Pub Date : 2025-10-22DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105473
Niek Kok , Myrthe van de Meulenhof , Wilson F. Abdo , Jelle L.P. van Gurp , Gert Olthuis
Background
In 2020, the Netherlands adopted an opt-out registration system for organ donation meaning that consent for donation is presumed except when someone actively objects against this. This change in organ donation default policy may change the division of roles between relatives and physicians during conversations.
Objectives
To compare role performance of relatives and physicians in organ donation conversations in the opt-in and opt-out systems.
Methods
We applied an institutional ethnographic approach to compare cases from the former opt-in system in which there was ‘no registration’ to the ‘presumed consent cases’ in the opt-out system.
Results
We audio-recorded six no registration conversations from the opt-in period, and compared these with eight presumed consent conversations from the opt-out period, and conducted sixteen interviews with physicians conducting the conversations. The data show the effect of the system transition on the role division between relatives and physicians in donation conversations. In the opt-in system, physicians and relatives together aimed for a yet to be taken decision, while in the opt-out system, the physicians started the conversation with the registered choice. Ethical deliberation about organ donation is therefore pushed to the background the role of the physician is more tilted to providing relevant factual information and implementing the patient’s choice.
Conclusions
The change to opt-out did likely alleviates the burdensome role of relatives to make morally charged donation choices for their relatives, since organ donation conversations about patients presumed to consent commence with a clear picture of what the potential donor’s wish is.
{"title":"Physician and relatives’ role change after shifting to an opt-out organ donation system in the Netherlands: A before and after ethnographic study","authors":"Niek Kok , Myrthe van de Meulenhof , Wilson F. Abdo , Jelle L.P. van Gurp , Gert Olthuis","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In 2020, the Netherlands adopted an opt-out registration system for organ donation meaning that consent for donation is presumed except when someone actively objects against this. This change in organ donation default policy may change the division of roles between relatives and physicians during conversations.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To compare role performance of relatives and physicians in organ donation conversations in the opt-in and opt-out systems.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We applied an institutional ethnographic approach to compare cases from the former opt-in system in which there was ‘no registration’ to the ‘presumed consent cases’ in the opt-out system.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We audio-recorded six no registration conversations from the opt-in period, and compared these with eight presumed consent conversations from the opt-out period, and conducted sixteen interviews with physicians conducting the conversations. The data show the effect of the system transition on the role division between relatives and physicians in donation conversations. In the opt-in system, physicians and relatives together aimed for a yet to be taken decision, while in the opt-out system, the physicians started the conversation with the registered choice. Ethical deliberation about organ donation is therefore pushed to the background the role of the physician is more tilted to providing relevant factual information and implementing the patient’s choice.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The change to opt-out did likely alleviates the burdensome role of relatives to make morally charged donation choices for their relatives, since organ donation conversations about patients presumed to consent commence with a clear picture of what the potential donor’s wish is.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"162 ","pages":"Article 105473"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424747","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 : 2025-10-21DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105474
Andreas Nielsen Hald , Ulrika Enemark , Martin Limbikani Mwale , Viola Burau
Background
Primary healthcare (PHC) systems across Europe are under increasing pressure. In response, research has focused on how to develop and support PHC workforces. However, studies often neglect how stakeholders conceptualise the PHC workforce, even though this may influence reform processes. Denmark offers a relevant case due to the involvement of many stakeholders and longstanding tensions over workforce organisation.
Objective
To examine the literature on how stakeholders in Denmark conceptualise the PHC workforce and how conflicting narratives influence policy contestation.
Methods
We conducted a meta-narrative-inspired literature review, following RAMESES guidelines. The review included 49 sources (1980–2025), drawing on peer-reviewed articles, organisational documents, professional journals, policy texts, and political news. Documents were screened, appraised, and synthesised using an iterative narrative analysis. We identified dominant stakeholders, primary narratives, and key areas of policy contestation relevant to the PHC workforce.
