In a theoretical model, we analyze the effects of various kinds of demand- and supply-side incentives in the context of a model in which patients and doctors must decide not only on an aggregate quantity of health services to use in treating various kinds of illness, but also have a choice...

Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp.) is a leading cause of paediatric bacterial meningitis, pneumonia and acute otitis media, as is non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) for acute otitis media. In 2008, a 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7) was included in the New Zealand...

Background: Endophthalmitis is a severe condition that requires hospitalization with at least day care. Information on the incidence rate, costs and consequences of endophthalmitis is scarce. Objective: To estimate the number of patients with endophthalmitis hospitalized in France, as well as...

In this article we analyse how the costs of treating patients with HIV infection in the US have changed over time, with an emphasis on the relationship between inpatient hospitalization costs and the costs of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We examine how HIV treatment modes have...

Background: Nursing costs are poorly estimated in economic studies conducted in hospitals because of a lack of data on nursing times for day-to-day activities relating to patient care. Objective: To determine standard time values for nursing activities for specific indications in a cohort of...

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome usually caused by structural changes in the heart. These changes result in varying degrees of symptomatic functional limitation, typically shortness of breath and fatigue. Heart failure is common, with a lifetime risk for its occurrence in a healthy...

This paper examines the prospects for reform of Russia’s healthcare system. It begins by exploring a number of fundamental imbalances that characterise the current half-reformed system of healthcare provision before going on to assess the government’s plans for going ahead with healthcare...

Background: Hyperphosphatemia is very common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Recently, a new phosphate binder, sevelamer, has become available in the US to treat this condition. The high cost of sevelamer has significantly impacted on third-party payors such as Florida Medicaid....