Latest news with #RadboudUniversityMedicalCentre
Euractiv
23-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
New study finds Dutch support higher drug costs, if benefits are clear
Dutch citizens are willing to accept higher public spending on a medicine if it provides significant health benefits, a study has found. To better understand how the Dutch might prioritise cost when considering a socially acceptable price for specific medicines, researchers from Radboud University Medical Centre selected a group of 11 men and 13 women with diverse backgrounds to participate in a Citizens' Forum over two weekends. They later ran an online survey among 884 people in the Netherlands to gather further insights and determine whether the results from the forum were broadly supported. "The main aim of gaining insight into citizens' considerations regarding the societal acceptability of high-priced medicines was successfully achieved," lead researcher Prof. Rob Baltussen told Euractiv. Study background The study, part of the Dutch Socially Acceptable Spending on Medicines programme (MAUG), examined medicines that are reimbursed through the Dutch basic health insurance system, which is mandatory for anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands. Health insurers are not allowed to reimburse a medicine until the government negotiates its price with its manufacturer. These discussions take place behind closed doors. To help the forum's participants gain more insight into the subject, an ethicist, a former senior employee of a pharmaceutical company, a senior employee of an NGO that works for fair access to medicines worldwide, and a former member of the Insured Package Advisory Committee (ACP) were enlisted to share their expertise. "Despite the confidentiality of price negotiations, the provided information was deemed sufficient for participants to make nuanced judgements," Baltussen said. The researchers wrote in their report that they did not select any patients to be part of the forum or questionnaire to avoid bias "because patients understandably focus primarily on their own health and access to care". Medicines offering complete recovery The online survey used a 5-point Likert scale to measure how strongly citizens agreed with different reasons for accepting higher medicine prices. Respondents were most supportive when a medicine offered complete recovery (4.16), enabled participation in society (3.87), or had a favourable cost-benefit ratio (3.85). Support was lowest when a medicine was significantly more expensive in the Netherlands than abroad, scoring just 1.95. The results of the online survey largely confirmed the outcome of the Citizen Forum, that citizens are willing to accept a higher price for a medicine if it provides significant health benefits, offers fair access, and contributes to social participation. 'Reinvest 50% of profits in R&D' Participants said the government, where necessary, should refuse to reimburse expensive medicines that are not sufficiently effective or whose prices are socially unacceptable. They recommended that pharmaceutical manufacturers should be transparent about the price structure of medicines, set reasonable profit margins to prevent excessive prices and keep healthcare affordable. They also said the companies should reinvest at least 50% of their profits in research and development. The participants further recommended that citizens should understand there are limits to what the Netherlands can afford to spend on healthcare and that they should set realistic expectations. Researchers said they expected the topic to appear regularly in the run-up to the Dutch general elections set to take place this October. The study's results will be included in a recommendation on drug pricing to be submitted to the Health Ministry in the coming months. "This research confirms that there is support for the difficult decisions we as a society have to make," Baltussen said. "With these insights, politicians can develop healthcare policies that are both effective and supported by society." [Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire]
Euronews
06-04-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Move over Mediterranean food. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
ADVERTISEMENT The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine , focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. Diversity in diet The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. ADVERTISEMENT Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said. ADVERTISEMENT
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Move over Mediterranean food. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine, focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Move over Mediterranean food. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine, focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Move over Mediterranean diet. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine, focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said.
