Pub Date : 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2024.100970
Diana Frost , Mufti Mahmud , M.Shamim Kaiser , David Musoke , Paulette Henry , Shariful Islam
None.
没有。
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Pub Date : 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100731
Moinul H. Chowdhury , Rony Chowdhury Ripan , A.K.M. Nazmul Islam , Rubaiyat Alim Hridhee , Farhana Sarker , Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam , Khondaker A. Mamun
Objective
Bangladesh's health care system, particularly in rural areas, experiences enormous obstacles in providing complete preventive and primary healthcare services due to the lack of adequate healthcare facilities, resource constraints, and a non-functional referral system. To alleviate these problems, in this study, we introduce the digital general practitioner (GP) model for rural Bangladesh, digital platforms and present a statistical analysis of the data that was gathered from the pilot project.
Methods
A total of 12,746 people were provided regular health services during the pilot project, from all genders and age groups, and provided their socio-demographic and healthcare-related data. We analyzed healthcare-related data by carrying out both descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results
By utilizing this digital GP model, rural residents can receive routine health screenings at their homes, identify health risks early, receive consultation and health education, and be referred to GP and upper-level health facilities as needed. We found that hypertension was more prevalent (4.84% of the served population), and cancer was the least prevalent of all the NCDs in the studied population (0.05% of the served population). The population for stroke, hypertension, diabetes increased until the 50–59 age range as age increased, following which the population proportion declined as age increased. Additionally, 3.96% of young females were severely malnourished, comparably higher proportion than young males (2.34%).
Conclusion
NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes was prevalent among rural people. Necessary steps should be taken to raise preventive and primary healthcare awareness among rural people.
Public interest summary
The absence of proper healthcare facilities, resource constraints, and a non-functional referral system hamper Bangladesh's health care system's ability to provide comprehensive preventive and primary healthcare services in rural area. As a result, patients develop advanced ailments, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and must seek treatment at an expensive specialty hospital. To resolve this issue, we introduce a digital GP model for rural Bangladesh, then show digital platforms that use the concept, and lastly summarize significant findings from the piloted digital GP model. By utilizing this digital GP model, rural residents can receive routine health screenings at their homes, identify health risks early, receive consultation and health education, and be referred to GP and upper-level health facilities as need. From our data analysis, we discovered high burden of NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes in the piloted area. Necessary steps should be taken to raise preventive and primary healthcare awareness among rural people.
{"title":"Digital health inclusion towards achieving universal health coverage for Bangladesh utilizing general practitioner model","authors":"Moinul H. Chowdhury , Rony Chowdhury Ripan , A.K.M. Nazmul Islam , Rubaiyat Alim Hridhee , Farhana Sarker , Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam , Khondaker A. Mamun","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Bangladesh's health care system, particularly in rural areas, experiences enormous obstacles in providing complete preventive and primary healthcare services due to the lack of adequate healthcare facilities, resource constraints, and a non-functional referral system. To alleviate these problems, in this study, we introduce the digital general practitioner (GP) model for rural Bangladesh, digital platforms and present a statistical analysis of the data that was gathered from the pilot project.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 12,746 people were provided regular health services during the pilot project, from all genders and age groups, and provided their socio-demographic and healthcare-related data. We analyzed healthcare-related data by carrying out both descriptive and inferential statistics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>By utilizing this digital GP model, rural residents can receive routine health screenings at their homes, identify health risks early, receive consultation and health education, and be referred to GP and upper-level health facilities as needed. We found that hypertension was more prevalent (4.84% of the served population), and cancer was the least prevalent of all the NCDs in the studied population (0.05% of the served population). The population for stroke, hypertension, diabetes increased until the 50–59 age range as age increased, following which the population proportion declined as age increased. Additionally, 3.96% of young females were severely malnourished, comparably higher proportion than young males (2.34%).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes was prevalent among rural people. Necessary steps should be taken to raise preventive and primary healthcare awareness among rural people.