Revista panamericana de salud pública = Pan American journal of public health
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Nov 2011
Clinical trial regulation in Argentina: overview and analysis of regulatory framework, use of existing tools, and researchers' perspectives to identify potential barriers.
To review and analyze the regulatory framework of clinical trial registration, use of existing tools (publicly accessible national/international registration databases), and users' perspectives to identify possible barriers to registration compliance by sponsors and researchers in Argentina. ⋯ To increase compliance and promote clinical trial registration in Argentina, national health authorities, sponsors, and local investigators could take the following steps: implement a grassroots educational campaign to improve clinical trial regulation, support local investigator-sponsor-initiated clinical trials, and/or encourage local and regional scientific journal compliance with standards from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and/or the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Aug 2011
[International financing for cooperation to develop health in Latin America and the Caribbean].
The purpose of this study is (a) to examine the ways in which Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have benefited from increases in international development assistance for health (DAH) at the global level and whether the trend observed after the Millennium Summit has also applied to the Region; (b) to determine whether there are differences in the distribution of this assistance, based on the gross per capita income of each country; (c) to identify the possible effects of the 2008 international financial crisis on official bilateral assistance; and (d) to compare trends in public health expenditure in relation to DAH before and after the Millennium Summit. The study has found that DAH in LAC follows a very different pattern than in other regions of the world. The period from 1997 to 2008 was one of fluctuating stagnation, with average annual disbursements of US$ 1 200 million. ⋯ After the Millennium Summit DAH channeled to governments decreased 30% in the period 2001-2006, and its share of public health expenditure in the region was 0.3% for the same period, with an equally marginal proportion in relation to total health expenditure for 2008 (0.37%; US$ 2 per capita). The study concludes that after the Millennium Summit, DAH in LAC did not grow nor did it equal the trends prior to 2000, and public health expenditure followed its historical growth trend, without further increases in relation to the regional gross domestic product. Given these realities and the fact that LAC is the world's most unequal region, but not its poorest, it is imperative to reconsider the concepts, management, and delivery of cooperation in the development of health, using innovative approaches and alternative financing mechanisms that respond more effectively to the realities of the region.
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Aug 2011
[Technical cooperation for health between Colombia and bordering countries].
Characterize the technical cooperation of Colombia with four bordering countries and determine the training needs of the binational technical groups (BTGs). ⋯ The border areas exhibited complex intervention scenarios, where international law and foreign policy have defined cooperative actions. In determining the training for BTGs, the national and international regulatory framework and context of the border areas should be taken into account.
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Jul 2011
Prospective registration and results disclosure of clinical trials in the Americas: a roadmap toward transparency.
The objective of this article is to propose a roadmap toward transparency of clinical trials in the Americas by their prospective registration and results disclosure. This will broaden access to more complete and accurate data and facilitate evidence-informed decision-making and participation in research. Consequently, it should have a positive impact on people's health and should promote trust in health research. ⋯ The analysis shows that, in spite of numerous regional and country initiatives, clinical trials taking place in nonEnglish-speaking parts of the Americas are underregistered. A roadmap is proposed to enhance research governance and good research practice by improving the transparency of clinical trials. The proposed roadmap includes strategies for implementing WHO international standards for trial registration, for developing international standards of public disclosure of trial results, and for a potential role of the Pan American Health Organization.
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyImpact of the National Health Fund policy on hormone treatment for prostate cancer in Jamaica.
To compare the proportion of patients choosing surgical versus medical castration to treat prostate cancer, before and after the National Health Fund (NHF) of Jamaica began to subsidize hormone therapy. ⋯ Surgical castration was more common than medical castration before March 2005. After the NHF began to subsidize the cost of drugs for hormone therapy, medical castration was chosen more often. Increased access to drugs for hormone therapy has changed treatment patterns in Jamaica.