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News: Foreign News

All entries for Foreign News

Doctor secures Harvard fellowship

23 November 2009

Dr Garrett Lawlor has been awarded a fellowship a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital — one of the leading academic medical centres in the US. The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Fellowship offers a tenure at the Center for Inflammatory Bowel... Read more

Doctors up for human rights 'Sakharov' prize

Dara Gantly | 07 October 2009

Two doctors are among the nominees for this year’s Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament’s award for defenders of human rights and democracy across the globe. A Palestinian obstetrician in Gaza and a doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo are... Read more

Malaria Day focuses on global problem

20 April 2009

THE FOCUS will be on Malaria as a global health problem on April 25 when the World Health Organisation holds the third annual World Malaria Day. The disease continues to affect 40 per cent of the world’s population. It infects... Read more

World TB Day 2009 focuses on Brazil

25 March 2009

World TB Day took place this week with the main events held in Brazil, where the disease kills 20 people every day. The ‘2009 World Health Organization Global TB Control Report’ was released on the day. It was also officially... Read more

Labour looks to outlaw ‘barbaric’ FGM

24 March 2009

THE LABOUR Party plans to publish a Private Members’ Bill within the next 10 days seeking to outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM). Health spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan said it was time for Ireland to join other European and some African countries... Read more

Irish doc guns for soccer success at Arsenal FC

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2009

Former British and Irish Lions and Irish international rugby team medical chief Dr Gary O’Driscoll has joined former ‘top-four’ Premiership side Arsenal. Arsenal has announced that it has appointed Dr O’Driscoll as the new club doctor replacing Dr Ian Beasley,... Read more

Drugs found to block HIV in Monkeys

editor@imt.ie | 10 February 2009

The Washington Post is reporting that AIDS researchers gathered in Montreal yesterday heard encouraging results from studies of three strategies for preventing HIV infection using pharmaceuticals, particularly in women. Two experiments in monkeys showed that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, given by... Read more

Call for medics to volunteer in Haiti

Niamh Mullen | 10 February 2009

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are being urged to volunteer for a life-changing trip to the poorest country in the western world. Haven, a new NGO set up by entrepreneur Leslie Buckley, aims to build houses and start community... Read more

TDs petition Justice Minister on female genital mutilation

Dara Gantly | 09 February 2009

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should strongly consider introducing specific legislation that would outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM) in Ireland. The Joint Oireachtas Com-mittee on Health and Children also wants to prohibit parents of Irish-born children from... Read more

Irish doctor hits high notes with orchestra

Gary Culliton | 29 January 2009

Ireland’s Dr Philip Dodd took part in the inaugural concert of the World Doctors Orchestra in Berlin last May, playing first violin. Dr Dodd is Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability at TCD and RCSI. A Consultant... Read more

Pfizer to acquire Wyeth

Gary Culliton | 27 January 2009

US drugmaker Pfizer is to buy rival Wyeth in a deal worth $68 billion. In 2008, it was estimated that Wyeth employed 3,000 people in Ireland and that Pfizer employed 2,300. “The merger will be financed through a combination of... Read more

Researchers sign Franco-Irish agreement

Dara Gantly | 27 January 2009

Developments in the investigation of brain injuries, strokes, epilepsy and colorectal cancer are just some of the areas that will benefit from a new Franco-Irish research collaboration signed this week. More than 150 Irish researchers are set to benefit from... Read more

Drug giants 'in talks' – report

Gary Culliton | 23 January 2009

Pfizer, the world's largest drugmaker, may be seeking to buy rival Wyeth in a deal that could be valued at more than $60 billion, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, which said the companies have been in... Read more

UK: 12-year-old girls to get cervical cancer vaccine

Gary Culliton | 21 January 2009

From next September all girls in the UK aged 12 to 13 (year 8) will be offered a vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer. Older girls aged 15 to 18 will also be offered the vaccine over the... Read more

Minister to discuss asthma plan in Finland

Dara Gantly | 16 January 2009

The Minister for Health Mary Harney is scheduled to meet with experts from the National Asthma Programme in Finland this week during an official visit to the country to discuss replicating their innovative model of asthma care in Ireland. Over... Read more

IFPMA donates $9.2 billion in medical aid

14 January 2009

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) has donated $9.2 billion worth of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, equipment, other material and labour over the past seven years, to help improve the health of people in low and middle-income countries.... Read more

Funding programme hopes to create specialist posts in Malawi

Alan Deeley | 01 December 2008

The College of Anaesthetists has begun a three-year programme of funding with Irish Aid to incentivise the creation, uptake and development of specialist posts in Malawi. Irish extern director of the project, Prof Anthony Cunningham, told Irish Medical Times that... Read more

Rates of new cases and deaths from cancer down in the US

26 November 2008

The latest annual report by leading cancer organizations in the US found that overall rates of new cancer cases and deaths have fallen for the first time since the report was first compiled ten years ago, but within those figures... Read more

Healthcare: Ireland ranked 15th in Europe

Gary Culliton | 13 November 2008

Ireland has the 15th most consumer friendly healthcare system in Europe, according to the 2008 Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) launched today in Brussels. This is one step up from last year’s 16th position. “First and foremost, the Irish should... Read more

Huge inequities in health access

Greg Baxter | 16 October 2008

The WHO’s 2008 World Health Report has found significant inequities in health outcomes, access and cost in poor countries, and calls for investment in primary care to tackle those inequities. The report, ‘Primary Health Care – Now More Than Ever’,... Read more

'Europe for Patients' campaign launched

08 October 2008

EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has launched the ‘Europe for Patients’ campaign in Brussels. The campaign highlights the different health policy initiatives the Commission intends to adopt in the coming six to nine months. All these initiatives are bound by... Read more

UK Government decides against IPL deregulation

Gary Culliton | 23 September 2008

The UK government has decided not to introduce laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) deregulation from October 2008. However, the proposals are still under consideration. The UK Government has confirmed that it has not yet decided to go ahead with... Read more

Games to win on organ donations

10 September 2008

The Irish team for the fifth European Transplant and Dialysis Games, which will take place in Wurzburg, Germany, from August 31 to September 6 was finalised last week. The European Transplant and Dialysis Games aim to highlight the importance of... Read more

International experience can help Irish medicine deal with problems here

Alan Deeley | 09 September 2008

More than half a million women die in pregnancy and childbirth each year globally, putting today’s mortality figures on maternal health at the ‘same point as 20 years ago’. Calling for action on the issue, Fine Gael MEP Colm Burke... Read more

