Health Care News and Research

RSS

U.S. military provides medical care, education services to women, children in Tanzania

The U.S. Army news service reports on a five-day Medical Civil Action Program, or MEDCAP, in Tanzania, during which "Tanzanian medical providers working in partnership with U.S. service members from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa provided medical care to more than 2,100 Tanzanian women and children."

25 Jan 2012

U.K. government to increase NTD spending fivefold between 2011 and 2015

"The U.K. government has announced a fivefold increase in spending on combating neglected tropical diseases [NTDs] as part of an international effort to help rid the world of a group of infectious diseases that currently affect one billion people and kill more than half a million every year," BMJ reports.

25 Jan 2012

Tonight's SOTU address could offer preview of Obama's re-election strategy

Politico Pro reports that the Tuesday night speech will be full of political challenges for President Obama - not the least of which is health policy.

25 Jan 2012

Universal access to HIV treatment can be achieved

"Thirty years after AIDS made its deadly debut, a future without the disease is finally within reach," a Boston Globe editorial states, adding, "But just as science is on the verge of winning the battle, financial resources and political will are flagging."

25 Jan 2012

South Africa's population would be 4.4M more if not for AIDS, data show

"There would be more than 4.4 million more people in South Africa if it were not for the AIDS pandemic, according to a survey released on Monday" by the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR), SAPA/News 24 reports.

25 Jan 2012

Panel releases draft priorities for comparative effectiveness research

The draft, which offered insight into the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute's priorities and research agenda, did not single out any specific diseases or treatments. The Institute did seek public comment.

25 Jan 2012

Tracking news on universal health coverage worldwide

The Results for Development Institute has launched a new website on universal health coverage, UHC Forward, "that features news, events, and publications related to the global UHC movement," an institute press release states.

25 Jan 2012

Medicare Part D: A flashpoint in Florida GOP primary debate

Medicare is a testy subject in Florida, home to 3.3 million seniors. Romney charged that Gingrich lobbied lawmakers to approve legislation creating a new prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Gingrich denied lobbying, but - aware of his audience - Gingrich expressed pride in having supported Medicare Part D. "It has saved lives," Gingrich said. "It's run on a free enterprise model."

25 Jan 2012

Abortion foes take aggressive position in 2012 debate

As part of their election-year strategy, some anti-abortion groups plan to force President Obama and congressional Democrats into a corner on an abortion-related issue.

25 Jan 2012

Targeted repeal votes part of House GOP health agenda

Some specific provisions the Republican leadership plans to hold repeal votes on include the Medicare advisory panel and the CLASS Act. Meanwhile, the AMA is pointing to "war savings" as a possible way to pay for the fix to the Medicare physician payment formula.

25 Jan 2012

Public-private partnerships can help poor access health care, reach economic potential

In this Washington Post "Davos Diary" blog entry, Kate Roberts, vice president of corporate marketing, communications and advocacy at PSI, writes about what to expect at the World Economic Forum, beginning on January 25 in Davos, Switzerland.

25 Jan 2012

PBS NewsHour examines family planning in the Philippines

PBS NewsHour on Monday aired the second installment in its "Food for 9 Billion" series, in which "Sam Eaton of Homelands Productions goes to the fishing village of Humay-Humay" in the Philippines and "speaks with families about their concerns that future generations won't enjoy the same access to fish as a food staple and way of life," the PBS NewsHour blog "The Rundown" reports.

25 Jan 2012

As London prepares for summer Olympics, IRIN examines health risks of mass gatherings

As London prepares for more than five million visitors to attend Olympic events in the city this summer, IRIN examines how "mass gatherings -- from religious pilgrimages like the annual Haj to Saudi Arabia and India's huge Kumbh Mela, to major sporting events like the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup -- present important health challenges to organizers and participants alike."

25 Jan 2012

Targeting health aid to poor people

In the Center for Global Development's (CGD) "Global Prosperity Wonkcast," Lawrence MacDonald this week interviews Amanda Glassman, a CGD research fellow and director of the center's global health policy program.

25 Jan 2012

Celebrating polio eradication efforts in India with 'Guarded optimism'

In part one of a two-part blog post in USAID's "IMPACTblog," USAID Worldwide Polio Eradication Coordinator Ellyn Ogden reports on the "hard work and dedication of the Indian government at the national, state, district, block and panchaiyat levels" that was required for the country to have a year free of polio.

25 Jan 2012

Medicare math and the GOP candidates

News outlets report on some of the specific health policy positions being advanced by the GOP presidential primary field.

25 Jan 2012

Survey: Percentage of Americans who lack health coverage rose for fourth straight year

The percentage of Americans lacking health insurance coverage rose for the fourth straight year in 2011 to 17.1 percent, a new survey showed Tuesday. The climb has been steady since Gallup began tracking whether adults have health insurance in 2008. Four years ago, only 14.8 percent of adults lacked health insurance.

25 Jan 2012

High court rejects request for debate over Elena Kagan's recusal from health law review

The justices, who are scheduled to hear more than five hours of arguments challenging the health law, turned down the request without comment. Kagan did not participate in the decision.

25 Jan 2012

Sebelius takes to airwaves on 'The Daily Show'

During her appearance, host Jon Stewart pressed her on the Obama administration's decision to let states define the health law's "essential benefits."

25 Jan 2012

Roundup: Calif. fights feds on mental hospital oversight; Art for health care swap in N.Y.

California officials Monday filed documents in U.S. District Court opposing extended federal oversight of two state mental hospitals, arguing that new leaders have already taken measures to improve patient care and safety. The state attorney general's filing came in response to a scathing U.S. Justice Department portrayal last month of Napa State Hospital and Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk.

25 Jan 2012