Results
Across 45 years of reform and policy debate, three primary narratives have structured stakeholder perspectives: a medical narrative emerging in the mid-1960s, a health economics narrative gaining prominence during the 1990s, and a community narrative growing since the early 2010s. These narratives compete across and within stakeholder groups, most visibly in debates over governance, task-shifting, and whether recipients are framed as patients or citizens.
Conclusions
Stakeholders in Denmark conceptualise the PHC workforce differently depending on the narratives they invoke and the reform context in which they act. Reforms are more likely to gain traction when engaging these perspectives. Narrative-informed approaches can help anticipate resistance and support more effective PHC workforce development.
{"title":"Conceptualising the primary health care workforce: A meta-narrative-inspired review of stakeholder perspectives in Denmark","authors":"Andreas Nielsen Hald , Ulrika Enemark , Martin Limbikani Mwale , Viola Burau","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Primary healthcare (PHC) systems across Europe are under increasing pressure. In response, research has focused on how to develop and support PHC workforces. However, studies often neglect how stakeholders conceptualise the PHC workforce, even though this may influence reform processes. Denmark offers a relevant case due to the involvement of many stakeholders and longstanding tensions over workforce organisation.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To examine the literature on how stakeholders in Denmark conceptualise the PHC workforce and how conflicting narratives influence policy contestation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a meta-narrative-inspired literature review, following RAMESES guidelines. The review included 49 sources (1980–2025), drawing on peer-reviewed articles, organisational documents, professional journals, policy texts, and political news. Documents were screened, appraised, and synthesised using an iterative narrative analysis. We identified dominant stakeholders, primary narratives, and key areas of policy contestation relevant to the PHC workforce.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Across 45 years of reform and policy debate, three primary narratives have structured stakeholder perspectives: a medical narrative emerging in the mid-1960s, a health economics narrative gaining prominence during the 1990s, and a community narrative growing since the early 2010s. These narratives compete across and within stakeholder groups, most visibly in debates over governance, task-shifting, and whether recipients are framed as patients or citizens.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Stakeholders in Denmark conceptualise the PHC workforce differently depending on the narratives they invoke and the reform context in which they act. Reforms are more likely to gain traction when engaging these perspectives. Narrative-informed approaches can help anticipate resistance and support more effective PHC workforce development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"162 ","pages":"Article 105474"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145363227","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}
The global healthcare workforce is facing a substantial shortage and an uneven distribution of qualified professionals, which restricts access to essential healthcare services. This shortage may be mitigated through more effective support of healthcare workers in training. Therefore, an overview of existing economic barriers for this demographic is necessary.
Objective
To review the existing literature on financial challenges of students and early-career professionals in the healthcare sector.
Methods
Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, articles published between January 2008 and February 2024 were identified using PubMed and Scopus. A total of 17,268 articles were screened by reviewing their titles and abstracts followed by a detailed review of full texts with cross-validation. Themes were identified, clustered, and analyzed.
Results
This scoping review included 167 articles focusing on the themes debt (36.5%, n=61) and loans (10.2 %, n=17) and their influence on career pathways, the role of employment for career satisfaction, summarizing findings concerning salary (29.9%, n=50), finances (25.1%, n=42), funding (10.8%, n=18), and savings (10.2%, n=17), and obstacles toward a sustainable lifestyle, which included results considering career choice (34.1%, n=57), migration (7.2%, n=12), gender disparity (6.0%, n=10), and working conditions (2.4%, n=4).
Conclusions
Efforts to close the healthcare workforce gap require greater investment in training, compensation, and support for junior healthcare workers. Students and early-career professionals warrant particular attention to build a sustainable, resilient, and reliable healthcare workforce.
