Background Health literacy presents an enormous challenge in the delivery of effective healthcare and quality outcomes. We evaluated the impact of low health literacy (LHL) on healthcare utilization and healthcare expenditure.   Methods Database analysis used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 2005-2008 which provides nationally representative estimates of healthcare utilization and e...

Background Nepal has made remarkable efforts towards social health protection over the past several years. In 2016, the Government of Nepal introduced a National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) with an aim to ensure equitable and universal access to healthcare by all Nepalese citizens. Following the first year of operation, the scheme has covered 5 percent of its target population. There ...

Background Despite the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) since 2005 in Nigeria, the level of health insurance coverage remains low. The study aims to examine the predictors of enrolment in the NHIS among women of reproductive age in Nigeria.   Methods Secondary data from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were utilized to ex...

Since its establishment in 1948, the history of the National Health Service (NHS) has been characterized by organisational turbulence and system reform. At the same time, progress in science, medicine and technology throughout the western world have revolutionized the delivery of healthcare. The NHS has become a much loved, if much critiqued, national treasure. It is against this backdrop that ...

The article takes its cue from models of quantitative research applied to complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) and pinpoints some innovative features in the case at issue (Portugal). It goes on to outline new research scenarios moving beyond the either biomedical or CAM framework.

Martin Powell makes the point that the death of the National Health Service (NHS) is constantly asserted without criteria. This article suggests that the NHS is many things, which makes criteria unstable. The alignment of interests in the structure of the NHS enables both overheated rhetoric and political strength, and that pluralization of provision might actually undermine that alignment over...

Several elements of the French health system--the predominance of office-based medical practice, the mix of private and public hospitals, the use of patient cost sharing, direct payment of physicians by patients, and financing derived from payroll taxes--closely resemble aspects of the U.S. health system. There are four major differences between the two systems: the French system covers more th...

Background: This study aimed to assess the pattern of hygienic behaviors of Iranian children and adolescents at national and sub-national levels according to the socioeconomic status (SES) of their living region.   Methods: Data were obtained from the fourth national school-based surveillance survey entitled, “CASPIAN-IV study” (2011-2012). It was conducted among 14,880 stud...

Martin Powell suggests that the death of the English National Health Service (NHS) has been announced so many times we are at risk of not noticing should it actually happen. He is right. If we ‘cry wolf’ too many times, we risk losing sight of what is important about the NHS and why.