</div></div><div><h3>Public interest summary</h3><div>The absence of proper healthcare facilities, resource constraints, and a non-functional referral system hamper Bangladesh's health care system's ability to provide comprehensive preventive and primary healthcare services in rural area. As a result, patients develop advanced ailments, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and must seek treatment at an expensive specialty hospital. To resolve this issue, we introduce a digital GP model for rural Bangladesh, then show digital platforms that use the concept, and lastly summarize significant findings from the piloted digital GP model. By utilizing this digital GP model, rural residents can receive routine health screenings at their homes, identify health risks early, receive consultation and health education, and be referred to GP and upper-level health facilities as need. From our data analysis, we discovered high burden of NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes in the piloted area. Necessary steps should be taken to raise preventive and primary healthcare awareness among rural people.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 100731"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48926968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101040
Saqib Mehmood , Samera Nazir , Jianqiang Fan (Vice Dean) , Zarish Nazir (MS Scholar) , Sana Nazir (MSs Scholar)
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically disrupted health service delivery, particularly in resource-limited countries such as Pakistan. This study aims to assess how Pakistan's healthcare infrastructure has adapted in response to the pandemic, focusing on governmental strategies, technology integration, and socioeconomic factors influencing public health outcomes.
Materials and Methods
A stratified random sampling approach was employed, distributing 300 questionnaires to management and staff across hospitals in Punjab. The data collected were analyzed using PLS-SEM4 software to uncover the relationships among the variables of interest.
Results
The findings reveal the complex impacts of the pandemic on healthcare delivery. Effective government regulations were identified as crucial in managing the crisis, while technology integration emerged as a key factor in enhancing healthcare services. Socioeconomic conditions were found to significantly affect public health outcomes, underscoring the interconnection of these components.
Conclusion
This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers aiming to strengthen the resilience of Pakistan's healthcare system. By applying resilience theory, public health policy theory, and complex adaptive systems theory, the research emphasizes the need for adaptability, effective governance, and systemic interconnection in addressing public health challenges. The implications extend globally, offering strategies to improve healthcare infrastructure during crises.
{"title":"Investigating the moderating effect of COVID-19 on Pakistan's healthcare sector","authors":"Saqib Mehmood , Samera Nazir , Jianqiang Fan (Vice Dean) , Zarish Nazir (MS Scholar) , Sana Nazir (MSs Scholar)","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically disrupted health service delivery, particularly in resource-limited countries such as Pakistan. This study aims to assess how Pakistan's healthcare infrastructure has adapted in response to the pandemic, focusing on governmental strategies, technology integration, and socioeconomic factors influencing public health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>A stratified random sampling approach was employed, distributing 300 questionnaires to management and staff across hospitals in Punjab. The data collected were analyzed using PLS-SEM4 software to uncover the relationships among the variables of interest.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings reveal the complex impacts of the pandemic on healthcare delivery. Effective government regulations were identified as crucial in managing the crisis, while technology integration emerged as a key factor in enhancing healthcare services. Socioeconomic conditions were found to significantly affect public health outcomes, underscoring the interconnection of these components.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers aiming to strengthen the resilience of Pakistan's healthcare system. By applying resilience theory, public health policy theory, and complex adaptive systems theory, the research emphasizes the need for adaptability, effective governance, and systemic interconnection in addressing public health challenges. The implications extend globally, offering strategies to improve healthcare infrastructure during crises.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 101040"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144827286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100810
M. A. Khan, Md. Rabiul Islam, Asif Rahman, Afsana Mim, Rasel Ahmmed
Objectives
The healthcare management authorities are responsible for delivering convenient services to the patients. The traditional healthcare management system is quite old and impractical in many cases, including a physical visit. Additionally, the COVID-19 epidemic makes the existing system unattainable, which creates an uncomfortable situation for visiting doctor's chambers that is risky both for doctors and patients. An electronic-prescription (e-prescription) management system can switch the existing one to the online appointment and doctor consulting system. Many developed countries have already adopted such e-prescription management systems, although low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) like Bangladesh are apathetic. So implementing e-prescription management systems in all countries, including Bangladesh, is the demand of time, especially when information and communication technologies (ICT) are at hand.