{"title":"Exploring financial challenges of students and early-career professionals working in the healthcare sector: A scoping review","authors":"Samin Huq , Yoonjung Choi , Paul Künzle , Mfonobong Timothy , Cornelia Santoso , Stephanie Hwang , Sherly Meilianti","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The global healthcare workforce is facing a substantial shortage and an uneven distribution of qualified professionals, which restricts access to essential healthcare services. This shortage may be mitigated through more effective support of healthcare workers in training. Therefore, an overview of existing economic barriers for this demographic is necessary.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To review the existing literature on financial challenges of students and early-career professionals in the healthcare sector.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, articles published between January 2008 and February 2024 were identified using PubMed and Scopus. A total of 17,268 articles were screened by reviewing their titles and abstracts followed by a detailed review of full texts with cross-validation. Themes were identified, clustered, and analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>This scoping review included 167 articles focusing on the themes debt (36.5%, <em>n</em>=61) and loans (10.2 %, <em>n</em>=17) and their influence on career pathways, the role of employment for career satisfaction, summarizing findings concerning salary (29.9%, <em>n</em>=50), finances (25.1%, <em>n</em>=42), funding (10.8%, <em>n</em>=18), and savings (10.2%, <em>n</em>=17), and obstacles toward a sustainable lifestyle, which included results considering career choice (34.1%, <em>n</em>=57), migration (7.2%, <em>n</em>=12), gender disparity (6.0%, <em>n</em>=10), and working conditions (2.4%, <em>n</em>=4).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Efforts to close the healthcare workforce gap require greater investment in training, compensation, and support for junior healthcare workers. Students and early-career professionals warrant particular attention to build a sustainable, resilient, and reliable healthcare workforce.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"163 ","pages":"Article 105475"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145520885","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 : 2025-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105455
Annemarie De Leo , Christelle Schofield , Emily Jeffery , Emily Mountford , Elle Cotton , Joshua Lewis , Jonathan Hodgson , Mary A. Kennedy
Background
Integrating supportive cancer services into routine cancer care is challenging, especially in regional and rural settings where accessibility to healthcare is a known issue. This scoping review aimed to describe and map barriers to nutrition services from the perspectives of people living with cancer and health service providers. Exploring the applicability of Levesque’s Accessibility Framework in identifying and prioritising service gaps was a secondary aim.
Methods
Electronic database searches were conducted in Allied and Contemporary Medicine, CINAHL, Informit, Medline and SPORTDiscus between May-July 2023. Studies reporting on perceived barriers to nutrition services from the perspectives of health service providers and people living with cancer in regional and rural settings were included. We categorised these into demand or supply determinants, which were mapped across the ten dimensions of Leveque’s Accessibility Framework.
Results
Eight studies were included in this review. Thirty-seven barriers were identified and mapped across the ten dimensions described within Levesque’s Accessibility Framework. The most frequently reported barriers related to: Availability and Accommodation of regional health services, Approachability of regional health services and Ability of patients to engage.
Conclusion
This review identified the most commonly reported barriers to nutrition services for people living with cancer in regional and rural settings. Levesque’s Accessibility Framework demonstrates value in categorising barriers to accessibility, which can be used to identify service gaps and inform future policy-setting agendas.
