Mr. Seo lives in Busan, but he underwent surgery at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, about 400 kilometers away from his home. Even after the surgery, there was a need for regular medication and tests, but going to Seoul every time became burdensome. So test results and other information were shared between the hospital near Mr. Seo's home and the hospital in Seoul through the … [Read more...] about How to Establish a Successful Health Information Exchange System? A Korean Case
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The Healthcare Sector Plays a Crucial Role in Times of Crisis
In recent decades, the world has experienced a series of extreme events. From economic periods of recession to political instability causing social conflicts, terrorism and wars. From health crises such as pandemics or plagues to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, droughts and heat waves. Regarding the latter, the frequency of extreme natural … [Read more...] about The Healthcare Sector Plays a Crucial Role in Times of Crisis
How Much Could Chilean Households Save by Switching to Generic Drugs?
In Latin America and the Caribbean, pharmaceutical expenditure ranges from 8.5% (Costa Rica) to 22.1% (Mexico) of total health expenditure. Although governments bear part of this expenditure, in many of the region's countries households assume a significant proportion. In Chile, for example, health spending directly paid by households accounts for 32% of total health spending, … [Read more...] about How Much Could Chilean Households Save by Switching to Generic Drugs?
Public Hospitals in the Region: What Is the Room for Improvement?
Hospitals are a key component of health systems and health spending in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Across the region, hospital care already accounts for about 1/3 of total health spending and is expected to increase in absolute and relative terms as populations age and medical technology improves. The public sector has a substantial role in providing and paying for … [Read more...] about Public Hospitals in the Region: What Is the Room for Improvement?
Why Long Wait Times for Health Care Should Matter – and How to Reduce Them
Long waiting times for public health care services are common in Latin America, as confirmed by the available data. For instance, in 2022 the median waiting time for hip replacements – a common elective surgery – was 408 days in Chile and 632 in Costa Rica. And even for coronary bypass surgery, more than three in four patients have been on a waiting list for more than three … [Read more...] about Why Long Wait Times for Health Care Should Matter – and How to Reduce Them