Method
We design, develop and test an ICT-based online doctor and patient management system utilizing the latest software and web development tools.
Results
In the developed e-prescription management system, the patient can visit their profile to make an appointment according to their need and doctor's availability. After that, the patient consults with the doctor based on the appointment's approval by the admin panel. Finally, the patient receives an online e-prescription and collects the medicine from a registered pharmacy with access to the online e-prescription. The e-prescription management system records patient history, including e-prescription, making handling patients easy.
Conclusion
The proper use of the developed e-prescription management system will solve many existing problems of the existing healthcare management system, including many concerns that arise due to the advent of COVID-19.
{"title":"E-Prescription: A practical application of information and communications technology in perspective of Bangladesh","authors":"M. A. Khan, Md. Rabiul Islam, Asif Rahman, Afsana Mim, Rasel Ahmmed","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The healthcare management authorities are responsible for delivering convenient services to the patients. The traditional healthcare management system is quite old and impractical in many cases, including a physical visit. Additionally, the COVID-19 epidemic makes the existing system unattainable, which creates an uncomfortable situation for visiting doctor's chambers that is risky both for doctors and patients. An electronic-prescription (e-prescription) management system can switch the existing one to the online appointment and doctor consulting system. Many developed countries have already adopted such e-prescription management systems, although low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) like Bangladesh are apathetic. So implementing e-prescription management systems in all countries, including Bangladesh, is the demand of time, especially when information and communication technologies (ICT) are at hand.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We design, develop and test an ICT-based online doctor and patient management system utilizing the latest software and web development tools.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the developed e-prescription management system, the patient can visit their profile to make an appointment according to their need and doctor's availability. After that, the patient consults with the doctor based on the appointment's approval by the admin panel. Finally, the patient receives an online e-prescription and collects the medicine from a registered pharmacy with access to the online e-prescription. The e-prescription management system records patient history, including e-prescription, making handling patients easy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The proper use of the developed e-prescription management system will solve many existing problems of the existing healthcare management system, including many concerns that arise due to the advent of COVID-19.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 100810"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134934267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-28DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101081
Akemi Hara , Tetsuya Tanimoto , Piotr Ozieranski , James Larkin , Michioki Endo , Hiroaki Saito , Akihiko Ozaki
Objective
To assess the extent and distribution of pharmaceutical and medical device industry honorarium payments to medical association leadership, enhancing our understanding of industry-physician financial ties in Japan.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of publicly disclosed payment data from pharmaceutical companies affiliated with the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and medical device companies affiliated with the Medical Devices Network. Data covered honorarium payments for speaking, writing, and consulting to board members of 18 major professional medical associations from 2019 to 2021.
Results
Of the 399 executive board members, 373 (93.5 %) received payments totaling $15.99 million. The median payment per member over the three years was $22,529, (interquartile range [IQR], $7230.8–$57,223.9). Payments were concentrated, with four professional medical associations—representing Internal Medicine ($2.97 million), Ophthalmology ($1.78 million), Dermatology ($1.78 million), and Urology ($1.87 million)—accounting for 52.5 % of the total. Surgical specialties received a higher proportion of payments from medical device companies, while non-surgical specialties – pharmaceutical companies. Payments declined in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, recovering by 2021. None of the 18 associations' leadership publicly disclosed their board members' financial ties.
Conclusions
We found extensive and concentrated ties between industry and medical association leadership in Japan, with the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors each displaying distinctive payment patterns. The substantial scale of payments and limited transparency displayed by the association highlight the urgent need for legally mandated disclosure, including specialty-specific solutions.
