Regulation of Private Health Providers: Tools for Improvement

Rich Feeley's presentation "Regulation of Private Health Providers: Tools for Improvement" at the International Health Economics Association bi-annual meeting in Toronto, on July 9, 2011 in the pre-Congress symposium as part of "Private Sector Role in the Overall Health System" roundtable.

Lessons Learned: Implementing Zinc Treatment Programs Using a Commercial Approach

Integrating Zinc into Diarrhea Management e-Conference Panel 3 presentation by Susan Mitchell, Project Director, SHOPS, Abt Associates.

Wealth and Health: Leveraging Microfinance for Better Health Outcomes – Setting the Context

On June 13, 2011, SHOPS sponsored a satellite event on health financing - "Wealth and Health: Leveraging Microfinance for Better Health Outcomes" at the Global Health Council conference. Thierry van Bastelaer opened and moderated the expert panel session to set the context as to why health financing is essential for improving health outcomes.

Toolkit for the Collection of Survey Data on the Correct Use of Pediatric Zinc as a Treatment for Diarrhea

This document is intended to be used by program managers implementing field programs to introduce zinc, along with ORS, for the treatment of uncomplicated pediatric diarrheas . Included herein are a number of research tools: a questionnaire to be used to collect data from household respondents (caregivers of children under five years of age); focus group guides to be used in discussions with caregivers, community health workers or community-based distribution/sales agents; as well as sample questions to be posed in individual interviews with pharmacy personnel and/or formal and informal sector health care providers to gather more in-depth information on motivators and barriers to use of zinc for the treatment of diarrhea and or the prescription of zinc products for treatment of pediatric diarrheas. These research instruments are meant to be a guide and to be adapted to local conditions of the program being implemented.

This toolkit by the SHOPS project contributed as a resource for the SHOPS Zinc e-Conference held on June 1-2, 2011.

Evidence for the Safety and Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in the Management of Diarrhoea

This document has been prepared to collate and present a summary of current scientific evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of zinc treatment in the management of acute diarrhoea, in order to support applications for the registration of zinc in countries for that purpose.

The report was contributed as a resource for the SHOPS Zinc e-Conference held on June 1-2, 2011.

Zinc and Low Osmolarity Oral Rehydration Salts for Diarrhoea: A Renewed Call to Action

 In 2004, WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released a joint statement recommending a new lower osmolarity oral rehydration salts (ORS) formulation and zinc supplementation for diarrhoea management. More than 5 years later, diarrhoea remains the second leading cause of death and few children in developing countries are receiving these life-saving interventions. Many countries are stalled in the technicalities of adapting national policy, while others struggle to find the funds for start-up activities. For nearly all countries, zinc supplements for children are not available locally; thus, zinc procurement continues to be a major obstacle. Global resources have not been sufficient to bring diarrhoea management to the forefront; thus, the introduction of these new recommendations has remained slow. Revitalizing diarrhoea management must become an international priority if we are going to reduce the burden of diarrhoea deaths and overall child mortality around the world.

This paper was contributed as a resource for the SHOPS Zinc e-Conference held on June 1-2, 2011.

WHO/UNICEF Joint Statement: Clinical Management of Acute Diarrhoea

Two recent advances in managing diarrhoeal disease – newly formulated oral rehydration salts (ORS) containing lower concentrations of glucose and salt, and success in using zinc supplementation – can drastically reduce the number of child deaths. The new methods, used in addition to prevention and treatment of dehydration with appropriate fluids, breastfeeding, continued feeding and selective use of antibiotics, will reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoeal episodes and lower their incidence. Families and communities are key to achieving the goals set for managing the disease by making the new recommendations routine practice in the home and health facility.

This joint statement by WHO and UNICEF was contributed as a resource for the SHOPS Zinc e-Conference held on June 1-2, 2011.

Welcoming Remarks for the Zinc e-Conference 2011

Welcoming remarks for the Zinc e-Conference held on June 1, 2011 contributed by Susan Mitchell of the SHOPS Project.

WaterCredit 2.0

A brief by WaterCredit contributed as a resource to the SHOPS Access to Finance e-Conference held March 29-30, 2011. The brief examines water.org's initiative to increase access to credit and capital for safe water and sanitation.

Financing for the Private Health Sector

Financing for the Private Health Sector is a tool to assist the private health sector in developing and transitional economies to identify and obtain financing. Private sector is defined as the private commercial sector and the private not-for-profit sector.

A report by Summa Foundation contributed as a resource for the SHOPS Access to Finance e-Conference held on March 29-30, 2011.