BACKGROUND:Over the past two decades, international health policies focusing on the fight against the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and those diseases that address maternal and child health problems, among others, have skewed disease control priorities in China and other Asian countries. Although these are important health problems, an epidemic of chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in China has accounted for a much greater burden of disease due to the ongoing rapid socioeconomic and demographic transition.DISCUSSION:Although NCDs currently account for more than 80% of the overall disease burden in China, they remain very low on the nation's disease control priorities, attracting marginal investment from central and local governments. This leaves the majority of patients with chronic conditions without effective treatment. International organizations and national governments have recognized the devastating social and economic consequences caused by NCDs in low- and middle-income countries, including China. Yet, few donor-funded projects that address NCDs have been implemented in these countries over the past decade. Due to a lack of strong support from international organizations and national governments for fighting against NCDs, affected persons in China, especially the poor and those who live in rural and less developed regions, continue to have limited access to the needed care. Costs associated with frequent health facility visits and regular treatment have become a major factor in medical impoverishment in China. This article argues that although China's ongoing health system reform would provide a unique opportunity to tackle current public health problems, it may not be sufficient to address the emerging threat of NCDs unless targeted steps are taken to assure that adequate financial and human resources are mapped for effective control and management of NCDs in the country.SUMMARY:The Chinese government needs to develop a domestically-driven and evidence-based disease control policy and funding priorities that respond appropriately to the country's current epidemiological transition, and rapid sociodemographic and lifestyle changes.

Este trabalho analisa as condições atuariais para criação do Fundo previdenciário federal (FUNPRESP) e como será o novo sistema previdenciário após o funcionamento desse Fundo que finalmente concluirá, em âmbito federal, as reformas iniciadas em 1998. A partir desse estudo concluímos que o novo sistema previdenciário, sistema misto, pagará benefícios menores para os servidores que ingressarem depois da criação do fundo quando comparados com os atuais servidores. Em razão disso os atuais servidores, analisando apenas os ganhos financeiros, não migrarão para o Fundo federal conforme é esperado pelo Governo. As mulheres receberão nesse novo sistema previdenciário benefícios menores em função do menor tempo de contribuição, expectativa de vida maior e menor taxa de crescimento salarial. Mas os grandes avanços com a criação do fundo serão o equilíbrio atuarial do sistema federal de previdência e o fim das grandes desigualdades entre esse sistema e o regime geral de previdência. A criação do Fundo fará com que os benefícios fiquem atrelados diretamente à contribuição de cada servidor, diferentemente do que ocorria antes quando os benefícios eram proporcionais à remuneração do servidor - até 2003 era equivalente a última remuneração e depois de 2003 é equivalente à média das 80% maiores remunerações. / The present work analyzes the actuarial conditions for the creation of the Brazilian Federal Social Security Fund (FUNPRESP) and how the new Social Security System will work after the effective functioning of the Fund. We could say that in the federal sphere it will finally finish off the reforms initiated in 1998. We conclude that the new Social Security System (called \"mixed system\") will provide lower payments to the beneficiaries who start to contribute after the creation of the Fund. In consequence, the current beneficiaries will not migrate to the new Federal Fund, as the government expects, because some simple analysis will make they conclude that they would incur into financial losses. Along with that, female beneficiaries will receive fewer benefits than men from that new Social Security System, basically for three reasons: a) their shorter time of contribution; b), their higher life expectancy; and c), the lower rate at which their payments actually grow. We also conclude that the real advantages brought by the creation of the Fund are: a) the actuarial equilibrium of the Federal Social Security System, and b) the end of the huge inequalities between that system and the \"general\" Brazilian Social Security System (INSS). The creation of the Fund will link the benefits directly to the contribution of each servant, as opposed to when benefits were proportional to the servant\'s pay (equal to it until 2003, or equivalent to the average of the 80% highest salaries).

