This article reimagines the health care system to focus on risk factors rather than outcomes in order to improve patient-centered care and reduce health care expenditure. Patient-centered care has been a global priority since 2001 when the Institute of Medicine declared it an essential aim for health care systems. As part of this discussion and to help facilitate this change, the concept of the big four risk factors – diet and nutrition; physical activity; smoking and tobacco use; and excessive alcohol consumption – is introduced in the context of the Americas from which it originates.

In order to describe the changes in the control of arterial hypertension from 2016 to 2021 and the relationship between the progress made and the maturity of implementation of the HEARTS Initiative at the first level of care in Cuba, a prospective implementation study was designed to promote the correct measurement of blood pressure with validated automatic sphygmomanometers, risk-based care, introduction of standardized antihypertensive treatment protocols, secondary prevention, and teamwork. Patient education, active case-finding, and community activities were also encouraged.

This report describes the current status of the tobacco control measures contained in the Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2018-2022 (Pan American Health Organization) and the advances made in its application, identifying achievements from 2016 to 2020 and challenges that still need to be addressed in order to reach the expected goals.

This article provides a snapshot of the market structure and regulatory approaches around novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products, both globally and in Latin America, with a focus on excise taxation. Using data from leading market research companies, the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2021, and country laws and decrees, the article analyses the evolution and market structure of heated tobacco products (HTPs), electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS).

Objective

Adapt and validate EMPODERA-TB in order to measure empowerment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

With the objective of stimulating the production and licensing of new technologies, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), the agency responsible for granting patents in Brazil, created a priority or fast track procedure for patent processes related to innovations that can be used against COVID-19. The first effects of this institutional measure are assessed in the present work, based on the identification and analysis of the time elapsed between fast track requests by the Ministry of Health or through petition by the depositors themselves.