OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the socio-ecological and health profile of the Philippine LIFECARE study sites, its health care services and leading causes of mortality and morbidity.

METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that recruited participants aged 20-50 years from Metro Manila and four provinces (Bulacan, Batangas, Quezon, Rizal). Study sites were characterized according to their geographical area, terrain and environmental profile, and available health care system.

RESULTS: 3,072 subejects were included, with male-to-female ratio of 1:1.3 and majority aged 30-50 years. Metro Manila was the most congested site. Two-thirds of the 62 villages (barangays) were rural, outside the town proper, and in lowlands. One-fourth were along coastal area. Almost all were accessible by public transportation. Majority have reduced forest cover, but were relatively safe from environmental hazards. Rural health units, hospitals, and professional health care workers were concentrated in Metro Manila. Leading cause of morbidity was respiratory tract infection, while cardiovascular diseases caused most of mortalities.

CONCLUSION: Study sites were mainly rural, outside the town proper and in lowlands, with available public transportation. There is an unequal distribution of health resources. Cardiovascular diseases is still the leading cause of mortality. The disparities in geographical access to health care play an important role in shaping human health.

In 1998, 186 samples in Hanoi and 154 samples in Hai Phong city of 13 kinds of retail color processed foods were examined. Survey the knowledge of hygiene and safe food of 60 consumers and sellers in Hanoi and 100 consumers and sellers in Hai Phong city. Results: the rate of using unrecommended coloring in Hanoi was 43.4%, and in Hai Phong was 39.5%. 89.3%-100% of retail coloring packages in markets were illegal. In 2002, the rate of using harmful coloring in processing retail food in Hanoi was decreased significantly
Food ; Color ; Health Resources

The water resource in Hanoi is increasingly polluted which influences on the accommodation and people health. Surface and ground water was serious polluted. The water drainage and sewage processing was old and can not meet the current requirements. Dust, exhaustive, waste, smoke, noise, shaking... were pollution resources. It should have solutions for this situation.
Water ; Health Resources ; Water Pollution

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known as ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development’ has 17 “Global Goals” with 169 targets. This is the resolution by member countries as an intergovernmental agreement that acts as the Post 2015 Development Agenda (successor to the Millennium Development Goals). In conjunction with the United Nations SDG, World Health Organization published “The global strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030”. It is primarily aimed at planners and policy-makers of WHO Member States and, its contents are of value to all relevant stake holders including medical education providers in the health workforce area. This article tried to explore the future direction of medical education to achieve the SDG in relation to Korean context.
Conservation of Natural Resources* ; Education, Medical* ; Health Manpower ; Humans ; Public Sector ; Social Control, Formal ; Social Skills ; United Nations ; World Health Organization

This paper introduced the role of the health economy and its application in the strengthening of the efficacy and equity in access of the health resources, sharing the national burden of health, improvement of quality of health services and highlight of the people health. The paper introduced also the differences of the health economy from general economy.
Public Health Administration ; Health Services ; Public Health ; Health Resources

The objectives of this study are two-fold : to identify geographic variations in the rate of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy(T and A) and appendectomy and analyze the socioeconomic variables and health resources which affect geographic variation in the rate. The nationwide three month's cases of the two surgical procedures in 1991 are obtained from the record of the National Federation of Medical Insurance. The analysis shows two to ten-fold variations in the regional rates for the performance of two common procedures such as T and A and appendectomy. T and A shows a bigger regional variations than appendectomy. As a result of multiple regression, the factor of bed supply has been found significant for the dependent variable of the rate of T and A. The findings of large variations in the rate of surgical procedures throughout the country would have important implications for allocating scarce resources and managing quality of care. Further analysis is needed for the elaboration of the above implications.
Appendectomy* ; Health Resources ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Tonsillectomy*