<p><strong><strong>Purpose and Execution –The purpose of this paper is to seek feasible suggestions and recommendations to the Chinese medical device industry under the new current market situation—Chinese health care system reform. In order to achieve this aim, we will start with introducing the background of current status of related issues. The next part will be the preparation of further analysis, which contains the theory and descriptions of the health care system reform histories of China, Sweden, the USA and UK. We will consequent present the environmental potential influential aspects. The main discussion will take place around medical device market analysis, together with three representative company case studies. After identifying the opportunities and challenges of the industry, we will draw the conclusions which are the recommendations for Chinese health care industry and also some suggestions for the Chinese government. <strong></strong></strong></strong></p><p><p>Design/Methodology/Approach – To explore these issues, besides literature reviews on market analysis (five forces, SWOT analysis), this paper applies generic competitive strategy, value-based service and service innovation as well. In addition, it also illustrates with 3 mini cases. We acquired both secondary data from related databases and primary data through questionnaires. <strong></strong></p><p>Limitation – Due to the restricted access to the specific database, the acquired information is limited to analyze the paper. Furthermore, according to the fact that the data we obtained is mostly on the basis of the whole medical device industry and it is quite difficult to be classified into particular parts, we decided to limit our research to the medical device industry that caters to both medical equipments and disposable tools when doing the analysis. In addition, since the design of questionnaire includes open questions, the research quality is heavily dependent on the individual skills of the researcher. <strong></strong></p><p>Findings – The new health care system reform will definitely boost the growth of medical device industry, but also create fiercer competition. Chinese Medical device companies need to enhance abilities of marketing, research and development, and aim at meeting customer needs to exploit new profit alternatives.</p></p>

Purpose and Execution –The purpose of this paper is to seek feasible suggestions and recommendations to the Chinese medical device industry under the new current market situation—Chinese health care system reform. In order to achieve this aim, we will start with introducing the background of current status of related issues. The next part will be the preparation of further analysis, which contains the theory and descriptions of the health care system reform histories of China, Sweden, the USA and UK. We will consequent present the environmental potential influential aspects. The main discussion will take place around medical device market analysis, together with three representative company case studies. After identifying the opportunities and challenges of the industry, we will draw the conclusions which are the recommendations for Chinese health care industry and also some suggestions for the Chinese government. Design/Methodology/Approach – To explore these issues, besides literature reviews on market analysis (five forces, SWOT analysis), this paper applies generic competitive strategy, value-based service and service innovation as well. In addition, it also illustrates with 3 mini cases. We acquired both secondary data from related databases and primary data through questionnaires. Limitation – Due to the restricted access to the specific database, the acquired information is limited to analyze the paper. Furthermore, according to the fact that the data we obtained is mostly on the basis of the whole medical device industry and it is quite difficult to be classified into particular parts, we decided to limit our research to the medical device industry that caters to both medical equipments and disposable tools when doing the analysis. In addition, since the design of questionnaire includes open questions, the research quality is heavily dependent on the individual skills of the researcher. Findings – The new health care system reform will definitely boost the growth of medical device industry, but also create fiercer competition. Chinese Medical device companies need to enhance abilities of marketing, research and development, and aim at meeting customer needs to exploit new profit alternatives.

This thesis analyzes the changes occured in the Iranian education system. The changes occured before and after the Islamic Revolution are main themes. Reform attempts, modernization, westernization, secularization, purification and Islamization of Iranian education system will be discussed along with comments of notable figures. The thesis will also trace the history of modernization and development of Iran as well as introducing political ideas of ruling elites how they defined projects to transform Iranian education system.