背景:将支持性癌症服务纳入常规癌症治疗具有挑战性,特别是在地区和农村环境中,在那里获得医疗保健是一个已知的问题。这项范围审查旨在从癌症患者和卫生服务提供者的角度描述和绘制营养服务的障碍。探索Levesque的无障碍框架在识别和优先考虑服务差距方面的适用性是第二个目标。方法于2023年5 - 7月在Allied and Contemporary Medicine、CINAHL、Informit、Medline和SPORTDiscus等电子数据库进行检索。从保健服务提供者和区域和农村环境中的癌症患者的角度报告了对营养服务的感知障碍的研究。我们将这些因素分类为需求或供应决定因素,并将其映射到Leveque无障碍框架的十个维度上。结果本综述共纳入8项研究。在Levesque的无障碍框架中,我们确定了37个障碍,并在十个维度上进行了映射。最常报告的障碍涉及:区域卫生服务的可获得性和可提供性、区域卫生服务的可获得性和患者参与的能力。本综述确定了区域和农村地区癌症患者获得营养服务最常见的障碍。Levesque的无障碍框架展示了对无障碍障碍进行分类的价值,可用于识别服务差距并为未来的政策制定议程提供信息。
{"title":"Exploring barriers to nutritional support for oncology patients in regional and rural settings: A scoping review through the lens of Levesque’s accessibility framework","authors":"Annemarie De Leo , Christelle Schofield , Emily Jeffery , Emily Mountford , Elle Cotton , Joshua Lewis , Jonathan Hodgson , Mary A. Kennedy","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Integrating supportive cancer services into routine cancer care is challenging, especially in regional and rural settings where accessibility to healthcare is a known issue. This scoping review aimed to describe and map barriers to nutrition services from the perspectives of people living with cancer and health service providers. Exploring the applicability of Levesque’s Accessibility Framework in identifying and prioritising service gaps was a secondary aim.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Electronic database searches were conducted in Allied and Contemporary Medicine, CINAHL, Informit, Medline and SPORTDiscus between May-July 2023. Studies reporting on perceived barriers to nutrition services from the perspectives of health service providers and people living with cancer in regional and rural settings were included. We categorised these into demand or supply determinants, which were mapped across the ten dimensions of Leveque’s Accessibility Framework.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eight studies were included in this review. Thirty-seven barriers were identified and mapped across the ten dimensions described within Levesque’s Accessibility Framework. The most frequently reported barriers related to: Availability and Accommodation of regional health services, Approachability of regional health services and Ability of patients to engage.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This review identified the most commonly reported barriers to nutrition services for people living with cancer in regional and rural settings. Levesque’s Accessibility Framework demonstrates value in categorising barriers to accessibility, which can be used to identify service gaps and inform future policy-setting agendas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"163 ","pages":"Article 105455"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145420205","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 : 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105471
Jin-Hwan Kim , Woojoo Lee
Background
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are among the most resource-intensive pediatric services. While benefits for extremely preterm or low-birth-weight infants are well established, evidence is mixed for moderately at-risk groups.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of South Korea’s staged expansions in public insurance coverage for NICU admission on infant mortality (IM) and under-five mortality (U5M).
Method
We analyzed 3461,281 birth–death–linked records (2010–2017) using two quasi-experimental designs. A local-randomization regression discontinuity (RD) design exploited clinical thresholds in birthweight (≤1750 g; 1751–2000 g) and gestational age (≤33; 34–35 weeks) to compare full, partial, and no coverage. A regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) design examined births around the March 1, 2013 policy reform. Analyses used exact matching within ±250 g or ±2 weeks, with narrower windows for sensitivity checks.
Results
Full coverage had no measurable effect on mortality compared to no coverage. However, full coverage was associated with higher mortality than partial coverage at the 1,750g/34-week cutoff (IM: +6.1; U5M: +7.1). Partial coverage was associated with lower mortality than no coverage at the 2,000g/35-week threshold (IM: –9.3; U5M: –8.7), but these effects did not persist under narrower bandwidths. RDiT analyses found no significant effect of the policy change on either outcome.
Conclusion
NICU coverage showed no mortality benefit for the most vulnerable infants and may have led to overuse near full-coverage thresholds. Targeted policies and rigorous evaluation are needed to maximize benefits and avoid harm.
