Marge Reinap

World Health Organization WHO | who · Division of Country Health Policies and Systems

Background Evidence briefs for policy (EBPs) represent a potentially powerful tool for supporting evidence informed policy-making. Since 2012, the World Health Organization Evidence Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Europe has been supporting member states in developing EBPs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the process of developing EBPs in E...

Background Increased electronic cigarette (ECIG) use has motivated new regulations to address the changing landscape of tobacco use and promote public health. Method This policy scan compares ECIG prevalence and regulations in the European Union (EU), Canada, and the United States (US) at the federal- and local-level to foster a policy dialogue ar...

The rapidly unfolding Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and an ever-increasing volume of relevant literature presents considerable strain for decision makers. Those decision makers are interested in information not only about benefits and harms of interventions but also contextual information such as people’s values and preferences, c...

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 and is spread person-to-person through close contact. We aimed to investigate the effects of physical distance, face masks, and eye protection on virus transmission in health-care and non-health-care (eg, community) settings. Methods We did a systematic review...

Background: Mechanical ventilation is used to treat respiratory failure in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Purpose: To review multiple streams of evidence regarding the benefits and harms of ventilation techniques for coronavirus infections, including that causing COVID-19. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020178187). Data sources: 21 standar...

Introduction Proper strategies to minimise the risk of infection in individuals handling the bodies of deceased persons infected with 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) are urgently needed. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature to scope and assess the effects of specific strategies for the management of the bodies....

In 2017, the Estonian government addressed the longstanding challenge of financial sustainability of the health system by expanding its revenue base. As a relatively low-spending country on health, Estonia relies predominantly on payroll contributions from the working population, which exposes the system to economic shocks and population ageing. In...

Introduction: Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Europe was launched in 2012 by the WHO Regional Office for Europe as a capacitybuilding mechanism for knowledge translation (KT). The study presented here focuses on five EVIPNet Europe member countries and their experiences with implementing EVIPNet Europe, and how EVIPNet membership and too...

This analysis of the Estonian health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health care provision, health reforms and health system performance. In 2017, the Estonian government took the historic step of expanding the revenue base of the health system, which has been a longstanding challenge. However, i...

This report reviews health system challenges and opportunities in Estonia to scale up core services for the prevention, early diagnosis and management of noncommunicable diseases. Outcomes of noncommunicable diseases have been improving and Estonia is closing the gap with other EU countries. In part this is due to progress implementing core populat...

With the worldwide consumption of energy drinks increasing in recent years, concerns have been raised both in the scientific community and among the general public about the health effects of these products. Recent studies provide data on consumption patterns in Europe; however, more research is needed to determine the potential for adverse health...

Background: Although several tools to evaluate the credibility of health care guidelines exist, guidance on practical steps for developing guidelines is lacking. We systematically compiled a comprehensive checklist of items linked to relevant resources and tools that guideline developers could consider, without the expectation that every guideline...

This analysis of the Estonian health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health-care provision, health reforms and health system performance. Without doubt, the main issue has been the 2008 financial crisis. Although Estonia has managed the downturn quite successfully and overall satisfaction with th...

To assess the population-level costs, effects and cost-effectiveness of different alcohol and tobacco control strategies in Estonia. A WHO cost-effectiveness modelling framework was used to estimate the total costs and effects of interventions. Costs were assessed in Estonian Kroon (EEK) for the year 2000, while effects were expressed in disability...