{"title":"Quantifying pharmaceutical and medical device industry-physician financial ties: An analysis of honorarium payments to Japanese medical association leadership between 2019 and 2021","authors":"Akemi Hara , Tetsuya Tanimoto , Piotr Ozieranski , James Larkin , Michioki Endo , Hiroaki Saito , Akihiko Ozaki","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To assess the extent and distribution of pharmaceutical and medical device industry honorarium payments to medical association leadership, enhancing our understanding of industry-physician financial ties in Japan.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a retrospective analysis of publicly disclosed payment data from pharmaceutical companies affiliated with the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and medical device companies affiliated with the Medical Devices Network. Data covered honorarium payments for speaking, writing, and consulting to board members of 18 major professional medical associations from 2019 to 2021.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 399 executive board members, 373 (93.5 %) received payments totaling $15.99 million. The median payment per member over the three years was $22,529, (interquartile range [IQR], $7230.8–$57,223.9). Payments were concentrated, with four professional medical associations—representing Internal Medicine ($2.97 million), Ophthalmology ($1.78 million), Dermatology ($1.78 million), and Urology ($1.87 million)—accounting for 52.5 % of the total. Surgical specialties received a higher proportion of payments from medical device companies, while non-surgical specialties – pharmaceutical companies. Payments declined in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, recovering by 2021. None of the 18 associations' leadership publicly disclosed their board members' financial ties.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We found extensive and concentrated ties between industry and medical association leadership in Japan, with the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors each displaying distinctive payment patterns. The substantial scale of payments and limited transparency displayed by the association highlight the urgent need for legally mandated disclosure, including specialty-specific solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 101081"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-28DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101079
Y. Tony Yang
{"title":"The digital equity paradox: When good intentions pave the road to technological stratification","authors":"Y. Tony Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101079","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101079","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 5","pages":"Article 101079"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-26DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101077
Akhil Sasidharan , Sajith Kumar S , Suchitralakshmi G , Kavitha Rajsekar , Bhavani Shankara Bagepally
Background
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) imposes significant clinical burden and costs in India. While sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated clinical benefits, their cost-effectiveness within the Indian healthcare perspective remains unassessed.
Methods
A Markov model with a lifetime horizon and one-year cycles was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of SGLT2i as an add-on therapy to standard of care (SoC) compared to SoC alone in patients with HFrEF in India. The analysis adopted an abridged societal perspective, incorporating direct medical and non-medical costs, as well as out-of-pocket expenditures. Clinical efficacy data were obtained from meta-analyses while cost data were sourced from published Indian studies and databases. Costs (2024) and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were used to determine the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICURs). A willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of one time India’s GDP per capita [₹2,26,765 (US$2,710)] per QALY was used. Uncertainty was assessed through one-way sensitivity analysis (OWSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA). Scenario analyses were conducted to test structural assumptions, and a price threshold analysis was performed to estimate the price at which SGLT2i would become cost-effective.
Results
Despite additional gains in QALYs, add-on SGLT2i were not cost-effective at their current market prices, with an ICUR of ₹6,12,406 (US$7,318) per QALY. Cost-effectiveness estimates were sensitive to variations in drug pricing. PSA confirmed the robustness of these findings. Price threshold analysis indicated that a 71 % reduction in the average market prices for SGLT2i would be required for cost-effectiveness.
Conclusions
While SGLT2i improve clinical outcomes in HFrEF, their current cost renders them not cost-effective in the Indian healthcare setting. Substantial price reductions, potentially through price negotiations with manufacturers, are necessary to enhance their affordability and optimize resource allocation for Heart failure management in India.
