International Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume:15 Issue: 7, Jul 2024

Countries possessing robust primary healthcare (PHC) systems typically yield superior health outcomes, reduced inequality, and diminished healthcare expenses for their citizens. Moreover, PHC demonstrates a direct correlation with the efficient utilization of resources. However, the allocation of financial resources dedicated to PHC varies significantly among countries and lacks explicit clarity. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct a review of published literature to ascertain the extent of resource allocation to PHC across diverse nations. In addition, it aims to explore associated factors, challenges, and mechanisms influencing this allocation.

This scoping review protocol will adopt the Joanna Briggs Institute’s scoping review methodology, which was updated in 2020. It will leverage library studies and refer to reputable databases. The inclusion criteria will include studies conducted between January 2000 and December 2023, focusing on criteria, amounts, mechanisms, and challenges associated with financial resource allocation to PHC globally. In addition, studies must be published in either English and Persian. Studies lacking full‑text availability will be excluded from the review. Mendeley software will be utilized to organize and manage the collected studies. The study selection process will be visually depicted using the PRISMA‑SCR diagram. Conventional content analysis will be employed to analyze the studies.

Considering the position and role of primary health care in promoting the health of society, by implementing this protocol, the data obtained from the proposed scoping review will enable the managers and officials of the health system to follow the experiences of different countries in the field of scientific and fair allocation of financial resources to PHC, reinforcing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The second phase of the health sector reform, called the Health Sector Evolution Plan (HSEP), has been implemented in Iran since 2014, aims to improve the equity and quality of health services. In the present study, we aimed to measure the trend of hospitalization and the crude intrahospital mortality rate from 1 year before the HSEP implementation (2013) to 5 years after the HSEP implementation (2018) in public hospitals compared with profit, nonprofit, and charity hospitals, which are affiliated with the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (MUI).

In a prospective, cross‑sectional study, the data related to the frequency of hospitalized patients and intrahospital mortality during the time of hospitalization were collected through census sampling from 39 public hospitals as the exposed hospitals and 20 profit, nonprofit, and charity hospitals as the control hospitals.

After HSEP implementation, the frequency of hospitalization increased in public hospitals by 50.45% compared with the previous period. Although the crude intrahospital mortality rate increased from 12.61 to 12.93 per 1000 hospitalized patients (an increase of 2.54%) in public hospitals, the raise was not significant (P value = 0.348). The frequency of hospitalization increased in Social Security Organization’s (SSO) hospitals as well as charity hospitals. However, the percent of decrease in the intrahospital mortality rates were −42.96%, −34.76%, and −18.47% in the private, charity, and SSO hospitals, respectively, but was not significant (P value > 0.05).

The crude intrahospital mortality rates in public hospitals affiliated with MUI did not change significantly after the implementation of the HSEP.

Smear‑positive pulmonary tuberculosis (SPPTB) is a significant public health concern in Iran. This registry‑based study aimed to investigate the incidence rates of SPPTB in Iran from 2018 to 2022.

The study analyzed SPPTB cases using the Spatial Lag Model to investigate the spatial distribution of SPPTB incidence rates, income inequality, and delayed diagnosis across the provinces of Iran and mapped the results using GIS maps.

The study found that SPPTB is prevalent among older individuals and males. The analysis identified significant spatial variation in the distribution of SPPTB incidence rates, income inequality, and delayed diagnosis across the provinces. The highest incidence rate of SPPTB was found in Sistan and Baluchestan Province and Golestan provinces. The study found a positive association between income inequalities, measured by the Gini index, and SPPTB incidence rates, indicating that provinces with higher income inequality may have higher incidence rates of SPPTB. The negative correlation with delayed diagnosis implies that predominantly, SPPTB cases are identified in the early months.

The study highlights the need to address socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes and implement targeted interventions in areas with higher income inequality to reduce the burden of SPPTB in Iran. Despite decreased SPPTB incidence rates in Iran over the past decade, some regions, such as Sistan and Baluchestan, still have high incidence rates. The Iranian government has implemented policies and programs to reduce income inequality and delayed diagnosis within the country, which can contribute to reducing the burden of SPPTB.

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Dear Editor, In 2018, the Mental Health Act was passed into Law. The Philippine Mental Health Act aims to promote positive mental health and provide mental health services to all Filipinos. However, due to limited financial, human, and physical resources, the implementation of the Mental Health Act has been challenging and perceived as a made‑up “act,” even though the act aims to provide the rights of patients to be free from discrimination and receive human treatments.