Welcome to Biomedicine & Prevention

Biomedicine & Prevention is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes original research articles as well as review articles in several areas of the life sciences. The journal’s Editorial Board covers several subject areas mainly focusing on prevention and health promotion. Prevention is covered not as an exclusive health competence discipline but in a holistic way, including environmental sciences, engineering, physics, legal implications and legislation.

The ageing demographic and the need for a new prevention and care model

In the context of the A3 Action Group-European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing, several intervention programmes have been implemented in order to prevent social isolation, physical decline, malnutrition and adverse drug reactions. Further studies need to investigate the implementation of frailty models within a limited geographical area of a health service organisation context in order to evaluate the organisation of a service network based on the frailty approach as a comprehensive method of addressing chronic diseases and health and social needs and preventing health inequalities.

Environment and health: old and new challenges for European countries

Environment and human health are now considered an inseparable binomial. Thanks to European policy, environment quality - in the broad sense - has considerably improved in the EU over the last decade, but there are still old and new challenges to be addressed if we wish to significantly reduce that burden of 24% of deaths and 22% of DALYs.

The Governance of Prevention in the United Kingdom

The delivery of health services is the responsibility of NHS England. To achieving fiscal sustainability for the health system, several moves have been implemented, such as the institution of Public Health England, an executive agency within the DH aimed at protecting and improving the nation’s health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. A lot of work must be done in the next few years to ensure sustainability and a healthy population.

The Governance of Prevention in Spain

The Central Government of Spain retains responsibility for healthcare management in the cities with autonomy statutes – Ceuta and Melilla – through the National Health Management Institute (INGESA). The Interterritorial Council of the National Health System is responsible for coordination, cooperation and liaison among the public health administrations operated by the Government and the ACs. There are several barriers for the development of primary care in Spain. Budgets have not increased over the last few years, hospitals still find it difficult to shift to community-based capitation, and an integrated care perspective is not a priority. The current economic downturn should be taken as an opportunity to accelerate the innovative formulae in order to coordinate and integrate care.

The Governance of Prevention in italy

Italian prevention services seem able to guarantee a high standard of quality of care, which is remarkable in terms of high life expectancy at birth, and two-thirds of Italians claim to have a good health status. International agencies confirm these data ranked Italian Health System as one of the most effective in the world.

The Governance of Prevention in Germany

German prevention services are strongly rooted in communities and territories through branches that spill over the boundaries of the Health Service itself. Prevention, is modelled on the political structure of the country. The good level of coordination among institutions and the third sector represent key elements that allow this country to deal effectively with the health needs of the population.

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