{"title":"Cost-utility analysis of add-on SGLT2 inhibitors for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in India","authors":"Akhil Sasidharan , Sajith Kumar S , Suchitralakshmi G , Kavitha Rajsekar , Bhavani Shankara Bagepally","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101077","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101077","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) imposes significant clinical burden and costs in India. While sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated clinical benefits, their cost-effectiveness within the Indian healthcare perspective remains unassessed.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A Markov model with a lifetime horizon and one-year cycles was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of SGLT2i as an add-on therapy to standard of care (SoC) compared to SoC alone in patients with HFrEF in India. The analysis adopted an abridged societal perspective, incorporating direct medical and non-medical costs, as well as out-of-pocket expenditures. Clinical efficacy data were obtained from meta-analyses while cost data were sourced from published Indian studies and databases. Costs (2024) and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were used to determine the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICURs). A willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of one time India’s GDP per capita [₹2,26,765 (US$2,710)] per QALY was used. Uncertainty was assessed through one-way sensitivity analysis (OWSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA). Scenario analyses were conducted to test structural assumptions, and a price threshold analysis was performed to estimate the price at which SGLT2i would become cost-effective.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Despite additional gains in QALYs, add-on SGLT2i were not cost-effective at their current market prices, with an ICUR of ₹6,12,406 (US$7,318) per QALY. Cost-effectiveness estimates were sensitive to variations in drug pricing. PSA confirmed the robustness of these findings. Price threshold analysis indicated that a 71 % reduction in the average market prices for SGLT2i would be required for cost-effectiveness.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>While SGLT2i improve clinical outcomes in HFrEF, their current cost renders them not cost-effective in the Indian healthcare setting. Substantial price reductions, potentially through price negotiations with manufacturers, are necessary to enhance their affordability and optimize resource allocation for Heart failure management in India.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 101077"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144772788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101078
Elena Bignami , Luigino Jalale Darhour , Wolfgang Buhre , Maurizio Cecconi , Valentina Bellini
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) has the potential to transform critical care by enhancing diagnosis, management, and clinical decision-making. Generative and Predictive AI technologies offer new opportunities for personalized care and risk stratification, but their implementation must prioritize ethical standards, patient safety, and the sustainability of care delivery. With the EU AI-Act entering into force in February 2025, a structured and responsible adoption of AI is now imperative. This article outlines a strategic framework for ICU AI integration, emphasizing the importance of a formal declaration of intent by each unit, detailing current AI-use, implementation plans, and governance strategies. Central to this approach is the development of tailored AI education programs adapted to four distinct professional profiles, ranging from experienced clinicians with limited AI knowledge to new intensivists with strong AI backgrounds but limited clinical experience. Training must foster critical thinking, contextual interpretation, and a balanced relationship between AI tools and human judgment. A multidisciplinary support team should oversee ethical AI-use and continuous performance monitoring. Ultimately, aligning regulatory compliance with targeted education and practical implementation could enable a safe, effective, and ethically grounded use of AI in intensive care. This balanced approach would support a culture of transparency and accountability, while preserving the central role of human clinical reasoning and improving the overall quality of ICU care.
{"title":"Artificial intelligence in healthcare: Tailoring education to meet EU AI-Act standards","authors":"Elena Bignami , Luigino Jalale Darhour , Wolfgang Buhre , Maurizio Cecconi , Valentina Bellini","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) has the potential to transform critical care by enhancing diagnosis, management, and clinical decision-making. Generative and Predictive AI technologies offer new opportunities for personalized care and risk stratification, but their implementation must prioritize ethical standards, patient safety, and the sustainability of care delivery. With the EU AI-Act entering into force in February 2025, a structured and responsible adoption of AI is now imperative. This article outlines a strategic framework for ICU AI integration, emphasizing the importance of a formal declaration of intent by each unit, detailing current AI-use, implementation plans, and governance strategies. Central to this approach is the development of tailored AI education programs adapted to four distinct professional profiles, ranging from experienced clinicians with limited AI knowledge to new intensivists with strong AI backgrounds but limited clinical experience. Training must foster critical thinking, contextual interpretation, and a balanced relationship between AI tools and human judgment. A multidisciplinary support team should oversee ethical AI-use and continuous performance monitoring. Ultimately, aligning regulatory compliance with targeted education and practical implementation could enable a safe, effective, and ethically grounded use of AI in intensive care. This balanced approach would support a culture of transparency and accountability, while preserving the central role of human clinical reasoning and improving the overall quality of ICU care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 101078"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101075
Liliana Freitas , Mónica D. Oliveira , Ana C.L. Vieira
Objectives
Stakeholder involvement is recognized as essential in Health Technology Assessment (HTA), yet engagement remains insufficient, particularly in medical device (MD) evaluations. Literature on how to systematically identify and integrate stakeholders remains scarce. This study proposes a reflective framework to support HTA practitioners think about stakeholder inclusion and applies it to explore perspectives within the medical device context in Portugal.