{"title":"Population health impacts of national health insurance coverage for neonatal intensive care unit admission in South Korea: evidence from regression discontinuity analyses","authors":"Jin-Hwan Kim , Woojoo Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are among the most resource-intensive pediatric services. While benefits for extremely preterm or low-birth-weight infants are well established, evidence is mixed for moderately at-risk groups.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the impact of South Korea’s staged expansions in public insurance coverage for NICU admission on infant mortality (IM) and under-five mortality (U5M).</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We analyzed 3461,281 birth–death–linked records (2010–2017) using two quasi-experimental designs. A local-randomization regression discontinuity (RD) design exploited clinical thresholds in birthweight (≤1750 g; 1751–2000 g) and gestational age (≤33; 34–35 weeks) to compare full, partial, and no coverage. A regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) design examined births around the March 1, 2013 policy reform. Analyses used exact matching within ±250 g or ±2 weeks, with narrower windows for sensitivity checks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Full coverage had no measurable effect on mortality compared to no coverage. However, full coverage was associated with higher mortality than partial coverage at the 1,750<em>g</em>/34-week cutoff (IM: +6.1; U5M: +7.1). Partial coverage was associated with lower mortality than no coverage at the 2,000<em>g</em>/35-week threshold (IM: –9.3; U5M: –8.7), but these effects did not persist under narrower bandwidths. RDiT analyses found no significant effect of the policy change on either outcome.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>NICU coverage showed no mortality benefit for the most vulnerable infants and may have led to overuse near full-coverage thresholds. Targeted policies and rigorous evaluation are needed to maximize benefits and avoid harm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"162 ","pages":"Article 105471"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145330884","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 : 2025-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105469
Pelayo Nieto-Gómez , Celia Castaño-Amores , Antonio José García-Ruiz , Juan Oliva-Moreno
Background
Spain is the fourth largest pharmaceutical market in Europe, yet the time to reimbursement for cancer drugs has been considerably longer than in other European countries in recent years.
Objective
This study aimed to analyse the key factors influencing the time to reimbursement decision (TTRD) and access in Spain for a wide range of oncology indications.
Methods
Cancer drugs approved by the European Commission (EC) between 2010 and 2023 were reviewed. TTRD and time to reimbursement (TTR) were calculated. Variables were categorized into three groups: pricing and reimbursement aspects, the European regulatory process, and quality of evidence. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted.
Results
A total of 88 indications were included in cohort A (newly approved drugs) and 220 in cohort B (all indications). Median TTRD was 528 days for cohort A and 524 for cohort B. In cohort A, shorter TTRD was associated with phase III trials (HR: 9.98; 95 %CI (2.61–38.08); p < 0.001) and availability of quality of life (QoL) data (HR: 5.30; 95 %CI (2.01–13.96); p < 0.001). In cohort B, overall survival (OS) data availability correlated with shorter TTRD (HR: 2.27; 95 %CI (1.11–4.66); p < 0.05). Notably, TTRD was significantly longer during 2020–2023 compared to previous years in both cohorts. No significant associations were found for the remaining variables.
Conclusions
The quality of clinical evidence, including phase III trials, QoL, and OS data, plays a crucial role in shortening TTRD. In addition, recent years have seen a substantial delay in reimbursement timelines in Spain.
背景:西班牙是欧洲第四大医药市场,但近年来,癌症药物的报销时间比其他欧洲国家要长得多。目的:本研究旨在分析影响西班牙广泛肿瘤适应症的报销决策时间(TTRD)和可及性的关键因素。方法:回顾2010年至2023年欧盟委员会(EC)批准的抗癌药物。计算TTRD和TTR。变量被分为三组:定价和报销方面,欧洲监管过程和证据质量。进行单因素和多因素Cox回归分析。结果:A队列(新批准药物)共纳入88个适应症,B队列(全部适应症)共纳入220个。队列A的中位TTRD为528天,队列b为524天。在队列A中,较短的TTRD与III期试验相关(HR: 9.98; 95% CI (2.61-38.08);p < 0.001)和生活质量(QoL)数据的可获得性(HR: 5.30; 95% CI (2.01-13.96);P < 0.001)。在队列B中,总生存期(OS)数据可用性与较短的trd相关(HR: 2.27; 95% CI (1.11-4.66);P < 0.05)。值得注意的是,与前几年相比,在2020-2023年期间,两个队列的TTRD明显更长。其余变量未发现显著关联。结论:临床证据的质量,包括III期试验、QoL和OS数据,在缩短TTRD方面起着至关重要的作用。此外,近年来,西班牙的偿还时间表大幅推迟。