Pagrindimas: Lietuvoje vykstant sveikatos priežiūros reformai, didelio visuomenės ir mokslininkų dėmesio sulaukia įvairūs sveikatos priežiūros organizavimo, paslaugų kokybės aspektai, kurie dažniausiai vertinami vykdant pacientų apklausas, tačiau svarbus yra ir medicinos personalo nuomonės tyrimas šiais klausimais dėl realaus požiūrio į tam tikras sistemos funkcionavimo galimybes. Darbo tikslas: Išsiaiškinti kaip Vilniaus miesto medikai vertina dabartinę sveikatos priežiūrą ir paslaugas, analizuojant tam tikrus sveikatos priežiūros organizacinius aspektus, atsižvelgiant į medikų specializaciją, darbovietę ir darbo stažą. Metodika: Anoniminės anketinės apklausos būdu apklausti 297 respondentai (gydytojai ir slaugytojai) dirbantys pirminės sveikatos priežiūros centruose, stacionaruose ir privačiose įstaigose. Tyrimo tikslui ir uždaviniams pasiekti naudotas kiekybinis momentinis sociologinis tyrimas. Anketa sudaryta remiantis viešosios nuomonės ir rinkos tyrimų bendrovės ,,Spinter tyrimai“ 2004 m. atlikto tyrimo, kurio metu siekta išsiaiškinti, kaip medikai vetina sveikatos priežiūros įstaigų restruktūrizaciją ir kt. problemas, klausimynu. Duomenų apdorojimas ir analizė atlikta naudojantis statistiniu paketu SPSS. Skirtumai tarp atitinkamų rodiklių laikomi patikimais, kai klaidos tikimybė p &#8804; 0,05. Šią reikšmę programa ieškant ryšio tarp kintamųjų, suskaičiuoja automatiškai. &#967;2 statistinis kriterijus taikomas tikrinant kokybinių požymių ryšio hipotezes. Taip pat... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Background: While the Lithuanian health service reform is being implemented, major attention of the public and of the scienctists is drawn to different health service organization, service quality aspects, which often are being evaluated by implementing polls of the patients. However also is important poll of the medical personnel about these questions regarding the real opinion of particular functional abilities of the system. Purpose of the work: to find out how medics of the Vilnius city treat current health supervision and the services by analyzing particular organizational aspect of the health service, considering specialization, workplace and probation of the medics. Methodology: in the way of the anonymous questionnaire 297 respondents have been questioned (medic doctors and caregivers), working at primary health service centres, stationeries and private institutions. For reaching the purpose and the goal of this survey quantitative instantaneous sociological survey was used. The questionnaire was compounded using questionnaire of public opinion and market survey company ,,Spinter tyrimai“ of year 2004 intended to find out how the medics treat restructurizing of the health service institutions and other problems. Processing of data and analysis was completed using statistical packet SPSS. Differences between appropriate rates are treated as reliable when likelihood of mistake is p &#8804; 0,05. The programme figures this value automatically when finds connection... [to full text]

Este trabalho analisa as condições atuariais para criação do Fundo previdenciário federal (FUNPRESP) e como será o novo sistema previdenciário após o funcionamento desse Fundo que finalmente concluirá, em âmbito federal, as reformas iniciadas em 1998. A partir desse estudo concluímos que o novo sistema previdenciário, sistema misto, pagará benefícios menores para os servidores que ingressarem depois da criação do fundo quando comparados com os atuais servidores. Em razão disso os atuais servidores, analisando apenas os ganhos financeiros, não migrarão para o Fundo federal conforme é esperado pelo Governo. As mulheres receberão nesse novo sistema previdenciário benefícios menores em função do menor tempo de contribuição, expectativa de vida maior e menor taxa de crescimento salarial. Mas os grandes avanços com a criação do fundo serão o equilíbrio atuarial do sistema federal de previdência e o fim das grandes desigualdades entre esse sistema e o regime geral de previdência. A criação do Fundo fará com que os benefícios fiquem atrelados diretamente à contribuição de cada servidor, diferentemente do que ocorria antes quando os benefícios eram proporcionais à remuneração do servidor - até 2003 era equivalente a última remuneração e depois de 2003 é equivalente à média das 80% maiores remunerações. / The present work analyzes the actuarial conditions for the creation of the Brazilian Federal Social Security Fund (FUNPRESP) and how the new Social Security System will work after the effective functioning of the Fund. We could say that in the federal sphere it will finally finish off the reforms initiated in 1998. We conclude that the new Social Security System (called \"mixed system\") will provide lower payments to the beneficiaries who start to contribute after the creation of the Fund. In consequence, the current beneficiaries will not migrate to the new Federal Fund, as the government expects, because some simple analysis will make they conclude that they would incur into financial losses. Along with that, female beneficiaries will receive fewer benefits than men from that new Social Security System, basically for three reasons: a) their shorter time of contribution; b), their higher life expectancy; and c), the lower rate at which their payments actually grow. We also conclude that the real advantages brought by the creation of the Fund are: a) the actuarial equilibrium of the Federal Social Security System, and b) the end of the huge inequalities between that system and the \"general\" Brazilian Social Security System (INSS). The creation of the Fund will link the benefits directly to the contribution of each servant, as opposed to when benefits were proportional to the servant\'s pay (equal to it until 2003, or equivalent to the average of the 80% highest salaries).

