Public sector services

Within the chemical universe, the fine-chemical industry is positioned between the commodity and specialty chemical industries. They are their suppliers and customers, respectively. Among the latter, the life sciences, especially the pharmaceutical industry, prevail (see Section 9.2). A large variety of enterprises, laboratories, and institutes in both the private and public sectors are providing contract research and manufacturing services along the drug supply chain (see Figure 2.1). 

FigurG 3.1. The process of pharmaceutical drug discovery and development—an integrated science that draws on the collective knowledge and resources from both government and private sectors. Abbreviations NIH, National Institute of Health NSF, National Science Foundation PHS, Public Health Service.

One of the major challenges for the government is to address the inadequacies of the Mexican health care system. Approximately 10 million people have virtually no access to regular basic health care services, and another 20 million people have less than adequate access. In 1996, the total health care expenditure in Mexico was equivalent to approximately 4.6% of GDP. Spending by the public sector accounted for approximately 60% in 1996. ... 

There are three sectors in the Mexican health care system public, social security, and private. The public sector is primarily directed and operated by the Secretariat of Health. The public sector of health services is under the Secretariat of Health and is coordinated by over 200 health districts. The Federal District Department provides health care services to some 3.2 million people in Mexico City. The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) Solidarity program covers another 10 million people in rural areas. 

The practice school programs now encompass all areas of engineering as well as other branches of study. BITS s chief sponsor is one of the largest industrialists in India, who has many chemical and industrial plants under his control. Therefore, the first practice school programs were established in Birla industries. Now, they are also in operation in other private industries and in the public sector. In all, there are 20 stations which service about 200 students every 6 months. These include banks, newspapers, design companies, manufacturing companies, and national laboratories. Most of these locations offer accommodations or pay... 

Because markets for many, if not most, ecological benefits do not exist, no market prices exist to reflect their use or nonuse values. The absence of a price is not inherently undesirable however, the lack of a price to indicate the economic value (or loss of value) of such ecological benefits makes it difficult to incorporate these benefits into planning and decision-making processes. Consequently, many of the valued natural resources and ecological services provided by nature for free are overlooked and are undervalued in both the private and public sectors. 

The perception—and reality—of low quality in the public sector allows the private sector to flourish in developing countries. As a result, many countries see an abundance of private providers, not all of whom provide high-quality services, while the population, particularly the poor, underconsume public services. 

Who are the likely winners and losers from the proposed subsidies Can their support for the scheme be achieved In the process of gathering information on the roles and interests of various stakeholders in the health problem, opportunities may arise to identify potential partnerships and to float the idea of a voucher scheme with potential partners. How open is the ministry of health to a scheme that effectively breaks its provider monopoly over the use of subsidies How willing would private providers be to entering into a partnership with the public sector, to bid for a contract, to accept vouchers as payment, to sign contracts for services, to follow a strict patient management protocol, to participate in an accreditation scheme Assessing different stakeholders reactions can provide a valuable input to the next phase, the feasibility assessment. 

The voucher agency must be neutral. It should not have links to any potential service providers, as such links could create conflict of interest. Thus, if ministry of health clinics are participating in the scheme as providers, it may not be appropriate for the ministry of health to serve as the voucher agency. Other public sector institutions, such as the ministry of finance, could be sufficiently independent of service providers. 

Four strategic objectives for good pharmaceutical procurement are relevant to any public sector drug supply system, whether it is managed using public or private services or a combination of both. These are as follows (72) ... 

In this context, it is first of all necessary to point out the Tjenestemcendslov, which was enacted in 1919 to regulate the remuneration and conditions of service on behalf of civil servants and public-sector employees. Since that time, this public service legislation - similar to the legal situation in Germany - has formed a part of administrative law, not labour law. It applies to state employees in particular positions (i.e. in the judiciary, the police force, etc.), church officials and elemen-taiy school teachers. Municipal public servants are essentially put on a par with state civil servants under municipal law. Notable elements here are the service relationship cannot be terminated by the employer an employee s removal from office is only possible as a result of a severe disciplinary offence followed by a judicial procedure under civil service law and, in cases where an official agency is... 

In 2000 a new active measure of service jobs in the public sector was introduced for unemployed over the age of 48 who had been in the active period for more than 6 months and for people on disability pension. This scheme has now been abolished. 

The Mandatory Provident Fund is an interesting business example in the emerging digital economy, and one of the first large-scale e-service projects in the public sector in Asia. The e-MPF model incorporates some fundamental... 

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