{"title":"Determinants of time to access to EMA-approved cancer drugs in Spanish NHS in the past decade: a two cohorts study","authors":"Pelayo Nieto-Gómez , Celia Castaño-Amores , Antonio José García-Ruiz , Juan Oliva-Moreno","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Spain is the fourth largest pharmaceutical market in Europe, yet the time to reimbursement for cancer drugs has been considerably longer than in other European countries in recent years.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to analyse the key factors influencing the time to reimbursement decision (TTRD) and access in Spain for a wide range of oncology indications.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Cancer drugs approved by the European Commission (EC) between 2010 and 2023 were reviewed. TTRD and time to reimbursement (TTR) were calculated. Variables were categorized into three groups: pricing and reimbursement aspects, the European regulatory process, and quality of evidence. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 88 indications were included in cohort A (newly approved drugs) and 220 in cohort B (all indications). Median TTRD was 528 days for cohort A and 524 for cohort B. In cohort A, shorter TTRD was associated with phase III trials (HR: 9.98; 95 %CI (2.61–38.08); <em>p</em> < 0.001) and availability of quality of life (QoL) data (HR: 5.30; 95 %CI (2.01–13.96); <em>p</em> < 0.001). In cohort B, overall survival (OS) data availability correlated with shorter TTRD (HR: 2.27; 95 %CI (1.11–4.66); <em>p</em> < 0.05). Notably, TTRD was significantly longer during 2020–2023 compared to previous years in both cohorts. No significant associations were found for the remaining variables.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The quality of clinical evidence, including phase III trials, QoL, and OS data, plays a crucial role in shortening TTRD. In addition, recent years have seen a substantial delay in reimbursement timelines in Spain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"162 ","pages":"Article 105469"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145310039","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 : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105447
Paolo Buonanno , Flavio Porta , Marcello Puca
We study how infectious-disease threats can spill over into discriminatory behavior. Using early COVID-19 in Italy as a case study, we ran an email correspondence experiment with 5356 tourism providers, randomly varying the sender’s location and surname to signal origin from areas differentially hit by the first wave. Requests signaling origin from a highly affected area received about 5 percentage points fewer replies and more rejections than observationally equivalent requests; the penalty concentrated on North-sounding surnames and was absent for South-sounding surnames from the same city, pointing to prejudice rather than rational screening on contemporaneous infection risk. While our setting is tourism, the mechanism we uncover—disease-avoidance concerns activating social stereotypes—is general and consistent with theories of social stigma and the behavioral immune system. Such “health-hazard discrimination” can deter testing or travel, undermine equitable access to services, and amplify outbreaks when stigmatized groups avoid contact with providers. We discuss design and policy tools—bias-safe communication, temporary identity-blinding in first contacts, and platform-level fairness nudges—that can mitigate stigma-driven frictions during epidemics. Findings inform preparedness for future outbreaks beyond COVID-19.
{"title":"Health hazard discrimination or prejudice? A correspondence experiment in Italy","authors":"Paolo Buonanno , Flavio Porta , Marcello Puca","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We study how infectious-disease threats can spill over into discriminatory behavior. Using early COVID-19 in Italy as a case study, we ran an email correspondence experiment with 5356 tourism providers, randomly varying the sender’s location and surname to signal origin from areas differentially hit by the first wave. Requests signaling origin from a highly affected area received about 5 percentage points fewer replies and more rejections than observationally equivalent requests; the penalty concentrated on North-sounding surnames and was absent for South-sounding surnames from the same city, pointing to prejudice rather than rational screening on contemporaneous infection risk. While our setting is tourism, the mechanism we uncover—disease-avoidance concerns activating social stereotypes—is general and consistent with theories of social stigma and the behavioral immune system. Such “health-hazard discrimination” can deter testing or travel, undermine equitable access to services, and amplify outbreaks when stigmatized groups avoid contact with providers. We discuss design and policy tools—bias-safe communication, temporary identity-blinding in first contacts, and platform-level fairness nudges—that can mitigate stigma-driven frictions during epidemics. Findings inform preparedness for future outbreaks beyond COVID-19.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"162 ","pages":"Article 105447"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270107","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 : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105237
Andrey Elizondo , Robin Williams , Stuart Anderson , Kathrin Cresswell
Background
New models of care that integrate health and social care provision around the patient require a supportive infrastructure, including interorganizational arrangements and information systems. While public policies have been designed to facilitate visions of integrated care, these often neglect the implementation of effective and efficient delivery mechanisms.
