1. *Africa* WHO/Africa Director Proposes Creation of Emergency Fund
The Angola Press reports that the regional director of the World Health
Organisation for Africa, Luís Gomes Sambo, Monday proposed the regional
committee to create an African fund for public health emergency
situations.
The Angola Press via AllAfrica, August 30, 2010
http://allafrica.com/stories/201008310016.html
2. *Asia* Pursuing an Asian Health
Network
The New York Times/International Herald Tribune reports that no matter
how healthy or rich Asian economies are, one thing is certain: Asians
will never stop getting sick. That helps explain why Malvinder Singh
left his home in New Delhi this year to move to Singapore.
The New York Times/International Herald Tribune, August 27, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/business/global/27singh.html?ref=health
3. *Australia* Trauma plan needs to be
reviewed: Opp
Ninemsn.com reports that the NSW government has defended a plan to treat
seriously injured patients at a handful of Sydney hospitals following
claims its trauma plan is putting lives at risk. Under the plan
introduced in March, people with serious and multiple injuries are
bypassing local hospitals for specialised facilities at five hospitals.
Ninemsn.com, August 31, 2010
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/7953910/trauma-plan-needs-to-be-reviewed-opp
4. *Australia* Docs go paperless for
premature babies
Ninemsn.com reports that a paperless computer monitoring system will
help doctors care for premature babies at a Brisbane hospital, in an
Australian first. The Mater Hospital's Neonatal Critical Care Unit has
introduced the new BadgerNet system to give medical staff real time
access to health records
Ninemsn.com, August 26, 2010
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/7951640/docs-go-paperless-for-premature-babies
5. *Australia* Intern shortage at
crisis point: AMA
Ninemsn.com reports that the internship shortage for medical students
has reached crisis point, says the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
Faced with a growing ageing population, the AMA says the shortage could
have severe implications on the nation's ability to provide adequate
health care.
Ninemsn.com, August 25, 2010
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/7950881/intern-shortage-at-crisis-point-ama
6. *Canada* Saskatchewan turns to
private clinic for surgeries to clear patient backlog
CBC News reports that Saskatchewan has turned to private health care to
help clear up a backlog of patients waiting for day surgeries. The
province said Monday that the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region has
started booking patients for dental surgery and knee arthroscopy
procedures at Omni Surgery Centre, a private surgical facility.
CBC News, August 30, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/ED691.html
7. *Canada* P.E.I. seniors to see drug
cost savings beginning next month
CBC News reports that the cost of drugs is going down for thousands of
seniors in Prince Edward Island on Sept. 1. That's when the provincial
government's plan to reduce the seniors' co-pay by 25 per cent takes
effect.
CBC News, August 26, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/HA1432.html
8. *Canada* Report urges 'radical'
changes to mental health and addiction care in Ontario
CBC News reports that Ontario's "fractured" system for dealing with
those struggling with mental health and addiction problems needs a
"radical transformation" if people are to receive the help they need,
according to a new report backed by members of all three major political
parties. In a rare show of unity, Liberal, Conservative and NDP
politicians banded together Thursday to urge the legislature to take
action on mental health and addiction, including the creation of a new
umbrella organization to co-ordinate mental health and addictions
systems.
CBC News, August 26, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/TC0955.html
9. *Egypt* Government to present new
health insurance draft to People's Assembly
Middle East Insurance Review reports that the government will refer the
new health insurance bill to the People's Assembly and the Shoura
Council in the upcoming parliamentary session, said media reports. The
decision came after a meeting between Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif,
Minister of Finance Yousef Boutros Ghali and Minister of Health Hatem
El-Gabaly discussing the establishment of a health insurance and care
system as well as primary healthcare units throughout Egypt.
Middle East Insurance Review, August 30, 2010
http://www.meinsurancereview.com/pages/e-weekly.asp?country=8#12764
10. *England* Weight loss surgeries in
England jump tenfold
The Associated Press reports that the number of weight-loss surgeries in
England jumped more than tenfold from 2000 to 2007, a new study says.