Methods
We adapted Ulrich’s Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) as a conceptual lens to structure reflection on stakeholder roles and contributions in MD HTA. The framework is organized around four sources of influence (motivation, control, knowledge, and legitimacy) and was operationalized through 26 semi-structured interviews with experts from Portugal’s HTA agency, hospitals, patient associations, and industry. Interview data were analysed using directed content analysis and the Framework Method, allowing to contrast current ('is') and ideal ('ought') views within each source of influence. The common themes were then used to construct interpretative narratives that captured rationales for stakeholder inclusion.
Results
The application of the framework revealed context-specific insights into stakeholder engagement in MD evaluation. Findings show stakeholder roles in MD evaluations extend beyond traditional classifications. For each CSH source of influence, rationales and conditions for stakeholder engagement were identified. Under motivation, stakeholders identified diverse purposes and measures of success, ranging from improved patient access to innovation to system-wide resource optimization. Under control, providers, purchasers, and payers were seen as central decision-makers, yet ideal processes included multidisciplinary governance and clearer procedural support. Under knowledge, multiple actors (including patients) were valued as contributors of contextual expertise, but gaps were highlighted in methodological tools. Under legitimacy, patients and the public were underrepresented and called for stronger mechanisms for direct involvement and broader societal alignment. Across all sources of influence, significant gaps were found between current practices and stakeholder expectations to highlight areas for development.
Conclusions
Rather than prescribing fixed engagement procedures, the proposed reflective framework offers a structured lens to support HTA practitioners in reasoning through stakeholder roles, values, and contributions in MD evaluations. The framework is transferable to other decision-making contexts and fosters more transparent and inclusive deliberation.
{"title":"Guiding stakeholder involvement in health technology assessment for medical devices: A novel approach for clarifying stakeholders’ roles and contributions","authors":"Liliana Freitas , Mónica D. Oliveira , Ana C.L. Vieira","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Stakeholder involvement is recognized as essential in Health Technology Assessment (HTA), yet engagement remains insufficient, particularly in medical device (MD) evaluations. Literature on how to systematically identify and integrate stakeholders remains scarce. This study proposes a reflective framework to support HTA practitioners think about stakeholder inclusion and applies it to explore perspectives within the medical device context in Portugal.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We adapted Ulrich’s Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) as a conceptual lens to structure reflection on stakeholder roles and contributions in MD HTA. The framework is organized around four sources of influence (motivation, control, knowledge, and legitimacy) and was operationalized through 26 semi-structured interviews with experts from Portugal’s HTA agency, hospitals, patient associations, and industry. Interview data were analysed using directed content analysis and the Framework Method, allowing to contrast current ('is') and ideal ('ought') views within each source of influence. The common themes were then used to construct interpretative narratives that captured rationales for stakeholder inclusion.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The application of the framework revealed context-specific insights into stakeholder engagement in MD evaluation. Findings show stakeholder roles in MD evaluations extend beyond traditional classifications. For each CSH source of influence, rationales and conditions for stakeholder engagement were identified. Under motivation, stakeholders identified diverse purposes and measures of success, ranging from improved patient access to innovation to system-wide resource optimization. Under control, providers, purchasers, and payers were seen as central decision-makers, yet ideal processes included multidisciplinary governance and clearer procedural support. Under knowledge, multiple actors (including patients) were valued as contributors of contextual expertise, but gaps were highlighted in methodological tools. Under legitimacy, patients and the public were underrepresented and called for stronger mechanisms for direct involvement and broader societal alignment. Across all sources of influence, significant gaps were found between current practices and stakeholder expectations to highlight areas for development.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Rather than prescribing fixed engagement procedures, the proposed reflective framework offers a structured lens to support HTA practitioners in reasoning through stakeholder roles, values, and contributions in MD evaluations. The framework is transferable to other decision-making contexts and fosters more transparent and inclusive deliberation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 101075"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144763983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-18DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101072
Tobias Joseph Adams , Joseph Tay Wee Teck , Alexander Baldacchino , Patrice Forget
Objectives
To describe the change in opioid-related deaths (ORDs) recorded across Scotland since National ‘Take Home’ Naloxone Programme (NNP) implementation between baseline pre-implementation (2006 – 2010) and 10-year post implementation (2011 – 2020) periods. To describe and contextualise the change in ORDs within 4 weeks of prison release and hospital discharge across the same pre- and post-implementation periods and evaluate the reach of naloxone to people at risk of opioid overdose during this period.
