The Health Policy Partnership

At The Health Policy Partnership, we transform the way people think about healthcare. https://lnkd.in/e39rujVV

Saturday marked #WorldAmyloidosisDay, and we support the World Amyloidosis Alliance’s call to ensure everyone with the condition receives a timely diagnosis.   Amyloidosis is a group of rare and complex diseases, with many distinct types. It is debilitating and may be life-threatening if left untreated – and it can take four to eight years for people to receive a diagnosis.   It is important that people are diagnosed quickly, as the sooner people are given appropriate treatment, the better their outcomes.   https://lnkd.in/dfEA8UUA

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of hospitalisation among children in their first year of life. The virus places significant pressure on the families of those hospitalised, as well as on health systems. Currently, no targeted treatments are available for RSV, meaning immunisation is our best strategy for protecting infants. At yesterday’s webinar, we were joined by a panel of experts who discussed the recent implementation of infant immunisation programmes for RSV in France, Spain and the US. We also launched a policy report, 'Protecting infants from RSV through effective immunisation strategies', which outlines the threat the virus poses to infants, the pressure it places on health systems, and the four priority areas that policy- and decision-makers should be aware of as they plan immunisation programmes. Visit our website to learn more about how health systems can prepare to protect all infants from RSV: https://lnkd.in/enig_uRN

Severe asthma can have a huge impact on a person’s ability to live an independent life. Severe asthma is a distinct form of asthma that affects 3–10% of all people diagnosed with asthma. It causes people to experience repeated, life-threatening attacks that are difficult to manage effectively; this can restrict people's ability to socialise, work and be active. Tackling severe asthma requires meaningful changes to care, ensuring inequitable barriers to care are adequately addressed. Earlier this year, we provided secretariat support to the Severe Asthma Policy Group, producing a call to action that outlined six priority areas in which policymakers can help drive change. ▼ https://lnkd.in/evw8Pspp

Despite their negative effects on health, ultra-processed foods have quickly become some of the world’s most consumed products. Once a rarity, ultra-processed foods now form the bulk of many people’s diets. This large-scale uptake has seen obesity rates double since the late 1990s, with corresponding rises in malnutrition and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. While measures such as ‘sugar taxes’ have been effective to some extent, more needs to be done to protect public health and address rising levels of obesity. In our latest blog post, Senior Researcher Stefano Spalvieri explores the need for political action to tackle the influence and impact of UPFs. https://lnkd.in/ebhZrMqb

How can we better protect infants during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season? RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation for children in their first year and is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants. Innovative immunisation programmes can protect infants from severe illness and hospitalisation. Earlier this year, we released an infographic to help policymakers evaluate their health system’s readiness to implement RSV prevention strategies, including immunisation. These new strategies – already implemented in France, Spain and the United States – have been shown to significantly reduce the number of infant hospitalisations. We’ll be discussing this work during our upcoming webinar, where a panel of experts will share the key success factors, challenges and lessons learned from implementing these new approaches to RSV immunisation. We hope you can join us next week on Monday 21 October. ▼ https://lnkd.in/ga9VmGEb #RSV #infants #immunisation

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, with 90% of these deaths due to metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Yet, people with MBC experience significant gaps in the care and support they receive. This MBC Awareness Day, we are highlighting the action required to reduce inequitable access to treatments and care for people with MBC. Health inequalities are experienced by many with the disease, and these disparities can be exacerbated for people from traditionally underserved populations. Currently, policies fail to fully recognise and address the unique challenges faced by people with MBC. Our new infographic looks at driving change to close existing gaps, identifying three areas of focus for policymakers and health system decision makers. These areas and opportunities for change will be further explored in a forthcoming set of policy briefs, which will also outline actionable policy recommendations to make MBC care more equitable at all levels. https://lnkd.in/eW5GwdPm #metastaticbreastcancer #bcsm #breastcancerawareness

Yesterday, on #WorldMentalHealthDay, HPP staff attended a wellbeing webinar on what we can do to look after everyone’s mental health in the workplace. Our place of work can greatly affect our mental health – both positively and negatively. It can be a positive environment to help people have open and honest conversations about what’s going on with them, and what can be done to support one another. Thank you to Shine Workplace Wellbeing for highlighting some strategies we can use to help ourselves and others in moments of stress. #mentalhealth #anxiety #workplace

Nearly half the world’s population has gone – or will go – to the polls in 2024. And a major facet of many candidates’ campaigns has been the state of their health systems. Facing challenges including multimorbidity, workforce shortages and the need for more integrated care, and still reeling from the impact of the pandemic, many health systems are looking to innovation – particularly digitalisation and data – to optimise outcomes for patients. And better outcomes would, in turn, help health systems become operationally and financially sustainable. In the latest issue of Open Access Government, HPP Managing Director Suzanne Wait and Senior Researcher Catherine H. Whicher explore how increasing digitalisation and greater incorporation of health data can inform and shape the development of health systems. They also look at how policymakers can respond – such as with Europe’s regulatory frameworks on data and AI – to make sure these changes benefit everyone equally. 👇 #data #AI #digitalisation https://lnkd.in/eu8B6Fuj

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) have been overlooked and underprioritised in policy. Urgent action is required to address the growing global challenge of CRDs, and improve care and quality of life for people living with the conditions. In our latest report, we outline four major areas policymakers can focus on to help improve the lives of people with CRDs. The report calls on governments to: ·        refocus their approach to primary prevention and population health ·        expand proactive detection and early diagnosis ·        improve access to high-quality care ·        build strategic and supportive policies for CRDs. The report also provides several case studies that highlight efforts to prevent CRDs and improve outcomes for people living with them. CRDs affect 450 million people and are some of the most common non-communicable diseases globally. They are affected by a broad range of risk factors – including smoking and exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution – and are rising in prevalence. Tackling them will require multi-sectoral collaboration and proper investment. https://lnkd.in/eTEHaqz2