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Malawi government addressing drug, medical supply shortages in wake of aid withdrawals

As international donors "remain reluctant to release aid meant for the health sector" in Malawi "amid allegations of pilfering and corruption in the procurement of drugs," "patients seeking medical treatment at government-run medical facilities are unable to access medication such as antiretrovirals (ARVs), anti-malarial drugs and even painkillers," Inter Press Service reports, adding, "Health facilities are also experiencing a shortage of medical equipment such as gloves, and malaria and HIV/AIDS testing kits."

17 Nov 2011

Austerity measures in Europe may cause rise in drug-related HIV infections, report says

"Austerity measures brought in to tackle Europe's economic crisis may cause a rise in drug-related HIV infections as stretched health services struggle to cope, the E.U.'s narcotics agency said on Tuesday," Reuters reports.

17 Nov 2011

New collaboration enables information sharing to aid in development of TB drug candidates

In this post in the Global Health Technologies Coalition's "Breakthroughs" blog, Heather Ignatius, senior policy manager for the TB Alliance, writes that while "the most recent WHO TB Control report noted that rates of tuberculosis (TB) declined this past year for the first time in decades, ... TB remains one of the most devastating global health crises today, with ripple effects that extend beyond health to cripple prosperity and development of regions overwhelmed by the disease."

17 Nov 2011

GOP hopefuls tied in Iowa poll

Fifty-eight percent of that poll's respondents said they would "rule out" a candidate who has favored a mandate to buy health insurance. In other news, a separate poll found 47 percent of Americans would support doing away with the health law. Meanwhile, protestors make their opinions known to Herman Cain and Mitt Romney.

17 Nov 2011

Study finds Medicare changes would impose additional costs on majority of 'healthy' beneficiaries

Several deficit-reduction committees have suggested changing the federal health-care program for seniors to combine the hospital- and doctor-services deductibles that participants currently pay separately. In this system, seniors could have a $550 annual deductible, and be required to pay 20 percent toward all services up to a $5,550 annual limit.

17 Nov 2011

State-financed healthcare causes unnecessary suffering for transsexual persons

In 1972, Sweden became the first country in the world to legislate healthcare for transsexualism within the state-financed healthcare system. In an international perspective, this was considered to be radical.

17 Nov 2011

State roundup: Colorado uninsured/underinsured rate skyrockets; Georgia personhood resolution brewing

The Colorado Health Access Survey, a new report from The Colorado Trust and the Colorado Health Institute, has found that more than 1.5 million Coloradans – or nearly one in three residents – either have no health insurance or are underinsured, meaning they spend more than 10 percent of their income on out-of-pocket medical expenses. Just since the last survey two years ago, the percentage of employers offering health insurance has dropped to 57.8 percent this year from 63.7.

16 Nov 2011

Non-therapeutic antibiotic usage in food animals creates resistance genes, promotes antibiotic resistance

In a review study, researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine zero in on the controversial, non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in food animals and fish farming as a cause of antibiotic resistance.

16 Nov 2011

New CAD test associated with higher rates of cardiac procedures, health-care spending

A new, noninvasive diagnostic test for coronary artery disease is associated with a higher rate of subsequent invasive cardiac procedures and higher health-care spending. That's according to an observational study of Medicare recipients conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

16 Nov 2011

Grants up to $30 million for those with innovative ideas for healthcare

The Obama administration on Monday announced a $1 billion federal fund allocation for last year's health reform law to be channeled toward innovation programs designed to boost jobs and improve patient care.

16 Nov 2011

Coronary calcium scoring can determine risk of cardiac events

If your doctor says you have a negative stress test, or that your cholesterol or blood pressure are normal, how assured can you be that you're not likely to have a heart attack in the next seven to 10 years?

16 Nov 2011

White House continues to push health care policies, sidestepping Congress

Using executive branch powers, the Obama administration has laid out new steps to cut fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, and announced that $1 billion of federal funding will go toward innovation programs designed to boost jobs and improve patient care. The president also offered comment on the super committee's progress.