The health system in Abu Dhabi has undergone a series of far reaching reforms during the past six years, yet in spite of the structural transformations, public confidence in the performance of this vital sector is still skeptical at best and employee engagement is still low. The thesis was underpinned by the aim to reveal the challenges in public health system reform outside the context of western administration. This thesis is an attempt to analyse the intricate, multidimensional concept of organisational culture within the complex structure of public healthcare sector in a fast growing economy like Abu Dhabi. Managing organisational culture is increasingly viewed as an essential part of health system reform. Organisational culture in health care organisations has gained increased consideration as an important factor that affects health systems reform and influences the quality of health care. The research project aims to explore the context of health system reform in Abu Dhabi and to understand the organisational culture of the different constituents of its public healthcare sector. Using a multi-method investigation combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches using the Competing Values Framework as conceptual framework, this research aims to provide a critical assessment of organisational culture in healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the regulator, operator, and three public hospitals prior to the use of a survey instrument based on the Organisational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI). The data analysis revealed that the prevailing cultural model of the Abu Dhabi public sector organisations was concurrently governed by hierarchy and market cultures while the presence of clan and adhocracy models was relatively limited. Interesting variations in assessment of clan culture were found between UAE nationals and other nationality clusters. The findings also revealed a desired cultural shift manifested by a higher emphasis on clan and adhocracy cultures and a lower emphasis on hierarchy and market culture. Those results confirm the presence of two opposing or competing cultural dimensions clan/adhocracy vs. hierarchy/market. This research makes a considerable contribution to the sparse empirical studies in health system reforms and organisational culture in the Arab Gulf states, and proposes important explanations and possible solutions to the salient challenges facing the health system in Abu Dhabi.