Method
This study examines a decade of attempts to move from fragmented health and care delivery to integrated care at scale in NHS England by developing and implementing a support infrastructure. We undertook a longitudinal qualitative investigation -encompassing interviews and documentary analysis- of the implementation of interorganizational and digital interoperability infrastructures intended to support integrated care policies.
Findings
Our findings underscore the long-term symbiotic relationship between institutional interorganizational frameworks and the construction of interoperability infrastructures, emphasizing how they mutually reinforce each other to support their ongoing evolution. Iterative, flexible, and experimental approaches to implementation provide opportunities to adapt to local realities while learning in the making.
Conclusion
This study underlines the importance of adaptable, locally-informed implementation strategies in supporting the vision of integrated care, and the need to understand such development as a long-term, ongoing process of construction and learning.
{"title":"Implementing integrated care infrastructure: A longitudinal study on the interplay of policies, interorganizational arrangements and interoperability in NHS England","authors":"Andrey Elizondo , Robin Williams , Stuart Anderson , Kathrin Cresswell","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105237","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>New models of care that integrate health and social care provision around the patient require a supportive infrastructure, including interorganizational arrangements and information systems. While public policies have been designed to facilitate visions of integrated care, these often neglect the implementation of effective and efficient delivery mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This study examines a decade of attempts to move from fragmented health and care delivery to integrated care at scale in NHS England by developing and implementing a support infrastructure. We undertook a longitudinal qualitative investigation -encompassing interviews and documentary analysis- of the implementation of interorganizational and digital interoperability infrastructures intended to support integrated care policies.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Our findings underscore the long-term symbiotic relationship between institutional interorganizational frameworks and the construction of interoperability infrastructures, emphasizing how they mutually reinforce each other to support their ongoing evolution. Iterative, flexible, and experimental approaches to implementation provide opportunities to adapt to local realities while learning in the making.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study underlines the importance of adaptable, locally-informed implementation strategies in supporting the vision of integrated care, and the need to understand such development as a long-term, ongoing process of construction and learning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 105237"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873548","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 : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105304
Mohammad Hamiduzzaman , Vanette McLennan , Harry Gaffney , Sarah Miles , Sarah Crook , Lewis Grove , Matthew Gray , Victoria Flood
Our review examines the operational dynamics and effectiveness of integrated healthcare models in Australia, focusing on their relevance for older rural adults with preventable chronic diseases. Using Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) systematic integrative review methods, we conducted a search across five databases, including Medline-EBSCO, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS. The Sustainable Integrated Chronic Care Models for Multimorbidity (SELFIE) framework, established by Leijten et al. (2018), was used for reflexive thematic synthesis. A two-stage screening process identified 15 integrated healthcare models, with five RCTs evaluating their effects on chronic conditions. The analysis revealed two key themes: aspects of care integration (service delivery, leadership, workforce, technology, and finance) and changes in patient and healthcare outcomes. Care coordination and multidisciplinary team care were common features, bridging gaps between health and social services for older patients. Despite challenges such as irregular funding and underutilisation of technology, several models demonstrated positive patient and healthcare outcomes. Virtual care platforms and remote monitoring systems have shown promise in improving patient engagement and enabling real-time care adjustments, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare access. Our review highlights the need for integrated healthcare for older rural Australians with preventable chronic conditions, revealing the complexity of service models. Policy shifts towards coordinated services and changes in leadership and healthcare practices are essential to ensure this demographic receives integrated care that meets their needs.
