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Public-health experts caution that the widening of the EU could have adverse effects on public health

Public-health experts writing in this week's issue of THE LANCET caution that the widening of the European Union (EU) to the east could have potentially adverse effects on public health-both for the new member countries, many of whom have poor health-care infrastructure, and for existing EU members.

23 Apr 2004

Prominent ASTRO member appointed to APC panel

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology would like to congratulate Louis Potters, M.D., a prominent radiation oncologist and a devoted ASTRO member, on his recent appointment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups, also known as the APC Panel.

23 Apr 2004

Commons urged to support palliative care financially

Leading cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Relief today gave evidence to the influential Commons Health Select Committee as part of its inquiry into palliative care provision.

22 Apr 2004

Socially deprived individuals are 44% more likely to develop heart failure

Socially deprived individuals are 44% more likely to develop heart failure but 23% less likely to see their general practitioner on a regular basis compared with affluent patients, finds new research available on bmj.com.

22 Apr 2004

Organ donation bill signed into law

On April 5, 2004 the President signed into law H.R. 3926, the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act. ALF has supported the passage of this bill for several years and we should consider its passage as one of our “victories.” The bill does the following things:

22 Apr 2004

HHS approves first-ever multi-state purchasing pools for Medicaid drug programs

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved plans by five states to pool their collective purchasing power to gain deeper discounts on prescription medicines for their state programs.

22 Apr 2004

Lansche family endows distinguished chair in ophthalmology

A $2 million gift from the Lansche family and Tatiana A. Lansche will establish the Dr. Richard and Tatiana Lansche Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Center of the University of California, San Diego, officials announced today.

22 Apr 2004

Statement on patient safety principles for office-based surgery

Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of invasive procedures being performed in the office setting. Recognizing that many states still haven't issued patient safety guidelines in this area, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) sponsored a resolution, which was passed at the American Medical Association's (AMA's) December 2002 Interim Meeting of its House of Delegates.

22 Apr 2004

Alzheimer Society of Canada new Alzheimer fact sheet

Dementia is a syndrome consisting of a number of symptoms that include loss of memory, judgment and reasoning, and changes in mood, behaviour and communication abilities. Alzheimer Disease, the most common form of dementia, accounts for 64 per cent of all dementias in Canada.

22 Apr 2004

Some mental health and learning disability nurses are too ready to restrain patients

Some mental health and learning disability nurses are too ready to restrain patients, according to speakers at the NMC's national conference on the management of violence in health care.

22 Apr 2004

Adult ADHD screening in New York

Despite wide recognition as a children’s disorder, ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) affects millions of adults who are undiagnosed and untreated.

22 Apr 2004

Doctors from the University of Edinburgh and local intensive care units have linked to fight an antibiotic-resistant infection which attacks some hospital patients.

22 Apr 2004

Resolution of US-Chinese cosmetics mad cow disease issue

The Food and Drug Administration today announced a successful resolution of an issue arising out of the January, 2004 decision by the Chinese government to suspend on public health grounds the importation of United States cosmetics.

22 Apr 2004

Teenagers being bombarded by alchohol advertising

Alcohol advertising on television, and youth exposure to it, grew substantially in 2002 from 2001, and although new industry marketing codes were announced in 2003, they will still allow for substantial youth overexposure to alcohol ads, according to a study released today by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University.

21 Apr 2004

PAHO's revolving fund for immunization

A quarter century ago, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and its member countries launched a unique procurement and financing mechanism to buy vaccines, syringes, and "cold chain" equipment – the basic components of their immunization programs.

21 Apr 2004

Pierre Pettigrew outlines plan of action for health care reforms

Canadians have a "right" to know how long they have to wait to receive medical treatment, Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew said yesterday.

21 Apr 2004

Coalition forms to promote 75 cent tobacco tax increase

A new coalition called the Health Leaders Alliance (HLA) has been formed in Michigan to formally support HB 5632, sponsored by Representative Larry Julian (R), which includes Governor Granholm's proposal for a 75 cent tobacco tax increase.

21 Apr 2004

The Alzheimer's Society receives lottery money for stem cell research

The Alzheimer's Society is to receive a grant of more than £200,000 from the Community Fund for stem cell research into potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

21 Apr 2004

Major changes at NHS as private sector taps into British health care

The British government has struck a deal with Nuffield Hospital and Capio Healthcare to carry out 25,000 operations on patients from the NHS waiting list in England.

21 Apr 2004

Surviving pneumonia may only provide a short-term lease on a future healthy life

Researchers have shown that the subsequent 2 to 3 years after discharge from the hospital following treatment for pneumonia may provide only a short-term lease on a future healthy life if the patient has certain significant and independent predictors of mortality.

20 Apr 2004