Hospitals better than thought: survey
The Australian reports that waiting times in public hospital emergency departments may not be as bad as people expect, with a new survey revealing 50 per cent of patients report being seen by a doctor within 38 minutes. The Ipsos Health Care and Insurance Australia 2011 survey of more than 5000 Australians shows that this year, the average wait to see a doctor in an emergency department was 82 minutes.
The Australian, October 25, 2011

Government urged to drop private health changes
Ninemsn.com reports that the head of one of Australia's biggest private health insurers has made a last-ditch plea for the federal government to dump its controversial reforms for the industry.
Ninemsn.com, October 22, 2011

Health experts warn antibiotics "heavily overused" in China
Xinhua News Agency reports that Chinese medical experts have warned that antibiotics have been "heavily overused" at hospitals, which might cause serious side-effects for the health of an entire generation. The average annual consumption of antibiotics per capita in China amounts to 138 grams, ten times the level in the United States, said Xiao Yonghong, an expert with the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Peking University, in the Beijing-based Guangming Daily on Wednesday.
Xinhua News Agency, October 19, 2011
 

EU rules on health staff 'put patients at risk'
BBC News reports that patients are being put at "unacceptable risk" because of EU rules governing the movement of health workers, peers say. A House of Lords committee said the current balance between free movement of labour and safety had been skewed.
BBC News, October 18, 2011
 

Countries pledge efforts to reduce healthcare gap
Xinhua News Agency reports that representatives from 120 countries attending the WHO's World Conference on Social Determinants of Health on Friday pledged to maintain investments in healthcare to reduce social gap. A statement adopted at the conference urged governments to maintain international collaboration and promote equal access to healthcare regardless of wealth.
Xinhua News Agency, October 25, 2011
 

Healthcare insurers urged to widen scope of cover
Asia Insurance Review reports that the head of India's insurance regulator urges the country's health insurers to expand beyond the small market of in-patient procedures that they currently cover.
Asia Insurance Review, October 20, 2011
 

Rising Claims, Wage Bill Erode NHIF Cash Reserve
Business Day reports that rising medical claims and wages are eroding the cash reserves of National Hospital Insurance Fund, a trend that could make it difficult for the public insurer to meet its obligations. Its surplus has shrunk from Sh990 million in 2006 to Sh173.4 million last June in a period that has seen salaries and claims more than double.
Business Day via AllAfrica, October 23, 2011
 

Orion Health makes a big buy
TVNZ reports that New Zealand's largest software exporter Auckland-based Orion Health has purchased Microsoft's hospital information software assets in Asia Pacific for an undisclosed sum. The two companies will also work together to provide solutions for the global electronic health market.
TVNZ, October 17, 2011
 

 Pledge to stop old people being needlessly stuck in hospital
The Scotsman reports that Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon will today set out plans to cut the £50 million annual cost of bed blocking in the NHS. Bed blocking, also known as delayed discharge, occurs when elderly patients, who are clinically fit, remain in hospital while a place in a care home is found or a personal care package is put in place.
The Scotsman, October 21, 2011
 

Improvement of Public Hospitals Key to NHI Success
Health-e reports: National Health Insurance (NHI). Love it or hate it. It's coming. With a Green Paper released for public consultation, role players and South Africans at large for the first time have some concrete information as to how the South African healthcare landscape is going to be transformed.
Health-e via AllAfrica, October 24, 2011
 

Reduce Health Costs, Urges Minister
The Citizen reports that the government has appealed to private health facilities to consider providing free maternal health services to mothers and babies in the effort to reduce the national mortality rate. The infant mortality rate in the country has long been at the top of the world's developing countries agenda, with the nation's current mark at 66.93 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing it at 21st in the world, according to a ranking by the World Bank.
The Citizen via AllAfrica, October 20, 2011
 

Health Workers Coverage Stuck At 56 Percent Countrywide
The Monitor reports that the proportion of trained health workers across the country has stagnated at 56 per cent for the last two years, a situation that has affected the efficiency of the sector, the health minister has said.
The Monitor via AllAfrica, October 25, 2011
 

Daman opens new branches in Abu Dhabi
Middle East Insurance Review reports that the National Health Insurance Company - Daman has opened two new branches in Musaffah, Abu Dhabi. One branch exclusively serves individuals requiring basic health insurance plans, while the other serves corporate clients and individuals seeking enhanced plans.
Middle East Insurance Review, October 25, 2011
 

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