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Canada updates Quarantine Act

Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew today introduced in Parliament legislation entitled: "An Act to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases", which would help further protect Canadians from the importation of communicable diseases.

12 May 2004

100,000 fewer New Yorkers smoking

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today announced an 11% decline in the number of smokers in New York City from 2002 to 2003.

12 May 2004

Baby food companies to be exposed as international monitors present evidence at UK Parliament

Members of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) will be presenting evidence gathered through monitoring of baby food companies in 69 countries at the House of Commons on 13 May from 10.30 to 11.30 am. The evidence shows how companies aggressively promote their products and undermine breastfeeding, thereby contributing to the unnecessary death and suffering of infants around the world.

12 May 2004

CMS proposed rule that would increase payments to acute care hospitals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a proposed rule that would increase payments to acute care hospitals for inpatient services in fiscal year 2005

11 May 2004

United States signs Tobacco Control Treaty

On behalf of the United States, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on Monday at the United Nations. The FCTC is the first-ever global public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO).

11 May 2004

CMS announces 2005 Medicare Advantage payment rates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released the Medicare Advantage (formerly Medicare + Choice) payment rates for 2005.

11 May 2004

The British Home Secretary has called on police to renew efforts to tackle drug abuse

He urged police chiefs to redouble their efforts and make sure that new measures and resources are being used. Tools to help the police do their job include the Criminal Justice Interventions Programme which targets offenders who commit crimes to fund their drug habit. It is receiving £447m funding over three years.

11 May 2004

Young entrepreneur will import low cost, high quality cosmetic surgical products from China

A young entrepreneur who wants a share of the multi-million pound cosmetic surgical and products market has won the second University of Nottingham Student Business Venture Challenge.

11 May 2004

Low-level personnel un-trained in decision-making end up making discretionary medical choices

With no requirement for healthcare providers to care for uninsured patients seeking routine medical attention, frontline staff -- from clerks to insurance verifiers -- are the gatekeepers, deciding who is seen by the physician and who is turned away, according to research conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

11 May 2004

Three people arrested for health insurance fraud

Three people were arrested this morning for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to defraud the customers of Employers Mutual LLC, a company that purported to provide health care coverage to more than 20,000 people across the United States, but left more than $30 million in unpaid claims for medical services when it was shut down.

11 May 2004

The outbreak of SARS is under control in China's eastern province of Anhui

A labratory worker who was China's first SARS patient in the recent outbreak has fully recovered and has been discharged from hospital today as Chinese health officials claimed success in controlling the disease in eastern Anhui province.

10 May 2004

China recognizes 10 million Chinese may be HIV-positive by 2010

The Official Chinese News Agency reported today that the Chinese cabinet has admitted that AIDS epidemic is out of control and spreading rapidly through the country. They have also recognized the need for urgent measures to be put into place to change the situation.

9 May 2004

Health Canada is reminding Canadians about the potential hazards of items sold at garage sales

The bulletin covers products commonly sold at garage sales and provides useful information to vendors and potential buyers. For example, it tells you that it is illegal to sell a crib made before 1986 and that these cribs should be destroyed. It is also illegal to sell lawn darts with elongated tips.

8 May 2004

British man charged for contaminating baby formula with boric acid

A British national was charged today with extortion and tampering with consumer products for sending several adulterated food items – including baby formula contaminated with boric acid – to the Ralphs grocery chain and demanding $180,000 to prevent poisoned food from being placed on store shelves.

7 May 2004

Crime & prescription drug use in Australia

Research regarding the illicit use of prescription drugs in the Northern Territory and how this compares to other Australian states is the focus of the next presentation of Charles Darwin University’s Faculty of Education, Health and Science 2004 Seminar Program.

7 May 2004

The world generic drug market is expected to grow 10-15% annually

Currently, the world generic drug market is approaching $40 billion. Over the next five years, the market is expected to grow 10-15% annually.

6 May 2004

Study finds malaria drug does not affect the ability of airline crew to perform their duties

Results from a new study presented today at the 75th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) in Anchorage, USA, suggest that MalaroneTM (atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride) would not be expected to affect the ability of pilots and cabin crew to perform their duties while on an aircraft.

6 May 2004

New Yorkers less likely to fall from buildings

A national study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers shows that young minority children from lower income neighborhoods are far more likely to die or be injured in falls from buildings.

6 May 2004

AIDS nursing homes to get better Medicare deal

Nursing homes treating patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome—AIDS—will see an increase in their Medicare payment rates this fall, according to Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency that oversees the program.

6 May 2004

ASTRO holds first legislative training program in Washington, D.C.

Members of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology converged on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., last week for the Society’s inaugural legislative training and advocacy program.

5 May 2004