Lietuvos Respublikoje nuo 2004 metų veikia nauja socialinio draudimo pensijų sistema. Ji suteikia Lietuvos Respublikos gyventojams teisę kaupti papildomai pensijos daliai pensijų fonduose. II ir III pakopos pensijų fondų veiklos priežiūrą atlieka Lietuvos Respublikos Vertybinių popierių komisija. Pensijos yra tam tikra taupymo forma, kuri leidžia sulyginti pajamas per visą gyvenimo laikotarpį. Kiekvienas dirbantis žmogus gali taupyti tam tikrą einamųjų pajamų dalį, taip užtikrindamas sau išmokas iš÷jus į pensiją. Todėl išsivysčiusiose šalyse pensijos ir pensijų fondai vystėsi jau nuo senų laikų – jų užuomazgų galima rasti jau XVII amžiuje. Pirmosios valstybinės pensijos įvestos, generolo Oto fon Bismarko dėka, Vokietijoje 1889 metais. Daugumoje Europos Sąjungos valstybių praktikoje išryškėjo tendencija II pensijų sistemos pakopą daryti kaip privalomąją. Lietuvos Respublikos privalomąjį pobūdį išlaikė tik pirmoji pakopa, tuo tarpu antroji ir trečioji yra savanoriškos. Nuo 2004 m. sausio m÷n. 1 d. Lietuvos Respublikos gyventojai dalį įmokų “Sodrai” turi teisę pervesti į pensijų fondus, o taip pat gali savanoriškai kaupti papildomai pensijos daliai pensijų fonduose ar gyvybės draudimo įmonėse, mokėdami tam tikro dydžio įmokas. Teisę tapti pensijų fondo dalyviu turi asmenys, privalomai draudžiami valstybiniu socialiniu pensijų draudimu pagrindinei ir papildomai pensijos daliai gauti, išskyrus asmenis, kurie jau yra sukakę senatvės pensijos amžių. Pensijų įmokos dydis 2006 metais... [to full text] / Lithuanians, since 01/01/04, a part of their payments to “Sodra” can remit in pension funds. All pension accumulation enterprises are strictly controlled and supervised by the Stock Commission. Pension is a particular way on saving, which allows dispensing lifetime income. Every working person can put aside a certain part of his income, thus guaranteeing allowance when the person retires. In wealthy countries pensions and pension funds have existed for a long time, their origins dating as far back as the 17th. First retirement was instituted by Otto von Bismarck in Germany 1889. There is a tendency that in most of European Union states II level’s of the pension system are compulsory. In Lithuania only I level is compulsory, while II and III are voluntary. Lithuanians, since 01/01/04, a part of their payments to “Sodra” can remit in pension funds, also they can accumulate voluntary for subsidiary part of the pension in pension funds or insurance enterprises, by making certain payments. To become a participant of the pension fund may a person, who is compulsory insured with the social retirement insurance, to get main or subsidiary part of pension. Person, who is already turned the retirement age, have no right to participate in the second level. In 2006 the pension payment is 4.5 percent, since 2007 – 5.5 percent of participant’s income, from which the national social security payments are countable. Payments are remitted from VSDF (National Social Insurance Fund) budget to... [to full text]

Magistrantūros studijų baigiamasis darbas, 69 puslapiai, 12 paveikslai, 8 lentelių, 88 literatūros šaltiniai, 11 priedų, lietuvių kalba. RAKTINIAI ŽODŽIAI: pensijos, socialinė apsauga, pensijų sistemos reforma, privatūs pensijų fondai. Tyrimo objektas – Lietuvos privatūs pensijų fondai. Darbo tikslas – įvertinti Lietuvos privačius pensijų fondus. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1) nustatyti privačių pensijų fondų vietą pensijų sistemoje; 2) nustatyti privačių pensijų fondų svarbą kuriant gerovės valstybę; 3) atlikti privačių pensijų fondų veiklos ir vertinimo problemų analizę; 4) nustatyti pensijų fondų vertintojus ir jų vertinimo kriterijus; 5) parengti pensijų fondų įvertinimo metodiką; 6) pagal parengtą metodiką įvertinti Lietuvos privačių pensijų fondų veiklą. Tyrimo metodai - mokslinės literatūros bei loginė analizė ir sintezė, lyginamoji analizė, struktūrinė santykinė analizė, statistinių duomenų analizė ir sintezė, grafinio vaizdavimo metodas, reitingavimo metodas. / The final work of magistracy studies, 69 pages, 12 pictures, 8 tables, 88 literature sources, 11 annexes, in Lithuanian. KEY WORDS: pensions, social security, pension system reform, private pension funds. Research Target: private pension funds in Lithuania. Research aim: To evaluate private pension funds in Lithuania. Research Objectives: 1. To ascertain the location of private pension funds in pension system; 2. To ascertain the importance of private pension funds creating the welfare state; 3. To carry out the analyses of the problems determining the activity of private pension funds; 4. To establish the evaluators and their criteria for evaluating private pension funds; 5. To prepare methodics for evaluating pension funds; 6. to evaluate the activity of private pension funds in Lithuania according to the prepared methods. Research methods: logical analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, comparative analyses, structural relative analysis, analysis and synthesis of statistical data, graphical representation method, rate-making method.