16 Nov 2011

Streamlining clinical trials review process to speed up delivery of drugs to those in need

In this Atlantic opinion piece, Amanda Glassman, director of Global Health Policy at the Center for Global Development (CGD), reports on how lengthy, inefficient review processes for drug and vaccine candidates waiting in the pipeline for late stages of clinical development is keeping promising new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic techniques from reaching millions in need.

16 Nov 2011

Supreme Court justices will not be considering the health law in a vacuum

News reports track some of the justices' issues that will be a part of the consideration of these challenges -- among them, how the case will shape the legacy of Chief Justice John Roberts.

16 Nov 2011

Press Ganey recognizes UT Southwestern with two major patient satisfaction awards

UT Southwestern Medical Center today became the nation's only academic medical center to win two major patient satisfaction awards - the Patient Voice Award and the Summit Award for inpatient services - from Press Ganey, a national consulting firm specializing in health care performance.

16 Nov 2011

Frequent counseling, physician support and interactive website help obese patients lose weight

Obese patients enrolled in a weight-loss program delivered over the phone by health coaches and with website and physician support lost weight and kept it off for two years, according to new Johns Hopkins research. The program was just as effective as another weight-loss program that involved in-person coaching sessions.

16 Nov 2011

States seeking waivers, moving ahead on health reform implementation

The court could upend the national health law if the justices decide the mandate is unconstitutional. Yet, planning for full implementation of the law in Massachusetts is moving "full steam ahead," said Glen Shor, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector, the agency that runs the state's health insurance exchange. ... Lawmakers in Colorado, for example, created the infrastructure needed to set up the state's health insurance exchange earlier this year.

16 Nov 2011

GOP presidential candidates assail possible tax changes in deficit deal

As members of the super committee race against the clock in their quest for a plan to reduce the deficit, some of the Republicans running for president criticize efforts that would raise taxes.

16 Nov 2011

U.N.-backed polio vaccination campaign moves forward in South Sudan

"Up to 3.2 million South Sudanese children have received vaccinations against polio in a United Nations-backed campaign to ensure the new country remains free of the deadly disease, more than two years after the last case was reported," the U.N. News Centre reports.

16 Nov 2011

What will be at stake when the Supreme Court offers a decision?

President Barack Obama is so confident of the constitutionality of his signature Affordable Care Act - and so happy to cast Mitt Romney as his human shield against its Republican critics - that he did little to stop the Supreme Court from fast-tracking a ruling on the law now likely to come in the middle of the 2012 campaign.

16 Nov 2011

Health Care News and Research

Malawi government addressing drug, medical supply shortages in wake of aid withdrawals

Austerity measures in Europe may cause rise in drug-related HIV infections, report says

New collaboration enables information sharing to aid in development of TB drug candidates

GOP hopefuls tied in Iowa poll

Study finds Medicare changes would impose additional costs on majority of 'healthy' beneficiaries

State-financed healthcare causes unnecessary suffering for transsexual persons

State roundup: Colorado uninsured/underinsured rate skyrockets; Georgia personhood resolution brewing

Non-therapeutic antibiotic usage in food animals creates resistance genes, promotes antibiotic resistance

New CAD test associated with higher rates of cardiac procedures, health-care spending

Grants up to $30 million for those with innovative ideas for healthcare

Coronary calcium scoring can determine risk of cardiac events

White House continues to push health care policies, sidestepping Congress

Streamlining clinical trials review process to speed up delivery of drugs to those in need

Supreme Court justices will not be considering the health law in a vacuum

Press Ganey recognizes UT Southwestern with two major patient satisfaction awards

Frequent counseling, physician support and interactive website help obese patients lose weight

States seeking waivers, moving ahead on health reform implementation

GOP presidential candidates assail possible tax changes in deficit deal

U.N.-backed polio vaccination campaign moves forward in South Sudan

What will be at stake when the Supreme Court offers a decision?

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