Methods
Descriptive statistics as part of a pre-post secondary contribution analysis approach. The Better Evaluation Rainbow Framework for impact evaluation was utilised and data was obtained from official statistics and monitoring reports via Public Health Scotland.
Results
An increase in total ORDs nationwide was observed post-NNP implementation. In 2006–10, 9·8 % of ORDs (193 of 1970) were in people released from prison within 4 weeks of death, whereas only 4·4 % of ORDs (281 of 6439) in 2011–20 followed prison release, representing a 55 % reduction. A similar reduction in ORDs following hospital discharge was not observed. Cumulative reach of take-home naloxone to individuals at risk of opioid overdose across the post-implementation period was 58 %.
Conclusions
Implementation of the Scottish NNP has coincided with an increase in total ORDs nationwide, increased availability of take-home naloxone for management of opioid overdose and a reduction in the proportion of opioid-related fatalities among recently released prisoners. Unfortunately, the proportion ORDs after hospital discharge remain unchanged suggesting that this population may benefit from further research and additional distribution approaches.
{"title":"An impact evaluation of the Scottish take-home naloxone programme","authors":"Tobias Joseph Adams , Joseph Tay Wee Teck , Alexander Baldacchino , Patrice Forget","doi":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hlpt.2025.101072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To describe the change in opioid-related deaths (ORDs) recorded across Scotland since National ‘Take Home’ Naloxone Programme (NNP) implementation between baseline pre-implementation (2006 – 2010) and 10-year post implementation (2011 – 2020) periods. To describe and contextualise the change in ORDs within 4 weeks of prison release and hospital discharge across the same pre- and post-implementation periods and evaluate the reach of naloxone to people at risk of opioid overdose during this period.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Descriptive statistics as part of a pre-post secondary contribution analysis approach. The Better Evaluation Rainbow Framework for impact evaluation was utilised and data was obtained from official statistics and monitoring reports via Public Health Scotland.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>An increase in total ORDs nationwide was observed post-NNP implementation. In 2006–10, 9·8 % of ORDs (193 of 1970) were in people released from prison within 4 weeks of death, whereas only 4·4 % of ORDs (281 of 6439) in 2011–20 followed prison release, representing a 55 % reduction. A similar reduction in ORDs following hospital discharge was not observed. Cumulative reach of take-home naloxone to individuals at risk of opioid overdose across the post-implementation period was 58 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Implementation of the Scottish NNP has coincided with an increase in total ORDs nationwide, increased availability of take-home naloxone for management of opioid overdose and a reduction in the proportion of opioid-related fatalities among recently released prisoners. Unfortunately, the proportion ORDs after hospital discharge remain unchanged suggesting that this population may benefit from further research and additional distribution approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48672,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy and Technology","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 101072"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}