Suchergebnisse

This study examines sustainability in health care delivery in the UAE and the most effective approach to achieving this so called sustainability in health care. The study analyzes both quantitative and qualitative data to postulate that the notion that sustainability in health care delivery is based only on finance is a myth. The study argues that attaining sustainability in health care delivery is determined by numerous diverse but interrelated factors in the Emirati society. These factors transcend social (including demographic and educational factors), cultural, economic and political factors. The study contends that the existing socio-cultural, economic and political institutions in the UAE have the potential to support the achievement of sustainable health care delivery and management in the UAE. It is the conclusion of the study that sustainability in health care is achievable in the UAE but that the planning, provision and management of health care delivery are of utmost importance.

This article examines the provision of family planning services in selected countries in the Caribbean. The potential impact of the funding shortfall resulting from the phasing out of funding by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and the strategies being adopted by the selected countries to cope with this, are considered. Stratified random sampling methods were employed to select eight Caribbean countries and a pre-designed questionnaire was administered to the agency responsible for family planning services in each country. The sample was stratified geographically to include countries from different parts of the Caribbean. The questionnaire was designed to collect information on the services provided, the name of the agency responsible for the provision of services and, where possible, the number of users of each type of service in 1998 and 1997. Vast disparities were found in the provision of family planning services in different Caribbean countries, in terms of the groups involved, the services available in each country, as well as methods of data collection and compilation. Anguilla and Bermuda were found to provide only limited family planning services, while Barbados, Jamaica and Grenada provide much more sophisticated services. A salient finding was the innovative approaches that various countries in the region have adopted to fund family planning programmes in anticipation of the phasing out of IPPF funding. The standpoint taken in the study is that countries such as Anguilla and Bermuda must strive to improve their provision of family planning services, and that they could learn from Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica, which provide much more comprehensive services. It is also concluded that, unless alternative funding sources are identified and accessed, the provision of family planning services in the Caribbean is likely to decline in the future.

Ethics is the heart of health care (Seedhouse, 2003). Health is everybody's business and everything in health care involves some degree of morality. Working in health, health care development and delivery, health services planning and provision as well as managing in the health environment and health assessment involve moral behavior. So also are public health dimensions such as health protection, illness prevention and health promotion activities. This article investigates ethical issues in health care in the UAE and identifies a number of ethics related issues and problems. They include malpractices and botched operations, inadequate information on procedures and cost to patients, sale of prescription only drugs over the counter, designer babies and Doctors being remunerated on commission basis. The article concludes that these ethical issues may have adverse effects on health care provision, accessibility and affordability. The article suggests a number of strategies to address the issues including new legislation prohibiting commission payments to medical professionals, enforcement of existing legislation and professional ethics, general public awareness campaigns and education.

This article investigates one major ethical issue in health care in the UAE with a view to identifying strategies to address the problem. Throughout Abu Dhabi, prescription required medicines are sold without an accompanying prescription, with inherent implications for illness, injury or even fatality. The methodologies involve participant observation of buyers and sellers of prescription medicines and a brief survey of the pharmaceutical outlets and their client. The results reveal widespread over the counter sale of prescription medicines, together with reasons why the practice prevails in Abu Dhabi. The article concludes that an urgent need exists to stop the practice and suggest a number of strategies to ameliorate the situation. The proposed strategies include enforcement of existing legislation and professional ethics, general public awareness campaigns and education.