Bitesize: Breathlessness-how can we improve diagnosis and treatment?
It's a condition which, for many, is yet to be diagnosed. It affects one in ten people and has severe impacts on someone's quality of life. Anthony Sunjaya is a medical doctor and doctoral researcher at The George Institute for Global Health who researches this condition -- breathlessness – and is exploring innovative ways to diagnose and treat it.
George Medicines profiles Professor Otavio Berwanger, Executive Director of the George Institute for Global Health UK and Chair in Clinical Trials at Imperial College London
Results from an online survey of 4,007 people internationally identified exposure to e-cigarette advertising as having the second greatest effect on susceptibility, after current or past tobacco use, while perceived harmfulness reduced the likelihood of susceptibility.
Our voices matter: shaping priorities for social participation in health reform
The Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM) for UHC2030, Social Participation for Health: Engagement, Research and Empowerment (SPHERE), Save the Children and the World Health Organization (WHO) invite you to an informal interactive discussion toward the institutionalisation of social participation in health decision-making processes. This online session will take place on Tuesday 20th June 2023 from 7:00-8:15 am EST I 1:00-2:15 pm CEST I 4:30-5:45 pm IST.
Social participation, sometimes referred to as citizen engagement or community action for health, has become an integral part of health systems strengthening since it was recognised in the Alma Ata declaration on “Health for All” in 1978. Recognition is growing that people’s voices and actions must influence how domestic resources are used to deliver quality health services for all and hold governments accountable. The need to establish platforms and partnerships to enable this was embedded in the Political Declaration of the UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in 2019.
The aim of the dialogue is to gather feedback from civil society and communities on WHO’s Draft Technical Background Paper on Social Participation for UHC and to discuss opportunities for collaboration and engagement toward the UN High-level Meetings on Health in September and adopting a WHA Resolution in 2024.
Time: 7:00-8:15 am EST I 1:00-2:15 pm CEST I 4:30-5:45 pm IST
Speakers include:
Nanoot Mathurapote, Head of Global Collaboration Unit, National Health Commission Office, Thailand
Lara Brearley, Consultant, World Health Organization
Laura Philidor, Advocacy and Communications Officer, CSEM Secretariat, WACI Health
Kurt Frieder, President of Fundación Huésped
David Peiris, Acting Chief Scientist and Director, Global Primary Health Care Program (Better Care), The George Institute for Global Health
Agenda:
Opening remarks - Kurt Frieder (5 minutes)
Country perspectives: a journey of social participation in Thailand - Nanoot Mathurapote (10 minutes)
Overview of draft WHO Technical Background Paper on Social Participation for UHC - Lara Brearley (15 minutes)
Interactive dialogue with participants - moderated by David Peiris (35 minutes)
Closing remarks - Laura Philidor (10 minutes)
Further information:
Over a four-year period, SPHERE will document experiences of advancing social participation for health, collaborate with communities to promote and evaluate context-specific implementation approaches, and draw lessons to advance the broader UHC agenda. Learn more about SPHERE.
Submission to vaping – an inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use in Queensland
The George Institute is pleased to provide a submission to the Queensland Parliament’s Inquiry into reducing e-cigarette use in Queensland.
We commend the Queensland Government for its efforts to address the health-related risks presented by the emergence and rapid market penetration of e-cigarettes. Although the long-term effects of using e-cigarettes or being exposed to them are yet unknown, there is mounting evidence that they are associated with increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, lung disorders, and cancer. Queensland can take a leadership role in assisting Australia to capitalise on its evidence-based regulatory framework to improve the health of all Australian by reducing smoking rates.
Over recent years the use of unregulated vaping products, largely imported illegally, has rapidly increased and developed worrying trends, particularly in children and adolescents. There is evidence that these products do not act as effective smoking cessation tools, do not meet Australian standards, contain harmful chemicals to health, and usually contain the addictive substance nicotine. As such, it is critical that these products are regulated and their availability strictly controlled.
The George Institute recommends:
The illegal importation of Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs) should be controlled strictly, as an utmost priority
NVPs should be used as a smoking cessation tool only under medical supervision
Minimum safety standards for NVPs should be set according to scientific evidence of harms, and these safety standards should be monitored and enforced (with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) not providing pre-market assessment)
The production, sale, and import of non-nicotine e-cigarettes and flavours should be banned
Legislative frameworks for tobacco control should be clear and streamlined to aid enforcement and avoid loopholes, including industry interference.
Submission to the second Measuring What Matters consultation
The George Institute is pleased to provide further comments on the second consultation on the Measuring What Matters framework. The second consultation looks specifically at the policy areas and descriptions that will form part of the Framework.
This submission builds on our earlier submission, highlighting the importance of developing goals and specific and measurable targets for each of the policy areas. Careful consideration of the policy goals, and development of meaningful targets, will enable the measurement of progress toward desired outcomes.
Many of the policy areas are interrelated, and we also request that the development of specific indicators considers the complex relationships between the economic, environmental, health and social welfare policy domains.
We are pleased to see the Treasury consulting widely as the Measuring What Matters Framework is developed and are looking forward to further opportunities for collaboration.