Rationale: The provision of surgical services in the Philippines is an essential component of our healthcare system. Despite an increasing number of accredited training programs, geographic maldistribution remains a key factor in access to surgical care in the country. This study aimed to describe the geographic distribution of surgeons and anesthesiologists in the Philippines and factors that affect their practice to provide insights into the country's surgical capabilities. Additionally, demographic factors such as workforce density, professional mobility, and economic indicators were explored. The ultimate goal was to establish an updated database for continuous monitoring of surgical manpower, facilitated through the collaboration of the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) and the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists (PSA). Methods: This cross-sectional study, sponsored by the World Surgical Foundation (WSF) and the Philippine College of Surgeons Foundation (PCSF), received exemption from review by the Single Joint Research Ethics Board (SJREB) of the Department of Health. An online survey was distributed to surgeons and anesthesiologists across the Philippines from July 1 to December 31, 2020. Active practitioners in relevant specialties were eligible, excluding retirees. Procedures adhered to ICH-GCP principles, National Ethical Guidelines, and the Data Privacy Act. Additional data, sourced from various outlets, was consolidated, verified and subsequently entered into an electronic data sheet (Google Sheets, Google LLC, Palo Alto CA) to extract descriptive statistics of the surgical and anesthesia workforce at the national and regional levels. Results: Analysis of the data indicates male dominance with a noticeable trend of increasing female participation in surgical training programs, while anesthesiologist gender distribution showed a female preponderance. Maldistribution in manpower persists, influenced by factors such as training programs, medical education, and the availability of secondary and tertiary hospitals, and other socio-economic conditions in the country. The study reveals regional variations in the distribution of surgeons and anesthesiologists in the Philippines, with a notable concentration in urban centers, the highest being in Luzon, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR). Conclusion The study highlights gender disparities and regional variations in the distribution of surgeons and anesthesiologists in the Philippines, with a significant concentration in Luzon, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR). Disparities in subspecialty distribution are exacerbated by healthcare education discrepancies and inadequate healthcare infrastructure especially in rural areas. Addressing these challenges requires focused efforts on expanding training programs, recruiting specialists, and ensuring equitable access to surgical care nationwide. Establishing a comprehensive surgical workforce database is essential for informed policymaking, monitoring workforce distribution, and assess service quality to enhance access to surgical services.
Workforce ; Health Resources ; General Surgery ; Anesthesiology

Extensive resources are expended attempting to change clinical practice; however, determining the effects of these interventions can be challenging. Traditionally, frameworks to examine the impact of educational interventions have been hierarchical in their approach. In this article, existing frameworks to examine medical education initiatives are reviewed and a novel '7Is framework' discussed. This framework contains seven linearly sequenced domains: interaction, interface, instruction, ideation, integration, implementation, and improvement. The 7Is framework enables the conceptualization of the various effects of an intervention, promoting the development of a set of valid and specific outcome measures, ultimately leading to more robust evaluation.
Education, Medical ; Health Expenditures ; Health Resources ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

The 9th Global Conference for Health Promotion has been held in Shanghai after 30 years of the first Global Conference for Health Promotion in Ottawa, Canada. In the conference, the delegated members of the countries declared ‘Shanghai Declaration on promoting health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.’ In the declaration, the delegated members of country had agreed that health is one of the ‘most effective markers’ of any city's successful sustainable development and contributes to make cities inclusive, safe, and resilient for the whole population and ‘health literacy’ empowers individual citizens and enables their engagement in collective health promotion action. And in a parallel session ‘Mayors Forum’, they had consensus for health city and they adopted ‘Shanghai Consensus on Healthy Cities’. They recognized their political responsibility to create the conditions for every resident of every city to lead more healthy, safe, and fulfilling lives and to support the full realization of human potential and capabilities at all ages in the city environment.
Canada ; Consensus ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Health Promotion* ; Humans

Both social interest in and studies of socioeconomic inequalities in health have increased in recent years. This article presents the current state of socioeconomic inequalities in health status in Korea, based on recent research. Socioeconomic inequalities in health status have been consistently observed in Korea as well as abroad. In both men and women, from birth-sometimes evenfrom before birth-to death, inverse relationships between socioeconomic position and most indicators of healthexist. For some health indicators, such as suicide, absolute and relative inequalities have become significantly worse than in the past. Knowledge of health inequalities in small geographic areas can be useful for allocating health resources. Representative indicators of socioeconomic inequalities in health shouldundergo ongoing monitoringby the government. In addition, there is a need for research to explore the mechanisms and to evaluate the effectiveness of specific policies and intervention programs as well as to identify socioeconomic inequalities in a variety of health outcomes. Learning the status of and trends in socioeconomic inequalities in health isan essential step toward increasing awareness of these inequalities in society and promoting an integrated and systematic policy for tackling them.
Female ; Health Resources ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; Male ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Suicide