will be included in a pandemic treaty.

National vaccination policies for health workers – A cross-sectional global overview

BackgroundImmunization is essential for safeguarding health workers from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) that they may encounter at work; however, information about the prevalence and scope of national policies that protect health workers through vaccination is limited. Understanding the global landscape of health worker immunization programmes can help direct resources, assist decision-making and foster partnerships as nations consider strategies for increasing vaccination uptake among health workers. MethodsA one-time supplementary survey was distributed to World Health Organization (WHO) Member States using the WHO/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Reporting Form on Immunization (JRF). Respondents described their 2020 national vaccination policies for health workers – detailing VPD policies and characterising technical and funding support, monitoring and evaluation activities and provisions for vaccinating health workers in emergencies. ResultsA total of 53 % (103/194) Member States responded and described health worker policies: 51 had a national policy for vaccinating health workers; 10 reported plans to introduce a national policy within 5 years; 20 had subnational/institutional policies; 22 had no policy for vaccinating health workers. Most national policies were integrated with occupational health and safety policies (67 %) and included public and private providers (82 %). Hepatitis B, seasonal influenza and measles were most frequently included in policies. Countries both with and without national vaccination policies reported monitoring and reporting vaccine uptake (43 countries), promoting vaccination (53 countries) and assessing vaccine demand, uptake or reasons for undervaccination (25 countries) among health workers. Mechanisms for introducing a vaccine for health workers in an emergency existed in 62 countries. ConclusionNational policies for vaccinating health workers were complex and context specific with regional and income-level variations. Opportunities exist for developing and strengthening national health worker immunization programmes. Existing health worker immunization programmes might provide a foothold on which broader health worker vaccination policies can be built and strengthened.

Plain Packaging in Tobacco Control: A Bibliometric Analysis.

The tobacco epidemic is affecting 8 million people with 1.2 million deaths worldwide. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in 2003 to counter the growing tobacco menace. Articles 11 and 13 of WHO FCTC suggest plain packaging of tobacco products to reduce the visibility and make tobacco products look less attractive. The current bibliometric analysis was conducted to analyze the visibility and impact of the scientific productions contributing to plain packaging globally. The bibliometric analysis allowed a quantitative analysis of all scientific publications indexed in Scopus. The sample was defined using the keywords "plain packaging OR standardized packaging" AND "tobacco." Five broad bibliometric domains were assessed for analysis: namely, scientific production, authors, sources or journals, countries, and thematic areas using R programming v4.2.2 and VOSviewer. The total number of documents published regarding plain packaging in tobacco control from 1992 till mid-2022 was determined. Australia tops the list with 99 publications, followed by the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Canada, France, India, Netherlands, Spain, and Egypt. The author citation network showcases the link between the 21 top documents, with a minimum of 50 citations per document. The two main indicators assessed were the total number of articles published in the journal and the h index. Bibliometric indicators in this study illustrated that scientific publications/efforts to implement the WHO FCTC guideline concerning plain packing laws were neglected in most countries.

The prevalences and levels of occupational exposure to dusts and/or fibres (silica, asbestos and coal): A systematic review and meta-analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury

The prevalences and levels of occupational exposure to dusts and/or fibres (silica, asbestos and coal): A systematic review and meta-analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury

An analysis of the inclusion of ear and hearing care in national health policies, strategies and plans.

Ear- and hearing-related conditions pose a significant global health burden, yet public health policy surrounding ear and hearing care (EHC) in low- and middle-income countries is poorly understood. The present study aims to characterize the inclusion of EHC in national health policy by analysing national health policies, strategies and plans in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. Three EHC keywords were searched, including ear*, hear* and deaf*. The terms 'human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)', 'tuberculosis' and 'malaria' were included as comparison keywords as these conditions have historically garnered political priority in global health. Of the 194 World Health Organization Member States, there were 100 national policies that met the inclusion criteria of document availability, searchable format, language and absence of an associated national EHC strategy. These documents mentioned EHC keywords significantly less than comparison terms, with mention of hearing in 15 documents, ears in 11 documents and deafness in 3 documents. There was a mention of HIV/AIDS in 92 documents, tuberculosis in 88 documents and malaria in 70 documents. Documents in low- and middle-income countries included significantly fewer mentions of EHC terms than those of high-income countries. We conclude that ear and hearing conditions pose a significant burden of disease but are severely underrepresented in national health policy, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

<i>Corrigendum to</i>: Is Australia’s lack of national clinical leadership hampering efforts with the oral health policy agenda?

The landmark 2021 Resolution on Oral Health by the 74th World Health Assembly has elevated the importance of oral health into the global health policy agenda. This has led to the development and adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy on Oral Health in 2022. It acknowledged the need to integrate oral health as part of universal health coverage (UHC), which is supported by national clinical leadership for oral health. Although Australia is a signatory WHO member state, it is yet to appoint a Commonwealth Chief Dental Officer to provide national clinical leadership. This commentary provides a background on the current issues on population oral health in Australia, an insight into the Australian oral healthcare system, and explores some of the challenges and learnings related to previous Commonwealth dental programs. This paper highlights why expertise in dental public health is required to steer national oral health policy that is focused on prevention and early intervention. A population oral health approach for UHC should be informed by evidence, prioritise and address oral health inequities, and be co-ordinated by national clinical leadership for oral health.

Mapping of national population-based surveys for better reporting of health-related indicators in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

BackgroundPopulation-based surveys are the main data source to generate health-related indicators required to monitor progress toward national, regional and global goals effectively. Although the Eastern Mediterranean Region of World Health Organization (WHO) member states conduct many population-based surveys, they are not led regularly and fail to provide relevant indicators appropriately. Therefore, this study aims two-fold: to map out population-based surveys to be conducted data for the health-related indicators in the Region and propose a timetable for conducting national population-based surveys in the Region.MethodsThe study was conducted in six phases: 1) Selecting survey-based indicators; 2) Extracting and comparing relevant survey modules; 3) Identifying sources of data for the indicators; 4) Assessing countries' status in reporting on core health indicators; 5) Review and confirmation of the results by the experts.ResultsPopulation-based surveys are the sources of data for 44 (65%) out of 68 regional core health indicators and two (18%) out of 11 health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 indicators. The Health Examination Survey (HES) could cover 65% of the survey-based indicators. A total of 91% of survey-based indicators are obtained by a combination of HES, Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS).ConclusionIn order to effectively report health-related indicators, HES, DHS/MICS and GSHS are considered essential in national survey timetables. Each country needs to devise and implement a plan for population-based surveys by considering factors such as national health priorities, financial and human capacities, and previous experiences.

Comparative Analysis of Health Financing Indicators in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Financing has been critical in combating the pandemic's effects on a global scale. Investments in healthcare infrastructure, economic stimulus packages and research have played pivotal roles crisis response. It is essential to learn from these financing efforts to better prepare for future health emergencies and foster solidarity in times of crisis.Objective. This paper provides a comparative analysis of healthcare financing among the group of countries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is part of a series of articles on healthcare financing and mandatory social health insurance implementation in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Methods. Global healthcare expenditure database analysisResults. Financial performance of health systems among a group of World Health Organization member states with similar levels of economic development is analyzed and compared. Conclusions. Overall, the indicators of the Republic of Kazakhstan demonstrate the effectiveness of the response to the pandemic compared to the group. Key words: healthcare financing, COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare spending, benchmarking, Kazakhstan.