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Call for elimination of processed trans fats in the Canadian food supply

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has expressed its support for the debate in the House of Commons on the important issue of effectively eliminating processed trans fats in the Canadian food supply.

19 Nov 2004

Instructions provided with medicines is far too small for people with impaired or partially sighted vision to read

When you're in your local pharmacy, do you ever try to compare the lables on products, only to find that the print is impossible to read? A new study goes a little way to remedy this, at least for those who are visually impaired.

16 Nov 2004

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has issued a preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) licence for inherited colon cancer

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has confirmed that it has issued a preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) licence for Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (FAP) to the Assisted Conception Unit at University College Hospital, London.

2 Nov 2004

Will email consultations improve patient care?

Making email communication part of routine medical practice may have unforseen consequences for the NHS, warns a doctor in a letter to this week's BMJ.

29 Oct 2004

Researchers investigate whether simian foamy virus can be transmitted through blood transfusion

Using an animal model, researchers demonstrated that simian foamy virus can be transmitted through blood from one non-human primate to another. Although this virus is not known to cause disease or health conditions in people or animals, this new research identifies an emerging issue related to the safety and adequacy of Canada's blood supply.

25 Oct 2004

First public healthcare and HIV/AIDS programme in Kibera, Kenya

On October 21, in collaboration with the Kenyan Ministry of Health, the international humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) opened a health centre providing public healthcare, including treatment for HIV/AIDS, for the residents of Kibera slum in Nairobi.

22 Oct 2004

Adults who were abused or neglected as children tend to visit doctors more often

"Many patients visit doctors with symptoms that cannot be explained by underlying physical disease," says researcher Francis Creed, M.D., of the University of Manchester. "Common examples are headache, abdominal and chest pains and constant tiredness."

21 Oct 2004

South Australia a step closer to smoke free pubs and clubs

New restrictions on smoking in South Australia’s pubs, clubs, gaming rooms and the casino will begin within weeks if the Rann Government’s tobacco control legislation is passed by the State’s Upper House this week.

12 Oct 2004

New Canadian Quarantine Act aims to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases

The Government of Canada has reintroduced in Parliament legislation titled: "An Act to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases", which would help further protect Canadians from the importation of communicable diseases.

12 Oct 2004

Sick could be thousands of dollars out of pocket if the Federal Labor Government abolishes the Medicare Safety Net

AMA (WA) President Dr Paul Skerritt said the plan to scrap the Medicare Safety Net, which complements the successful PBS Safety Net, will hit people hard when they are most vulnerable.

7 Oct 2004

Health expert has hails Hong Kong's work to fight SARS both locally and overseas

"Hong Kong has made good progress in preparing itself against communicable diseases and its effort was commendable. I am particularly pleased to see that the Centre for Health Protection has got off to a very good start and is set to become a public icon for health protection," he said.

5 Oct 2004

Assisted living residents with dementia go undiagnosed and are not adequately treated

Two-thirds of assisted living residents in central Maryland were diagnosed with dementia and more than one-quarter of residents had other psychiatric ailments, such as depression, anxiety disorder or psychosis, according to a Johns Hopkins study.

4 Oct 2004

Australian Medical Association says Labor’s Medicare Gold policy looks good in theory

Australian Medical Association Vice President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today that Labor’s Medicare Gold policy is a genuine attempt to provide the long-awaited and much-needed links between hospital care, community care and aged care to ensure that older Australians have access to the right type of care in the right environment when they most need it.

29 Sep 2004

Scotland's doctors unite in calls for smoke free public places

As part of the BMA's 'Breathe better in Scotland' campaign, senior doctors today (Wednesday 29 September) delivered 1000 letters from doctors in Scotland calling on the First Minister, Jack McConnell, to legislate for smokefree public places.

29 Sep 2004

Australian Medical Association backs Labor’s commitment to focus on mental health

Dr Choong-Siew Yong, Psychiatrist and Chair of the AMA’s Public Health and Ethics Committee, today welcomed Labor’s commitment to focus on mental health as a national health priority

28 Sep 2004

South African sales of MedMira rapid HIV tests begin

MedMira Inc., the international market leader in rapid flow- through diagnostic technology announced today that it has begun shipment of its MiraWell(TM) Rapid HIV Test to its distributor.

26 Sep 2004

Majority of parents concerned about the amount of sex and violence children are exposed to on TV

A majority of parents say they are "very" concerned about the amount of sex (60%) and violence (53%) their children are exposed to on TV

23 Sep 2004

Cosmetic surgery less risky and less painful than plastic surgery

Cosmetic surgery is perceived as less risky with a shorter recovery time and less pain than plastic or reconstructive surgery, according to an article in the September issue of The Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

21 Sep 2004

Disabled people need better specialist equipment

For many disabled people, assistive technology is crucial to their ability to choose how they want to live and whether they can live independently.

20 Sep 2004

Non-human primates should never be considered as source animals for any future clinical trials of animal-to-human transplantation

Australia’s leading health advisory body, the National Health and Medical Research Council, says there should be a five-year moratorium on any clinical research into animal-to-human whole organ transplants in Australia.