Health Systems Evidence

This case traces the establishment of Botanical Extracts (BE) as a manufacturer of artemisinin for treating malaria. The active pharmaceutical ingredient in artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for malaria in East Africa, artemisinin has made the transition from a traditional Chinese medicine to Novartis’ largest pharmaceutical product by volume. After providing background on the disease and its epidemiology and history, the case delves into the malaria eradication and control efforts of the past 50 years, with…

This case summarizes the history, biology, and bioethics of smallpox. It considers its vaccination, eradication, and the potential of frozen research stocks of the virus to re-infect the world. It describes the cause, effects, symptoms, history of vaccination, successful efforts to achieve worldwide eradication in 1980. The case invites readers to consider decision-making scenarios and apply them to additional study of other infectious diseases for which eradication may be possible. The case is suitable for…

This data portal from Peterson Center on Healthcare and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation tracks trends in the United States health system. It showcases a health systems dashboard to provide fast facts on health spending, access and affordability, health and wellbeing, and quality of care. It provides a wide range of resources, including videos and interactives, to illustrate U.S. health system performance in terms of quality and cost. The Health System Tracker is intended…