{"title":"Fostering integrated healthcare in rural Australia: A review of service models for older Australians with preventable chronic conditions","authors":"Mohammad Hamiduzzaman , Vanette McLennan , Harry Gaffney , Sarah Miles , Sarah Crook , Lewis Grove , Matthew Gray , Victoria Flood","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our review examines the operational dynamics and effectiveness of integrated healthcare models in Australia, focusing on their relevance for older rural adults with preventable chronic diseases. Using Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) systematic integrative review methods, we conducted a search across five databases, including Medline-EBSCO, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS. The Sustainable Integrated Chronic Care Models for Multimorbidity (SELFIE) framework, established by Leijten et al. (2018), was used for reflexive thematic synthesis. A two-stage screening process identified 15 integrated healthcare models, with five RCTs evaluating their effects on chronic conditions. The analysis revealed two key themes: aspects of care integration (service delivery, leadership, workforce, technology, and finance) and changes in patient and healthcare outcomes. Care coordination and multidisciplinary team care were common features, bridging gaps between health and social services for older patients. Despite challenges such as irregular funding and underutilisation of technology, several models demonstrated positive patient and healthcare outcomes. Virtual care platforms and remote monitoring systems have shown promise in improving patient engagement and enabling real-time care adjustments, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare access. Our review highlights the need for integrated healthcare for older rural Australians with preventable chronic conditions, revealing the complexity of service models. Policy shifts towards coordinated services and changes in leadership and healthcare practices are essential to ensure this demographic receives integrated care that meets their needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 105304"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143744457","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 : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105335
I Litchfield , L Harper , M Syed , F Dutton , M Melyda , C Wolhuter , C Bird
Background
The Sparkbrook Children’s Zone is an example of a place-based integrated health and social care service developed to support children and young people living in marginalized populations in the United Kingdom. This model of care is expected to address both clinical need and the social determinants of health but evidence of the practical support needed is lacking.
Objective
To understand the infrastructural challenges of providing a service combining clinical and non-clinical staff from a range of organisations and settings.
Methods
A qualitative exploration of the experiences of staff delivering the service and used a directed content analysis to present the results within the Sustainable integrated chronic care model for multi-morbidity: delivery, financing, and performance (SELFIE) framework.
Results
A total of 14 staff were interviewed including clinicians, social care providers, local voluntary groups, and school-based family mentors. Participants described the gap between system-level integration and the lack of practical support for delivering a unified service on the ground; the training opportunities afforded by collocation; the complexity of securing staff from multiple employers using various funding sources; and the need for lengthier evaluations that extend beyond early instability.
Conclusions
Despite decades of structural reform aimed at integrating the health and social care system in the UK, there was a surprising lack of practicable support for delivering a place-based integrated health and social care service. Their delivery is also hindered by short-term funding cycles limiting the reliability of evidence gathered from complex and evolving services.
{"title":"Understanding the influence of leadership, organisation, and policy on delivering an integrated child health and social care service in community settings: A qualitative exploration using the SELFIE framework","authors":"I Litchfield , L Harper , M Syed , F Dutton , M Melyda , C Wolhuter , C Bird","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Sparkbrook Children’s Zone is an example of a place-based integrated health and social care service developed to support children and young people living in marginalized populations in the United Kingdom. This model of care is expected to address both clinical need and the social determinants of health but evidence of the practical support needed is lacking.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To understand the infrastructural challenges of providing a service combining clinical and non-clinical staff from a range of organisations and settings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative exploration of the experiences of staff delivering the service and used a directed content analysis to present the results within the Sustainable integrated chronic care model for multi-morbidity: delivery, financing, and performance (SELFIE) framework.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 14 staff were interviewed including clinicians, social care providers, local voluntary groups, and school-based family mentors. Participants described the gap between system-level integration and the lack of practical support for delivering a unified service on the ground; the training opportunities afforded by collocation; the complexity of securing staff from multiple employers using various funding sources; and the need for lengthier evaluations that extend beyond early instability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Despite decades of structural reform aimed at integrating the health and social care system in the UK, there was a surprising lack of practicable support for delivering a place-based integrated health and social care service. Their delivery is also hindered by short-term funding cycles limiting the reliability of evidence gathered from complex and evolving services.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 105335"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144052457","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}