WHO has released new guidance WHO Consolidated Guideline on Self-Care Interventions for Health which provides evidence-based recommendations on specific self-care interventions that can help to ensure quality health, patient engagement and well-being, and to promote and protect human rights.
New recommendations and good practice statements
The new guidelines consolidate both new and existing recommendations on self-care interventions which can help to meet the health needs for people worldwide – and particularly in settings with the fewest resources and least infrastructure.
New recommendations include:
Over-the counter pharmacy provision of pregnancy self-tests;
pharmacy access to emergency contraception (or “the morning-after pill”)
availability of lubrication to help individuals improve their sexual health and pleasure;
Self-management of iron and folic acid supplementation being made available as an option during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postnatal periods
self-monitoring of blood glucose during pregnancy;
self-monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy;
The new recommendations are accompanied by a series of good practice statements, which cover the following areas: 1) Human rights, gender equality and equity; (2) Financing and economic considerations; (3) Training needs of health workers; (4) Population-specific implementation considerations; (5) Digital health interventions; and (6) Environmental considerations.
The new guidance from WHO recognizes how people can actively take decisions for their own health and the health of their loved ones i.e. both patient safety and patient engagement. Read More