Associated Press via Google, August 27, 2010
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hirsYRxrLliLqPHT5-RkO3wU1PzAD9HRF4R00
11. *Gambia* KMC Gives Free Medical
Insurance to Labourers And Supervisors
The Daily Observer reports that the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC)
yesterday gave free medical insurance to its labourers and supervisors
covered by Takaful Insurance Company.
The Daily Observer via AllAfrica, August 31, 2010
http://allafrica.com/stories/201008310458.html
12. *India* Government plans common
healthcare standards
Livemint.com reports that in a move that could bring relief to millions
of patients and transform the way hospitals do business, the health
ministry plans to put in place common standards of treatment at medical
facilities. The ministry has mandated an expert panel to frame treatment
protocol for a number of ailments that are expected to be implemented in
the next three-four months and established at hospitals nationwide in
one-two years, three officials familiar with the development said.
Livemint.com, August 26, 2010
http://www.livemint.com/2010/08/24233218/Govt-plans-common-healthcare-s.html
13. *Latvia* Latvia's government finds
extra cash for healthcare as election looms
Scrip reports that the Latvian government has responded to its health
ministry's request and provided an extra Ls26.5 million ($47 million)
from an emergency fund, from which Ls21 million will go to hospitals.
The healthcare budget for this year was cut by Ls70 million.
Scrip, August 26, 2010
http://www.scripintelligence.com/policyregulation/Latvias-government-finds-extra-cash-for-healthcare-as-election-looms-301943
14. *New Zealand* Nurses back by the
bedside
TVNZ reports that a revamp in nursing practices is bringing staff back
to the bedside and it seems patients are getting out of hospital faster
as a result. Until recently, the average nurse spent less than a third
of their time face-to-face with patients and much of the rest was
swallowed up by paperwork.
TVNZ, August 27, 2010
http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/nurses-back-bedside-3744446
15. *Scotland* NHS cure for language
woe
The Scotsman reports that a multi-lingual online guide has been launched
for Lothians patients who don't have English as their first language.
The scheme is aimed at making sure people know exactly where to go for
healthcare and they can get the correct advice regardless of language
skills.
The Scotsman, August 30, 2010
http://news.scotsman.com/health/NHS-cure-for-language-woe.6501926.jp
16. *Scotland* NHS seeks to extract
£800k from dentists
The Scotsman reports that NHS Lothian is attempting to reclaim more than
£800,000 in fees wrongfully paid to dentists. The health board has
refused to reveal why such a large sum is owed but the national body
responsible for processing dentists' fees said most over-payments were
due to a "misinterpretation of the fees and regulations".
The Scotsman, August 30, 2010
http://news.scotsman.com/health/NHS-seeks-to-extract-800k.6501901.jp
17. *South Korea* S. Korea's health
insurance costs to surge in 2020: report
Yonhap News Agency reports that South Koreans are likely to pay more for
health insurance in 2020 as the country's health insurance expenditures
are expected to double due to rising usage of medical services and rapid
population aging, a report showed Monday. The country's spending on
health insurance is expected to reach 80.4 trillion won (US$68 billion)
by 2020, up 46.8 trillion won from 2010, said a report by the Korea
Institute for Health and Social Affairs.
Yonhap News Agency, August 23, 2010
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2010/08/23/0200000000AEN20100823002200320.HTML
18. *Uganda* Health Units Stuck With
Expired Drugs
The New Vision reports that Government health units have failed to
destroy hundreds of cartons of expired drugs due to lack of resources,
according to health workers.
The New Vision via AllAfrica, August 30, 2010
http://allafrica.com/stories/201008310055.html
19. *Uganda* Poor Funding Cripples
Health Sector - Report
The Monitor reports that the health sector conditions have continuously
declined due to inadequate funding, the healthcare report released by
the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative has revealed. The report that
was launched yesterday in Kampala stated that the Shs734 billion
allocated to the ministry last financial year, falls short of the 15 per
cent minimum government commitment made in the Abuja Declaration by
African Union States.
The Monitor via AllAfrica, August 26, 2010
http://allafrica.com/stories/201008260879.html |