Cervical cancer vaccine in doubt

Greg Baxter | 21 August 2008

New research has thrown doubt on the effectiveness of introducing a large-scale vaccination programme for cervical cancer. Prophylactic vaccines for human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (HPV-16 and HPV-18) may not provide life-long immunity, and their overall effect on the... Read more

Special report: War has always been a dirty 'biological' battle

Dr Robert O'Sullivan | 11 August 2008

Dr Robert O'Sullivan traces the bloody and brutal history of the use of biological weapons in warfare. Despite many thinking that these types of weapons are modern, they have been used since ancient times. Biological warfare is loosely defined as... Read more

Funding for dementia slammed

27 June 2008

Health experts from 11 British universities have written an open letter to Health Secretary Alan Johnson, slamming what they dubbed ‘pitifully low’ funding for research into dementia. They warned the NHS would not survive the next 20 years unless funding... Read more

EU governments allow politics to dictate healthcare decisions

26 June 2008

European Union governments fail to rely enough on scientific evidence in healthcare spending decisions and are sometimes influenced by political factors, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have claimed. The organisation said countries should do a better job of assessing the... Read more

UK approves national cervical cancer vaccine

Sandra Ryan | 26 June 2008

The UK Department of Health has decided to use the HPV vaccine Cervarix in its national immunisation programme for 12- and 13-year-olds, which starts this September. It has not yet been confirmed whether the vaccine will be rolled out in... Read more

RCSI research initiative to benefit African nations

By Greg Baxter | 25 June 2008

The RCSI has announced the Ireland-Africa Partnership for Health Research with the goal of reducing child mortality rates, improving maternal health, and controlling HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases in Africa. The Partnership links researchers from RCSI, the Centre for... Read more

Cancer-sniffing dogs cloned in South Korea

25 June 2008

A South Korean biotech company has unveiled four Labrador retriever puppies it said were cloned from a Japanese dog skilled at sniffing out patients with cancer, Reuters news agency reported. RNL Bio, which is affiliated with the South Korean lab... Read more

WHO says Burmese health system ‘back on its feet’

24 June 2008

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the health system in cyclone-battered Burma was ‘back on its feet’, but warned that disease risks remained, a report from AFP stated. “I think we were able to provide a response that helped... Read more

DRIP to hold fundraising dinner

17 June 2008

Disaster Relief by Irish & Pakistanis (DRIP) will hold a fundraising dinner in the Garda Club, Westmanstown Sports and Conference Centre in Clonsilla on 13 July, to establish a Cardiac First Responder Faculty and Emergency Training School in Kashmir. The... Read more

'Clinic of horrors' case rocks Milan medicine

17 June 2008

Three Italian surgeons in Milan have been accused, along with 12 others, of voluntary homicide and fraud for performing unnecessary invasive surgery for financial gain, the ANSA news agency reported. One investigator referred to the private 276-bed Santa Rita clinic... Read more

Premium payments for patients

Emer Mullins | 17 June 2008

Emer Mullins writes about how American doctors are charging a premium to provide VIP services for some of their patients. Some Americans, fed up with being treated poorly by their healthcare providers, are paying premiums to their family doctors for... Read more

Blood infection kills 25 babies in Manila Hospital

17 June 2008

A Manila hospital closed its neonatal intensive care unit and ordered an investigation after 25 babies died of a blood infection, AFP news agency reported. It said local authorities ordered the Ospital ng Makati to close the unit after 45... Read more

NHS staff accept new deal to avert strikes

17 June 2008

NHS staff members have accepted a new government offer on pay that will give them an 8.1 per cent increase over three years. The deal averted what could have been a bitter strike over pay. Almost two-thirds of the workers... Read more

Exploring the science of song

Dr Mark Tramo | 16 June 2008

Work carried out by Dr Mark Tramo in Harvard Medical School suggests that patient care can be greatly improved by using music to relieve their pain. Most of us are familiar with how a sudden blast of our favourite piece... Read more

French plastic surgeon on trial for performing dozens of 'mutilations'

14 June 2008

A French doctor who told investigators he was one of the world’s best cosmetic surgeons is on trial accused of mutilating and endangering the lives of dozens of men and women, French news agency AFP reported. It said Dr Michel... Read more

Heart disease on the rise in developing countries

13 June 2008

Cardiovascular disease is now endemic worldwide and no longer limited to economically developed countries, a study by New Zealand researchers published in The Lancet has concluded. It found that 80 per cent of deaths connected to high blood pressure (HBP)... Read more

Three million receiving life-saving HIV drugs

11 June 2008

At the end of last year, almost three million people were receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries, according to a new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNAIDS and UNICEF. The report also found that there... Read more

IPHA Golf Classic to benefit Township Trust

11 June 2008

The 10th Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) Annual Charity Golf Classic will take place at the Glen of the Downs Golf Club, Delganey, Co. Wicklow on Thursday, 26 June. The proceeds of this year’s event will go to the Niall... Read more

Hidden horrors come to light

Sandra Ryan | 10 June 2008

Sandra Ryan reports on the issue of female genital mutilation — the results of which, according to anecdotal reports, are now being witnessed by doctors in Ireland. Female genital mutilation (FGM, or ‘cutting’, as is the more politically-correct term) is... Read more

Life as a GP in Malawi —the warm heart of Africa

Dr Martina Collins | 10 June 2008

Dr Martina Collins writes about her experiences as a volunteer GP in the African country of Malawi, where her daily struggles with a lack of resources were offset by a real sense of making a difference to people's lives. Trying... Read more

Country has biggest AIDS treatment programme

07 June 2008

South Africa, which has the highest HIV positive population of any country, now boasts the world’s biggest AIDS treatment programme, according to Reuters. With an estimated 5.4 million of South Africa’s 48 million people living with HIV, government statistics showed... Read more

Major differences in heart failure treatment

07 June 2008

A Europe-wide survey has revealed significant differences between doctors in the way they treat patients with heart failure, with many doctors failing to give the best care to their patients despite the existence of recommended guidelines, according to a study... Read more

Authorities try to prevent outbreaks

06 June 2008

Chinese health authorities are attempting to prevent disease outbreaks in areas hard hit by 12 May’s massive earthquake, but are confident they can stop large-scale epidemics, officials were quoted as saying. Reuters news agency reported that some 20,000 people are... Read more

Heart disease and stroke are the top global killers

04 June 2008

Chronic conditions such as heart disease and stroke have become the chief causes of death globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. Reuters news agency cited the WHO’s annual report, which said the shift from infectious diseases — including... Read more

Abortion debate in UK fails to change upper time limits

Sandra Ryan | 02 June 2008

Sandra Ryan looks at the debate and vote that took place last week in Westminster and the reasons why MPs voted to keep the abortion status quo. Last week, MPs in Britain voted to reject attempts to reduce the upper... Read more

GPs needed for Malawi project

28 May 2008

The Billy Malawi Project, set up as a memorial for 25-year-old Billy Riordan, who drowned in Lake Malawi, Central Africa in 1999, is looking for GPs to volunteer in its primary care clinic in Cape Maclear, Malawi. The doctors are... Read more

New guidelines from GMC

Emer Mullins | 27 May 2008

Emer Mullins on new guidelines for doctors in the UK, which come into effect next week, on how to communicate effectively with patients. New guidelines from Britain’s General Medical Council (GMC) on doctors communicating effectively with patients about their condition... Read more

Sharp increase in measles cases 'not yet an emergency'

27 May 2008

Cases of measles in Italy are on the rise but the country is not yet in the grip of an outbreak, a public health expert told ANSA news agency. ‘’It’s true that since 2006, there has been a certain revival... Read more

Children in intensive care at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder

27 May 2008

Researchers have shown that a third of children who stay in a paediatric intensive care unit have delusional memories, including vivid and frightening hallucinations that put them at high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. They said children who received opiates... Read more

Over 200 people have sought euthanasia drug, says newspaper

27 May 2008

A Mexican newspaper has claimed that at least 200 terminally-ill people from Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the United States have visited Mexico since 2001 to buy a cheap, widely available euthanasia drug. The newspaper, Reform, cited a pro-euthanasia Australian... Read more

'Pay for performance' proposal

23 May 2008

A new report says paying hospitals and medical specialists for performance can offer good value for taxpayers and patients, and Estonia should consider the introduction of such a ‘P4P’ scheme. In a report titled ‘Payment for Performance (P4P): International Experience... Read more

New €10 billion health fund announced for Oz

22 May 2008

The Australian government has announced a new $10 billion Health and Hospitals Fund in its latest budget to support health infrastructure priorities in key areas. The money will ensure long-term funding for hospitals, medical technology and research facilities and projects,... Read more

WHO responds to health needs following cyclone

21 May 2008

The World Health Organ-ization (WHO) said approximately 50 per cent of the rural and township health centres in the cyclone-affected areas of Burma (Myanmar) are reported to be damaged. The organisation received over €2 million in funding from the UN... Read more

Cholera epidemic hits Peru

20 May 2008

A fast-moving cholera epidemic, said to be the first major outbreak in the Americas this century, has killed 1,100 Peruvians and sickened 150,000 since January. It has now spread to Ecuador and Colombia, according to a report in the New... Read more

Junior doctors strike over pay

14 May 2008

Emer Mullins reports on the dispute between New Zealand's district health boards and the country's junior doctors, who are seeking a pay increase. New Zealand’s hospitals faced a second round of disruption when junior doctors went on strike over a... Read more

Medical training reforms slammed by BMA

14 May 2008

The British Medical Association (BMA) has claimed that the new Health Select Committee report on reforms to UK medical training is a damning indictment of the UK government’s failure to listen to doctors. It said the report criticised the government... Read more

Almost 70 per cent of gynaecologists won’t perform abortions

14 May 2008

Nearly 70 per cent of Italy’s gynaecologists refuse to perform abortions, citing ‘conscientious objections’, according to an Italian Health Ministry report covered by Agence France-Presse. This is up from 59 per cent in 2003. The percentage of anaesthetists who refuse... Read more

Medical tourist numbers 'lower than assumed'

14 May 2008

Between 60,000 and 85,000 people travel abroad annually for inpatient hospital care, a number ‘far lower than commonly assumed’, according to a study reported by the Wall Street Journal. The McKinsey Study looked at the behaviour of almost 50,000 patients... Read more

Italy promotes 'safer' form of medical scanning

29 April 2008

Italy is leading a European Union drive to produce medical and security scanning waves that could be a better and safer alternative to X-rays, the BBC has reported. ‘’T-waves could take over some of the jobs currently done by X-rays,... Read more

Shortage of hospital beds in Alicante region

29 April 2008

Latest numbers show the Spanish province of Alicante, one of the most popular areas for tourists, to be well short of the national average number of hospital beds, a news report has claimed. The province of Alicante needs 32 per... Read more

Drug errors hurt one in 15 hospitalised kids

29 April 2008

A new study reported by Associated Press (AP) has shown that medicine mix-ups, accidental overdoses and bad drug reactions harm roughly one in 15 hospitalised children. “The data tells us that experiencing harm as a result of your healthcare is... Read more

Infection control has improved, say NHS staff

29 April 2008

NHS staff have reported improvements in infection control, support from managers and levels of job satisfaction and training opportunities, according to a survey released by the UK’s Healthcare Commission. The results showed 82 per cent believed their NHS Trust did... Read more

Canada's new drug plan

22 April 2008

Emer Mullins reports on a new system for approving drugs in Canada that has divided opinion among stakeholders in the healthcare system. The pharmaceutical ind-ustry, health experts and patient groups across Canada are strongly divided over whether the federal government’s... Read more

GPs under pressure to cut out of hours care

22 April 2008

UK GPs who provide out-of-hours care are coming under pressure to cut the number of home visits and referrals they make. Pulse newspaper said Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which were responsible for weekend and night-time care, employed private firms, groups... Read more

Iraq money would pay for health proposals

22 April 2008

The New York Times has reported that Democratic presidential candidates, senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have both said during their campaigns that funds spent on the war in Iraq are ‘crowding out urgent national needs’, such as an expansion... Read more

Climate change now impacting public health

22 April 2008

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that vulnerable populations are at greatest risk of the projected impacts of climate change on health. Marking World Health Day in April, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said climate-sensitive impacts on human health... Read more

Australian expert urges bigger paramedic remit

Greg Baxter | 17 April 2008

Paramedics should shoulder greater clinical responsibility if more remote areas are to receive high-quality coverage, a leading Australian healthcare expert told Irish Medical Times. Ms Anne-Marie Feyer, Healthcare Leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia, said solutions to the challenges of rationalisation... Read more

AIDS causing teachers' deaths

15 April 2008

More than 1,300, or about one-sixth, of Mozambique’s 9,000 teachers are dying annually of AIDS-related causes, which is leading to a lowering of the quality of education in the country, according to Education and Culture Minister, Aires Aly. In an... Read more

Medical students lobby on costs

15 April 2008

Nearly 300 medical students and doctors in training who are members of the American Medical Association (AMA) have urged Congress to act on reducing student debt, adopt reforms to cover the uninsured and stop Medicare payment cuts so that the... Read more

Canada urged to act on new child health report

15 April 2008

The Canadian Paediatric Society, the Canadian Medical Association and the College of Family Physicians of Canada are urging the Federal Government to act quickly on the recommendations in a report released by its Advisor on Healthy Children and Youth, Dr... Read more

Healthcare networks to be linked

Emer Mullins | 08 April 2008

Emer Mullins reports on the advent of telehealth, where doctors —and their patients' files — will be linked into a computerised network. In rural areas of the USA, where accessing health care is often a challenge, the doctors and patients... Read more

Study shows a drop in euthanasia

08 April 2008

Terminally-ill patients in the Netherlands increasingly receive drugs to render them unconscious until death, according to a study that suggests people are substituting deep sedation for legal euthanasia. According to Reuters news agency, researchers from Erasmus University Medical Centre in... Read more

Death reopens suicide debate

08 April 2008

A French woman who had been refused permission for an assisted suicide was found dead in the latest twist to a drama that has reopened a euthanasia debate the country thought it had concluded three years ago, Reuters news agency... Read more

Overseas operations can be harmful — survey

08 April 2008

People who combine a foreign holiday with an operation are frequently left to deal with unpleasant complications, a Which? magazine survey has claimed. The data showed that 18 per cent of respondents had health problems following treatment, including infections, while... Read more

Permission for Thomastown health centre is appealed

Ian McGuinness | 26 March 2008

A decision by Kilkenny County Council to grant planning permission to a Dr Eugene O’Kelly for a primary healthcare building in Thomastown has been appealed. Dr O’Kelly applied to the local authority late last year for permission to demolish a... Read more

Research day looks at food/health link

26 March 2008

‘Infection & Immunity’ and ‘Food & Health’ will be the focus for discussion at this year’s 2nd College of Medicine & Health Joint UCC/Cork University Teaching Hospitals Health Research Day, which takes place on Friday, 6 June 2008 in Brookfield... Read more

Alzheimer's to hit 'baby boomers'

26 March 2008

A report by the Alzheimer’s Association suggests that 10 million ‘baby boomers’ in the United States will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime and that as many as 5.2 million people are living with Alzheimer’s in the United States, including... Read more

Govt to miss cancer deadline

26 March 2008

A Danish government plan to address long delays in cancer treatment will not meet its 1 April deadline due to lack of personnel, according to a report in the Copenhagen Post. The paper reported that the 850 million kroner cancer... Read more

India is now the world's TB capital

26 March 2008

India is the world’s TB capital, recording an estimated 1.9 million new cases every year, a report in The Times of India stated. However, only 70 per cent of these are actually detected, while active TB patients left undetected go... Read more

Government programme improves child health

26 March 2008

A Mexican government programme to pump cash into child health, welfare and education has shown positive results, according to an article published in The Lancet. It said that globally, over 200 million children under five are not fulfilling their potential... Read more

Public warned on DIY health tests

18 March 2008

British people are being warned by leading health experts about the boom in DIY tests and scans for the so-called ‘worried well’. According to BBC News, the DIY testing industry is estimated to be worth some STG£99 million annually, but... Read more

Hospital denies reducing blood tests

18 March 2008

An NHS hospital trust has denied ordering a cut in blood tests as a way to reduce its reported MRSA rates. The comments, from London’s Kingston Hospital, come after a senior member of staff leaked an email which was circulated... Read more

Patients want a thorough physical

18 March 2008

A new British survey reported in the Annals of Family Medicine has found that what patients want most from their primary care doctor is a thorough physical exam. Patients surveyed rated this above friendliness and good communication skills, researchers found.... Read more

Afghan shops join in doctors' strike

18 March 2008

Shops and factories in the Afghan province of Herat have joined a strike by hundreds of doctors to demand better security, BBC News reported. The strike was begun by medical staff protesting against a rise in attacks on staff and... Read more

600 healthcare workers target Iraq

18 March 2008

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that hundreds of health workers are in Iraq’s Anbar province to vaccinate 200,000 children against measles, in an effort to contain an outbreak which has already struck 100 children. “Nearly 600 vaccinators are... Read more

Humanitarian crisis in Palestine

18 March 2008

The international medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, has warned that it expects to have to treat more patients in Gaza Strip following recent incursions by the Israeli military and fighting between Palestinians and Israelis. “At the... Read more

Doctors to report colleagues

Emer Mullins | 11 March 2008

The Health Minister for New South Wales in Australia, Reba Meagher, has announced plans to introduce the mandatory reporting by medical practitioners of their colleagues in instances of gross misconduct. Ms Meagher said the legislation would target cases of sexual... Read more

Obesity a 'public catastrophe’, say researchers

11 March 2008

New research from the University of Western Australia has predicted that children who are fat can expect to die up to four years earlier than their thinner peers. In fact, the research has even suggested that so many deaths will... Read more

Genes ‘play key happiness role’

11 March 2008

Our level of happiness throughout life is strongly influenced by the genes with which we were born, say experts. An Edinburgh University study of identical and non-identical twins suggests that genes may control half the personality traits keeping us happy.... Read more

New plans for out-of-hours care in Wales

11 March 2008

Wales has launched new plans to improve emergency and out-of-hours care, developed in partnership with UNISON. It was reported that a deal had been negotiated between the union and the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and the... Read more

CMA begin campaign for 26,000 more family doctors

05 March 2008

Emer Mullins reports on the shortage of family doctors in Candad and how the situation is getting worse The Canadian Medical Association, which represents 67,500 doctors, has pledged to put the growing shortage of doctors on the federal political agenda.... Read more

New laws may improve med-aid negotiations

05 March 2008

The South African Health Department is considering legislation to provide a fair basis for negotiation between medical schemes and providers, according to a report in The BuaNews.“One of the reasons for the high costs from providers relates to the inability... Read more

Minority patients in US have less access to kidney treatment

05 March 2008

Universal access to healthcare might help to overcome racial and ethnic barriers to treatment for kidney disease, two new studies suggest. Published in the March 2008 issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the results suggest that... Read more

France leads list of healthcare providers

05 March 2008

France leads list of healthcare providers France is top of the list and the United States last in providing timely and effective healthcare to its citizens, according to a survey of preventable deaths in 19 industrialised countries by the Commonwealth... Read more

New UK survey reveals teenagers’ health concerns

26 February 2008

A survey of 153 teenagers aged between 14-19 in the UK has revealed that the most important health issues among more than 70 per cent are body odour, self-esteem, acne/spots, nutrition/diet and contraception. Young people do not view alcohol, drugs... Read more

Occupation can dictate illnesses

26 February 2008

A survey published in the Medical Journal of Australia found that some two-thirds of more than 4,200 workers aged between 45 and 64 had a medical condition. It showed that managers are less likely to have cancer, while shop assistants... Read more

WHO appoints malaria envoy

26 February 2008

The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed its first global envoy for malaria control, Ray Chambers. “We are at a pivotal moment in the fight against malaria,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO’s Director-General. “We now have the tools to stop... Read more

Obesity ‘requires climate plan’

26 February 2008

Obesity needs to be tackled in the same way as climate change, a top nutritional scientist has said. BBC News reported that the chairman of the International Obesity Taskforce wants world leaders to agree a global pact to ensure that... Read more

Czech patients are forced to pay for care

Emer Mullins | 19 February 2008

Healthcare reforms introduced in the Czech Republic mean that patients have to pay fees from 1 January for certain services previously covered by insurance, the Prague Post reported. “When it comes to wasting healthcare funds, the Czechs are masters,” Health... Read more

Needles may not be needed for vaccines

19 February 2008

Some vaccinations such as those being tested for HIV may no longer require the use of a needle, Swiss and European scientists have discovered. A new study has shown that aerosol vaccines could be particularly useful for immunisation programmes in... Read more

Harsh winter causing humanitarian crisis

19 February 2008

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Tajikistan is facing a growing humanitarian crisis and that the health of large parts of the population is already affected as the country struggles with a cold and energy emergency. Tajikistan, in... Read more

India must improve healthcare system

12 February 2008

India must improve the healthcare system to realise its economic potential and the country is well-positioned to tackle challenges in the sector, says a report published in the Economic Times. The report also called for public-private collaboration for better insurance... Read more

Plan to cut hospital waiting times by half

12 February 2008

Scottish patients will see hospital waiting times slashed in half within three years, under tough new targets set by the Scottish Government, according to a report in The Scotsman. The paper reported that NHS Lothian and other health boards had... Read more

United States: New guidelines to improve palliative care

07 February 2008

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued new guidelines to improve palliative care that say clinicians should regularly assess people with serious illness at the end of life for symptoms of pain, shortness of breath, and depression; that they... Read more

South Africa: medics in row with government over costs

07 February 2008

The South African Medical Association has hit out at the country’s department of health over its National Health Reference Price List, a list published by the government to serve as a price reference to the private healthcare industry. Recommended prices... Read more

Portugal: extra healthcare for tourist spots

07 February 2008

Portuguese Health Minister Correia de Campos has said new hospitals will be built in Faro and Lisbon to address the problems with healthcare in coastal regions popular with tourists. “Faro has one problem in particular that complicates its straightforward functioning... Read more

Canada: doctors tackle their carbon footprint

07 February 2008

The Canadian Medical Association has adopted the use of video-conferencing in a bid to reduce the size of its environmental footprint from its travel for face-to-face meetings. The practice will also allow the CMA develop closer ties with members, it... Read more

Kenya: Thousands provided with medical assistance in post-election violence

Emer Mullins | 01 February 2008

Thousands of Kenyans who have been displaced by the recent political violence in the country’s capital, Nairobi, and in other affected areas are receiving medical assistance from the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, according to Global Health News. The disputed... Read more

Ethiopia: WMA calls for increase in training of doctors

Emer Mullins | 01 February 2008

At its recent meeting in Addis Ababa, the World Medical Association (WMA) has called for an increase in the education and training of doctors and other health professionals as part of a move by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to... Read more

Australia: Questions on medication safety

Emer Mullins | 01 February 2008

Two articles in the latest Medical Journal of Australia raise concerns about the safety of medication practices in hospitals, one analysing the reasons for prescribing errors by interns and the other identifying problems with the standard national inpatient medication chart... Read more

France: Haul of 224,000 fake anti-impotence pills

Emer Mullins | 25 January 2008

French customs officials intercepted a shipment of 224,000 fake Viagra and Cialis anti-impotence pills worth €2.4 million, according to a statement from the Budget Ministry, reported by Reuters. The copies of the best-selling drugs were found on December 18 during... Read more

Top EU marks for patient user-friendly procedures

Emer Mullins | 25 January 2008

Denmark’s healthcare system is the best in the European Union when it comes to patient rights, providing information and user-friendliness, according to the annual Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) assessment of EU countries, the Copenhagen Post reported. The country’s healthcare... Read more

Kazakhstan: Health work ban after HIV child neglect

Emer Mullins | 25 January 2008

Three health workers in Kazygurt, Kazakhstan, were sentenced to prison recently after being convicted of criminal negligence following a HIV outbreak among a group of children who received blood transfusions in regional hospitals, Interfax News Agency reported. According to the... Read more

UK: NHS in 'new age' makeover

Emer Mullins | 18 January 2008

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced a new National Health Service programme to screen patients for the warning signs of many fatal diseases and promised to move the NHS into a “new age” by offering a service more like... Read more

Germany: E-health from Asklepios Future Hospital leaders

Emer Mullins | 18 January 2008

Berlin will host a major two-day healthcare technology conference on January 28 and 29 next, where management leaders from the fields of business, technology, medicine and healthcare will meet to discuss electronic-health solutions in telemedicine, hospital processes, home care and... Read more

Belgium: Union-wide health care slips further down EU agenda

Emer Mullins | 18 January 2008

The EU has delayed the release of controversial proposals that would have made it easier for patients to travel abroad within the union for healthcare, BBC news has reported. It cited a European Commission spokesman who said the delay was... Read more

Switzerland: Home treatment of pneumonia just as effective

Emer Mullins | 18 January 2008

The treatment of children with severe pneumonia at home is just as effective as treating them in hospitals, a new study reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found. The study results could significantly change the way the illness... Read more

China: Healthcare issue in regions tops citizens' wish list

Emer Mullins | 18 January 2008

The rising cost of healthcare topped Chinese citizens’ concerns in a government survey reported by the Associated Press news agency shortly after Beijing announced plans to reform the country’s medical system. The study, by the National Bureau of Statistics, covered... Read more

Nepal: Radio programme tackles HIV taboo

Emer Mullins | 18 January 2008

In a break with social taboos in conservative Nepal, a radio programme on safe sex is spreading awareness against HIV/AIDS and offers life-saving advice to young people who are vulnerable to the disease, Reuters reported. The weekly, hour-long programme, titled... Read more

Fewer Italians seek medical care abroad say statistics

Emer Mullins | 11 January 2008

Under current proposals, the European Commission wants people to have the right to health care across the EU if they are entitled to receive it in their own country. But a report from the BBC citing Italian government statistics shows... Read more

France: Smoking ban in full effect

Emer Mullins | 11 January 2008

The smoking ban in France, which came into limited effect in February 2007, has been extended to bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes as of January 2, 2008. According to the Associated Press news agency, people caught lighting up inside face... Read more

UK: Pathologists warn on transportation of bodies

Emer Mullins | 11 January 2008

The shortage of pathologists in the UK is leading to the unlawful transportation of children’s bodies, according to the Royal College of Pathologists and the British Medical Association. Members of both groups claimed that the 1988 Coroners’ Act allowed for... Read more

Canada: First in-depth look at doctors' health

Emer Mullins | 11 January 2008

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is planning to launch a spring survey among the country’s doctors in the first comprehensive analysis of doctors’ health. The Canada Physician Health Study will be conducted for the CMA by a research team led... Read more

India urgently needs more doctors

Emer Mullins | 04 January 2008

The Indian healthcare industry will need to acquire 1.4 million more doctors and over three million more nurses by 2017 if the country has to meet even the healthcare standards of countries such as Brazil, Russia and China, The Times... Read more

UK: Anti-‘superbug’ pyjamas go on sale in M&S stores

Emer Mullins | 04 January 2008

A leading British retailer is now selling silver-lined pyjamas designed to protect against the hospital ‘superbug’ MRSA, according to reports on the BBC. Marks and Spencer is trialling the £45 ‘Sleep Safe’ pyjamas at 100 stores in what has been... Read more

USA: Edwards proposes policy of mandatory insurance

Emer Mullins | 04 January 2008

Presidential candidate and former Democratic Senator, John Edwards of North Carolina, has said that under his proposed healthcare plan, US residents who could afford to pay for health insurance could have their wages garnished or tax refunds withheld if they... Read more

UK: Plan to reform cancer care

Emer Mullins | 14 December 2007

The British government’s plan to reform cancer services and to increase the survival rates of UK patients with cancer– still below the European average– was unveiled last week. Health Secretary Alan Johnson has pledged to invest £370 million in cancer... Read more

Cambodia: Flying eye hospital makes first training visit

Emer Mullins | 14 December 2007

What has been dubbed the world's only airborne 'flying eye hospital', an ophthalmic surgical and training facility housed inside a converted DC-10 aircraft, is to visit Cambodia for the first time at the invitation of the Ministry of Health, a... Read more

China joins WHO to fight infection

Emer Mullins | 14 December 2007

China’s government has pledged to tackle healthcare-associated infections by officially joining the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) programme, the Global Patient Safety Challenge. China’s Vice Minister of Health, Huang Jiefu, said the Ministry would establish and implement the technical standards for... Read more

Portugal: Survey shows health professionals reject rare and complex diseases

Emer Mullins | 07 December 2007

A European survey on rare diseases has revealed that around 70 per cent of patients with rare diseases felt rejected by healthcare professionals. In a study carried out by the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) in 23 European countries,... Read more

USA: GPs' organisation has new plan

Emer Mullins | 07 December 2007

Americans could find a family doctor they like, name that doctor’s office as their medical home and assure themselves of comprehensive care, under a recent plan announced by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). In a report on its... Read more

UK: GPs not happy to treat with foreign medicines

Emer Mullins | 07 December 2007

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has said it has received a number of calls from GPs who had been asked by their female patients to administer IVF medication to them that they had obtained abroad. The MPS said doctors were... Read more

Australia: Inquiry into Sydney hospital

Emer Mullins | 30 November 2007

New South Wales’s Health Minister, Ms Reba Meagher, is expected to be the first witness called before a parliamentary inquiry into Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, looking into a series of complaints of poor patient care, according to the Australian... Read more

Afghanistan: Child death decreased 25 per cent since 2001

Emer Mullins | 30 November 2007

Child mortality has dropped by 25 per cent in Afghanistan since the Taliban Government was overthrown in 2001, meaning that 89,000 more children survive each year, the Afghan Health Ministry has claimed. Reuters news agency has reported that after nearly... Read more

UK: Medical union has opposed fitness to practise changes

Emer Mullins | 30 November 2007

The Medical Defence Union (MDU) in Britain has said it is strongly opposed to changes in the standard of proof for all fitness to practise (FTP) hearings before the General Medical Council (GMC). The organisation, which indemnifies over 50 per... Read more

Bulgaria tests e-health card

Emer Mullins | 23 November 2007

Taking its cue from a German pilot project, the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund is kicking off a 1,000-patient trial that could lead to a national electronic health card, a report in Healthcare IT News has said. The Bulgarian pilot... Read more

Global obesity figures reported

Emer Mullins | 23 November 2007

A quarter of men and women in 63 countries were found to be obese in a massive study of more than 168,000 people, France’s top medical research institute has reported. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), of 168,159 adults aged 18... Read more

USA: Access to GPs made easier

23 November 2007

Americans could find a family doctor they like, name that doctor’s office as their medical home and assure themselves of comprehensive care under a recent plan announced by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). In a report on its... Read more

EU adopts new health strategy on 'core issues'

16 November 2007

The European Commission has adopted a new health strategy for member States. The strategy will span what it called “core issues” in health “as well as health in all policies and global health issues. The Strategy aims to set clear... Read more

France: New digital pen reduces breast cancer waiting lists

Emer Mullins | 16 November 2007

New technology has helped reduce waiting lists for breast cancer screening in France, by shortening the time it takes to analyse mammograms, according to eHealthNews.EU. Normal turnaround times of up to three hours were reduced to less than 30 minutes,... Read more

The Netherlands: Cardiac patients monitored at home

Emer Mullins | 16 November 2007

An Amsterdam hospital is taking advantage of new technology to monitor more than 100 chronic heart failure patients at home, in order to improve their quality of life and reduce hospital admissions. According to eHealthNews.eu, the St Lucas Andreas Hospital... Read more

Japan: Patients of TB doctor checked

09 November 2007

The Japanese government has said some 400 people would be tested for tuberculosis in central Japan after their doctor was diagnosed with the disease, news agencies have reported. Reuters reported that the doctor, aged about 70, had been coughing and... Read more

Number of doctors varies wildly in OECD countries

09 November 2007

Medical specialists outnumber GPs in most democratic, free-market countries in the world now and the number of doctors overall has increased by 35 per cent over the past 15 years to 2.8 million, according to 2007 OECD (Organisation for Economic... Read more

Mental health- neglected and under-researched

09 November 2007

The Global Forum for Health Research has said that mental and neurological disorders are responsible for 13 per cent of the global burden of disease. It released findings of a new survey which shows that more than half of the... Read more

Austria: Doctors plan to strike

02 November 2007

A planned new law in the healthcare system by an apparently unpopular health minister is set to send Austrian doctors on strike on 8 November, according to a news report. The country’s medical association has indicated that the strike is... Read more

China: Health minister promises country-wide health plan

02 November 2007

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu has vowed to establish a medical service system which covers all urban and rural China by 2010, according to online news sources. Reports cited the Minister at a Sino-American medical forum in Shanghai saying the... Read more

New Zealand: New curriculum is set for GP college

02 November 2007

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) has adopted a new curriculum put forward by its Integrated Education Pathway Working Group that will see localised training of GPs. The college said urgency had been added by the burgeoning... Read more

UK: New guidelines for care in child birth

02 November 2007

The Royal Colleges of Anaesthetists (RCOA), Midwives (RCM), Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) in the UK have issued new guidelines for the delivery of care in childbirth. The joint document, Safer Childbirth: Minimum Standards for... Read more

New Zealand: Direct-to-consumer advertising will harm public

BMJ 2007;335:694-695 | 26 October 2007

Allowing the drug industry to supply information on prescription medicines direct to patients in Europe will have serious implications for health, according to health experts in New Zealand. The warning comes as the European parliament is considering allowing the drug... Read more

China: Organ harvesting of inmates ban

26 October 2007

The Chinese Medical Association has agreed that organs of prisoners and other individuals in custody must not be used for transplantation, except for members of their immediate family. The Vice President and Secretary General of the Chinese Medical Association, Dr... Read more

Denmark: Doctors must report cases of torture

26 October 2007

The World Medical Association (WMA) has issued new guidelines to doctors designed to encourage them to become more active in documenting cases of torture they come across. At its recent annual general assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, the WMA said physicians... Read more

UK: Patients must get quicker acute care

26 October 2007

Patients with acute illness should get immediate access to the front-line of acute medical services, and out-of-hours diagnostic facilities should be expanded to support acute care, a new report has urged. The report, by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient... Read more

Global AIDS response could cost $58 billion

26 October 2007

A new report from UNAIDS, the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS, suggests that financing the global response to AIDS could cost between US$14 and $58 billion. The report, entitled Financial Resources Required to Achieve Universal Access to HIV Prevention,... Read more

Canada: Doctors acquitted of negligence in HIV blood distribution trial

19 October 2007

Four Canadian doctors and a US pharmaceutical company have been acquitted in court of negligence in the distribution of blood contaminated with HIV in Canada’s worst health scandal, AFP has reported. It was the first criminal trial in a case... Read more

Singapore: Restrictive powers sought to prevent disease spread

19 October 2007

Singapore's health ministry is seeking sweeping powers to combat the spread of infectious diseases such as influenza, including the power to restrict people’s movements, news reports have claimed. Closing infectious premises and declaring certain areas off-limits in the event of... Read more

UK: NHS wards to close to stop MRSA

19 October 2007

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced that a new health regulator will have the power to close hospital wards as part of a new drive to fight hospital infections. “I am setting out how we will equip the new regulator... Read more

Nigeria: Polio vaccine is cause of outbreak

19 October 2007

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that a polio outbreak in Nigeria that left at least 69 children paralysed was caused by the vaccine designed to stop it. The outbreak was caused by the live polio virus that is... Read more

UK: NICE decision on Alzheimer's drug prescribing still stands

Sandra Ryan | 19 October 2007

A decision by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK to restrict the prescribing of a drug, Aricept, to treat Alzheimer’s disease could affect its use in Ireland, although no review has yet been requested by the... Read more

Burma: Health spending below recommended levels

12 October 2007

A report from Save the Children has claimed among the massive social and economic problems that led to recent pro-democracy protests in Burma is the fact that at least one third of all children in the country are malnourished and... Read more

Poland: Patients are evacuated in hospital strike

12 October 2007

News agency reports said managers of a hospital in southern Poland evacuated some 40 seriously ill patients recently to ensure that they would receive adequate medical care after doctors resigned in a pay dispute. A total of 84 of 173... Read more

Cancer pain relief in short supply

12 October 2007

A new report released to mark the third annual World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on 6 October has claimed that 80 per cent of the world’s cancer sufferers do not have access to pain relief. In addition, seven per... Read more

Americans more likely to be treated for disease

12 October 2007

Americans are more likely than Europeans to be treated for preventable chronic diseases caused by obesity and smoking, adding more than US$100 billion a year to US health spending, a study reported by Bloomberg claimed. The study, in the Journal... Read more

Canada: Survey highlights doctors' concerns

05 October 2007

A recent on-line survey of medical specialists carried out by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has revealed that specialists’ main concerns include staff shortages and the lack of capacity in the healthcare system. “Right now the system is only scraping... Read more

Cancer deaths to reach 17 million

05 October 2007

Cancer deaths will more than double to 17 million people each year by 2030, with poor countries shouldering the heaviest burden from the disease, according to the head of the United Nation’s cancer agency. Mr Peter Boyle, Director of the... Read more

US: Top salary earners are the anaesthesiologists

05 October 2007

A survey of salaries among various medical specialties in the US has revealed that anaesthetists are the top earners, at an average of US$254,102 per year. The survey, carried out by Pay Scale Inc, also revealed that general surgeons came... Read more

Health risks for organ donors

28 September 2007

A worldwide shortage of organs has forced many people with end-stage illnesses to rely on living donors– either relatives, or strangers from poorer countries where organs can be obtained cheaply– to donate kidneys, liver sections, lung lobes, skin and bones... Read more

Japan: Healthcare costs rise with ageing population

28 September 2007

Japan's growing elderly population is threatening to overwhelm its health and nursing care systems, a report from Reuters has claimed. The agency said on the surface, healthcare, funded by individual premiums, taxes and treatment fees and covering more or less... Read more

Tanzania: Government HIV tests a success despite stigma

28 September 2007

The people of Arusha in Tanzania have come out in large numbers for a voluntary HIV screening programme introduced regionally by the government in July. President Jakaya Kikwete’s testing programme began on 9 September and 167,118 people are expected to... Read more

UK: Ban on docs white coats on way

28 September 2007

New Department of Health regulations aimed at stopping the spread of hospital-borne infections will see doctors being banned from wearing white coats, neckties and jewellery in hospitals. “Ties are rarely laundered but worn daily,” the Department of Health said in... Read more

US: Doctors not good on drug warnings

28 September 2007

A new study in the US, reported by Fox News, has shown that doctors aren’t doing a very good job of warning young women to avoid getting pregnant when they’re taking prescription drugs that can cause birth defects. Nearly half... Read more

Australia: Call for urgent rural funding

21 September 2007

Significant and urgent funding is needed to address the healthcare crisis in rural Australia, and all political parties should use the upcoming federal election to put forward solutions to bridge the gap between rural and urban health care, according to... Read more

China: Skull health warnings on China's cigarette packs

21 September 2007

Chinese cigarette packs will have skulls, blackened teeth or diseased lungs printed on them in the latest effort to tackle smoking, a Reuters report has claimed. The report, however, cited one expert who said the images may actually attract younger... Read more

New Zealand: Boost for general practice training

21 September 2007

The Royal College of General Practitioners in New Zealand has welcomed the news that the Minister of Health has approved the doubling of the postgraduate training places for general practice to more than 100. The college said the government’s move... Read more

USA: Companies penalise unhealthy workers

21 September 2007

Some healthcare experts have criticised the trend in the US where companies are making workers with health risks pay more for insurance and in some cases docking pay if workers are obese or have conditions such as high blood pressure.... Read more

Australia: Drug recalled after deaths

Emer Mullins | 14 September 2007

A painkiller used by an estimated 60,000 Australians has been ordered off the shelves after the deaths of two people, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. The newspaper reported that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had... Read more

Canada establishes a mental health board

14 September 2007

Prime Minister of Canada Mr Stephen Harper has named 17 people– including people with mental illness– to a new mental health board he said was set up to lead a “national campaign to erase the stigma of mental illness”. Liiberal... Read more

Japan: Medical expenses rise for third year

14 September 2007

Expenses paid to medical facilities in Japan in 2005 rose 3.2 per cent from the previous year to a record 33.13 trillion yen, breaking the record for the third consecutive year, the government was quoted in a report in japantoday.com.... Read more

UK: New finance figures put NHS back in the black

Emer Mullins | 14 September 2007

The National Health Service (NHS) will have nearly UK£1 billion sitting in the bank by spring, according to figures reported in the Daily Record. It added that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would spend the UK£983 million surplus... Read more

USA: Doctors opting out of single-handed practices

14 September 2007

A new survey in the USA has shown that growing numbers of doctors are opting to leave their single practices for group employment or specialty groups. The Centre for Studying Health System Change, which carried out the survey between 1996... Read more

Chinese police seize over a ton of fake Viagra tablets

Emer Mullins | 31 August 2007

Chinese police have seized more than a ton of fake drugs for impotence, bird flu and malaria, including at least 18,000 fake Viagra tablets, according to the Chinese Xinhua News Agency. The Ministry of Public Security detained more than 30... Read more

UK: Self-diagnostics in OTC health

Emer Mullins | 31 August 2007

A new survey of lifestyles in Britain reported in Pharmacy Journal UK has shown that self-diagnostics will be the growth area in over-the-counter (OTC) health for the next five years. The survey said rising prescription charges were a factor encouraging... Read more

USA: Cover cut for hospital infections

Emer Mullins | 31 August 2007

The US government’s health insurance programme for the elderly and disabled, Medicare, will no longer cover the costs of ‘preventable’ conditions, mistakes and infections resulting from a hospital stay from 2009. Medical News Today reported that the extra cost of... Read more

Scotland: Personal alarm devices for ERI hospital staff

Emer Mullins | 31 August 2007

The Edinburgh News has reported that staff in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (ERI) are facing a tide of violence. It said incidents involving a knife, a baseball bat and a patient who went “berserk” were among 84 for which the... Read more

Ethiopia: Zero tolerance of female circumcision

Emer Mullins | 17 August 2007

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged the international community to back its ‘zero tolerance’ attitude to the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). A statement issued during a conference in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa from 30 July... Read more

Nicaragua: AIDS awareness campaign begins

Emer Mullins | 17 August 2007

The president of Nicaragua’s AIDS-HIV Association, Arely Cano, has announced a new campaign against the epidemic to encourage people to protect themselves and undergo tests, according to a report in the People’s Daily online. The campaign will warn people that... Read more

India: Protests against female infanticide

Emer Mullins | 17 August 2007

Hundreds of women marched through the streets of the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar to protest at a growing number of cases involving female foeticide, according to recent reports from Global Health News. Waving placards that read ‘Hang the murderers’... Read more

UK: Shorter hours and rise in pay

Emer Mullins | 17 August 2007

A new report has revealed that British GPs are working an average of seven hours less each week for the National Health Service (NHS) since the introduction of the new contract in 2004. The contract also increased the earnings of... Read more

Poland: Doctors stage sit-in for higher wages

Emer Mullins | 10 August 2007

The ongoing strike by doctors and nurses in Poland for higher wages, which included a sit-in near the Polish prime minister’s office, has continued since 19 June. Hospital employees were camped in more than 100 tents across the road from... Read more

USA: Transplant waiting list over 50% minorities

Emer Mullins | 10 August 2007

Minorities account for 51 per cent of the US transplant waiting list, according to Donate Life America. There are nearly 100,000 people of all ages and races in need of organ transplants that may not come in time. Hundreds of... Read more

Canada: CMA calls for boost in private healthcare

Emer Mullins | 10 August 2007

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has said provincial governments should hire private-sector firms to deliver publicly-funded healthcare services to prevent delays for necessary treatments. Association president Colin McMillan said Canadians needed timely access to medical services and the private sector... Read more

UK: 30,000 doctors start new posts

Emer Mullins | 10 August 2007

Almost 30,000 British doctors start in new posts under the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) structure this August. Some 10,000 doctors started in foundation programme posts, while 20,000 started speciality training posts. The old system of three grades of junior doctor... Read more

UK: Sexual health clinics lack data

Emer Mullins | 03 August 2007

Clinics for people with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are unable to treat patients properly because they don’t have the right information, according to the Independent newspaper. It cited the UK’s Healthcare Commission pointing out that gaps in data made it... Read more

UK: New health fears over big surge in autism

Emer Mullins | 03 August 2007

The number of children in Britain with autism is far higher than previously thought, The Observer newspaper reported. The newspaper said a study, as yet unpublished, shows that as many as one in 58 children may have some form of... Read more

Australia: Prejudice against overseas doctors

Emer Mullins | 03 August 2007

Following the recent arrest of a Queensland-based overseas trained doctor in connection with foiled terror attacks planned for London and Glasgow early in July, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) said it was concerned about a potential backlash... Read more

Egypt: Ban on female genital mutilation

Emer Mullins | 03 August 2007

Egypt is to outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM), rescinding a provision that allowed the practice to be performed by qualified physicians in exceptional cases, according to BBC News. About 6,000 girls undergo genital mutilation daily, the BBC said, citing World... Read more