Impact of the economic crisis and drug shortage on Lebanese cancer patients’care

BACKGROUND As a consequence of the economic crisis,the sociopolitical instability and the advent of the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic,nested challenges faced the Lebanese healthcare system.These have resulted in critical shortages of essential resources,including medications vital for oncologic patients.AIM To assess the ramifications of the ongoing economic crisis on oncology patient care focusing on our outpatient oncology department.METHODS A questionnaire was distributed during the month of February 2022 to oncology patients in Hôtel Dieu de France University Hospital in Beirut during their outpatient therapy.The primary objective was to assess the far-reaching impact of the economic crisis on patient care and the resulting psychological implications.RESULTS Among 182 interviewed patients,31.87%experienced treatment interruption mainly due to acute drug shortages.Despite 87.91%of the patients benefiting from third-party coverage,69.60%had to self-pay for their medications leading to 69.78%of patients perceiving that healthcare was more difficult to access after 2020.Psychologically,one-third of the patients exhibited symptoms of anxiety and/or depression,with 7 patients reporting suicidal ideations.Notably,37.93%of patients who interrupted cancer treatment reported a history of comorbidities,and 89.66%who altered their treatment cited financial difficulties.CONCLUSION Lebanese cancer patients face complex challenges spanning economic,healthcare,and psychological realms.Income inequalities exacerbated by the economic crisis hindered healthcare access.

Nutritional Status of Children during and post-Global Economic Crisis in China

Objective To describe the impact of the global economic crisis on the nutritional status of children in China during and after the crisis.Methods Data from 1990 to 2010 were sourced from the National Food and Nutrition Surveillance System.Approximately 16 000 children under 5 years old were selected using a stratified random cluster method from 40 surveillance sites.Anthropometric and hemoglobin measurements for children under 5 were conducted.Nutritional status was determined according to WHO child growth standards.Results Prevalence of underweight and stunting in children under 5 had a downward trend.Underweight prevalence was close to normal （less than 5%）,with prevalence of stunting 12.6% in 2009 and 12.1% in 2010 in rural areas.Prevalence of stunting in infants under 6 months and 6‐12 months old in poorer rural areas increased from 5.7%‐9.1% and 6.7%‐12.5%,respectively,in 2008‐2009.This trend also continued post‐crisis in 2010.Prevalence of stunting in children left behind by mothers was 20%‐30% higher than in children the same age in general and poorer rural areas.Prevalence of anemia in children did not change in rural areas,but prevalence of anemia in all age groups increased in poorer rural areas,especially in children under 24 months old.Level reached 30%‐40% in 2009,and fluctuated in 2010.Conclusion The nutritional status of children under 5 was comparatively stable during and after the global economic crisis,attributable to the Chinese government＇s policy response.The nutritional status in poorer rural areas fluctuated in response to the economic crisis and,thus,relevant action and intervention must be taken immediately to help the most vulnerable population in poorer rural areas.A proper national nutritional strategy for children under 2 years old,including nutrition supplementation for pregnant women and in‐home fortification for complementary feeding,should be initiated.

Understanding the Impact of Economic Crisis on the Distribution of Organizational Decision-Making Authority

Understanding the dynamics of decision making in the right way is an important problem for the management of organizations.In today’s business life organizations are becoming more complex,and the environments they are operating in,are becoming increasingly uncertain.The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of managerial decision-making process in complex internal and external environments by sharing the results of an empirical study(Onuk,2009).While taking the levels of the organizational structure as one of the important dimensions of complex internal environment,complex external environment is reflected within the study as economic crisis.Using the survey tool developed by Onuk(2009),the empirical study realized in the Turkish organization of a large global company investigated decision-making process to understand how decision-making authority for different types of decisions,identified as strategic,tactical,and operational level decisions,was distributed throughout the organization levels,and how this distribution was impacted by economic crisis.The results of the study confirmed the following common expectations:(1)Strategic decisions are mostly taken at upper hierarchical levels of the organizational structure;(2)during times of economic crisis strategic decision making is centralized;and(3)during times of economic crisis distribution of decision-making authority is concentrated at upper management levels.

Textile Machinery Sector Takes on Economic Crisis,but Requests Urgent Measures

Preliminary year-end 2008 figures for Italy’s textile machinery industry register a 18% drop in production compared to the previous year,with a total production value estimated at 2,285 billion Euros.This decline affects both Italy’s domestic market and export sales.

How Can the Modern State Combine the Adverse International Conditions, Technological Disruption, and the Emergence of AI With the Social Policy?

In 2022-2023, barely a little over a decade after the global financial crisis that affected credit markets, as the world is still recovering from the economic recession caused by COVID-19, we are dealing with the effects of the “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine on people living in different parts of the world. After a brief analysis of the international legal basis of the situation, I will focus on the example of Hungary to explore how governments can effectively assist their citizens in difficult economic situations using tools created by science and technology while minimizing the need for additional resources.

Causes of "High Income Trap" in Developed Countries and Coping Strategies

The economic crisis in 2008 dealt a heavy blow to the developed countries and even the whole world. The long-term stable growth of the western economy was broken,and it is mired into the so-called " high-income trap". This paper argues that the reasons why developed countries fall into the " high income trap" can be summarized as three aspects: internal factors,external factors and fundamental reasons. On this basis,this paper analyzes the response strategies and effects of developed countries,in order to provide a reference for our country to be a high-income country while maintaining sustained and stable economic growth.

CRISIS FOCUS Ensuring Economic Health

Though China’s economy is breathing a sigh of relief after several nervous months,it is still not time to sit back and relax.Much needs to be done to ensure the sustainability of growth momentum.Guo Tianyong,Director of the Research Center of the China Banking Industry of the Central University of Finance and Economics,discussed this issue in an article recently published in the Shanghai Securities Journal.Edited excerpts follow: