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Russian government's censorship of websites with harm reduction methods for drug users helps fuel HIV epidemic, IPS reports

"A recent government crackdown on Russian media, particularly online information portals specializing in health tips and harm reduction methods for drug users, has sparked widespread public opposition, with critics claiming that the 'draconian silencing' of public health advocates could worsen an already perilous health situation in the country," Inter Press Service reports.

22 Feb 2012

WHO meeting decides to extend moratorium on bird flu research, delay full publication of two studies detailing lab-modified strains

A group of 22 public health and influenza experts reached a consensus on Friday at a WHO-convened meeting regarding the work of two research teams that created genetically altered strains of the H5N1 bird flu virus that are easily transmissible among ferrets, a laboratory model for humans, a WHO press release reports.

22 Feb 2012

USAID assisting communities affected by cyclones in Eastern Africa

In this post on USAID's "IMPACTblog," the agency describes its activities in "assisting communities and individuals impacted by the cyclones in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi."

22 Feb 2012

Political cartoons: 'One Pill Makes You...' and 'True Confession?'

Kaiser Health News provides a double dose of health policy cartoons with "One Pill Makes You..." by John Cole and "True Confession?" by R.J. Matson.

21 Feb 2012

First Edition: February 21, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include reports about how the Supreme Court's consideration of the health law could prolong the fight over the sweeping measure.

21 Feb 2012

Verizon to deploy and manage Highmark's new health information exchange

Patients accessing health care services across Pennsylvania will soon benefit from fewer duplicative diagnostic tests, faster retrieval of clinical information, stronger safety measures and better coordination of care – all via a new IT platform that enables the sharing of patient information across multiple health care systems.

21 Feb 2012

Cadila Pharmaceuticals to distribute Bactiguard products throughout India

Bactiguard has signed an exclusive co-operation with Cadila Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest healthcare manufacturing groups in India. A signing process will take place at the Swedish Ambassador's residency tonight.

21 Feb 2012

Comprehensive mobile solution to deliver enhanced care to patients

Verizon Enterprise Solutions, Motorola Mobility Inc. and BoxTone are collaborating to develop a comprehensive mobile solution to help satisfy the unique security, reliability and usability requirements of the health care industry. By providing health care practitioners with secure mobile devices and apps, patient care can be improved through the sharing of clinical data in near-real time to help speed decision making and control costs.

21 Feb 2012

Pharmacist-led interventions can help reduce medication errors in primary care

Medication errors are common in primary care but the number of mistakes could be reduced significantly if GPs introduced an in-house pharmacist-led intervention scheme.

21 Feb 2012

New triple-therapies found cost-effective for chronic hepatitis C patients with advanced liver disease

A towering $60,000 bill, a year of fierce, flu-like symptoms and a running risk of depression are among the possible costs of two new hepatitis C treatments. But according to Stanford University health policy researchers, they might be worth it.

21 Feb 2012

Obama campaign pushes back against Santorum attack on prenatal testing

Campaigning in Ohio on Saturday, Rick Santorum displayed his culture-warrior side in full force ... He lambasted the president's health care law requiring insurance policies to include free prenatal testing, "because free prenatal testing ends up in more abortions and therefore less care that has to be done because we cull the ranks of the disabled in our society".

21 Feb 2012

ICA reports a year full of achievements

ICA announced today that 2011 saw strong growth in hospitals and clinics under contract for its CareAlign Solutions suite, as well as significant product upgrades among its current client base. In addition, ICA's employee base again nearly doubled in 2011 to meet growing demand and critical partnerships were formalized.

20 Feb 2012

Elekta to highlight Clarity with Autoscan at Radiosurgery Society meeting

Clarity soft tissue visualization system now provides an Autoscan option for automated ultrasound scanning from outside of the treatment room, employing a motorized probe positioned at the patient's perineum.

From Elekta 20 Feb 2012

Helen DeVos Children's Hospital wins first annual Leape Ahead Award

The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) is pleased to announce the selection of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as the winner of the first annual Leape Ahead Award.

20 Feb 2012

USHCC, Aetna patner to offer affordable health coverage

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), the nation's premier voice for Hispanic business in America, has teamed up with Aetna to provide affordable, high quality health coverage to its members.

20 Feb 2012

CAI improves asthma outcomes and saves $1.46 for every dollar spent

Nearly 1 in 10 children have asthma, according to government statistics, and in low-income parts of Boston, nearly 16 percent of children are affected. A program called the Community Asthma Initiative (CAI), developed and implemented in 2005 by clinicians at Children's Hospital Boston, demonstrates the potential to dramatically reduce hospitalization and emergency department visits for asthma -- improving patient outcomes and saving $1.46 per dollar spent through reduced hospital utilization.

20 Feb 2012

Indiana CTSI HUB offers open-source software to accelerate clinical and translational research

At a time when medical research increasingly requires collaboration by large numbers of busy people, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute HUB offers a model for using advanced information technology to link scientists, health providers, community partners and others for the purpose of accelerating clinical and translational research.

20 Feb 2012

With contraception issue, Santorum highlights conservative credentials

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), argued this morning on NBC's Meet the Press program that Obama's desire to have most religious hospitals provide birth control coverage to employees is "not an issue about contraception." ... But Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sharply disagreed, accusing Republicans of harping on "red-meat social issues that rile up their base."

20 Feb 2012

Contraception fight heads to state legislatures, federal court

Republican lawmakers in a handful of states are opening another front in the war against President Obama's health care overhaul, seizing on the hot-button issue of birth control with bills that would allow insurance companies to ignore new federal rules requiring them to cover contraception. Measures introduced recently in Idaho, Missouri and Arizona would go beyond religious nonprofits and expand exemptions to secular insurers or businesses that object to covering contraception, abortion and sterilization.

19 Feb 2012