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1. *Afghanistan* Afghan medical college struggles to rise from the ashes
The gutted, hollow shell of the Ali Abad training hospital in Kabul is a symbol of the state of Afghanistan's medical system, battered by decades of war. Ali Abad, Afghanistan's oldest hospital, was reduced to rubble when civil war tore Kabul apart in the 1990s. Though classes stayed open, many doctors who taught at the teaching hospital fled, medical equipment and drugs were scarce and female students were forced to stay at home due to Taliban restrictions against women. "We lost many senior professors and qualified teachers, they emigrated to other countries, like the United States and they are not coming back," said Professor Obaidullah, chancellor of the Kabul Medical University. "It's a disaster for us." Reconstruction of the teaching hospital, built 70 years ago, began in 2005 and a motley collection of squat buildings now stand in place of the rubble.
Reuters, May 5, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSISL1059520080506
2. *Australia* Health spending is money for nothing: CLP
The Northern Territory Opposition has accused the Government of not providing value for money in health spending. The Government says a record $915 million dollars will be allocated to health in next week's budget, an increase of 89 per cent since 2001. The Opposition Health Spokesman Matt Conlan says the Government has not made much progress on health services given the population has only grown by five per cent over the same period.
ABC News, May 1, 2008
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/01/2232479.htm
3. *Canada* Infant Mortality Rate Prompts Canada To Send High-Risk Pregnant Women Across The Border
Canada has been struggling the past few years with its infant mortality rate that high-risk pregnant Canadian women are being sent to the U.S. to ensure safe deliveries and newborn survival. In 1990 Canada was sixth ranking in low infant mortality rate, down to 25th spot in 2005, on the same ranking as Estonia with 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. According to Canada's Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, over the past 12 months more than 100 Canadian women classified as high-risk pregnancies had to be sent to the U.S. As of April 1, 2007, British Columbia had sent 80 pregnant women across the border, while Ontario had 28 as of January 2007.
All Headline News, May 6, 2008
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010862998
4. *Canada* Workers In Canada Protest Private Health Care
Some 50,000 workers marched in Montreal Saturday for the annual May Day rally, this time to express vehement opposition against plans to introduce private health care options in the region. Lina Bonamie, Quebec Nurses Federation president, shouted out this year's
battle cry: "To (Health Minister Philippe) Couillard and company: Health care in Quebec is a right," The Montreal Gazette quoted Bonamie. "We'll stand up to protect our rights. We'll block you at every turn if you want to turn health into a commodity," she added. According to reports, this year's May Day rally is one of the largest held in Montreal since the annual march began in 1972. Organizers say workers came from far and wide out of concern for Quebec's health care system. "The Charest government is allowing (the health care system) to slip slowly into the private sector," Michel Arsenault, president of the 600,000- strong Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, told The Gazette.
All Headline News, May 4, 2008
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010846272
5. *Global* Philippines, Peru lauded for child health progress
The Philippines and Peru are doing the best job of vaccinating children and treating them for critical diseases compared to other developing nations, Save the Children reported on Tuesday. With 84 percent of its children having these basic health needs unmet, Ethiopia placed on the bottom of the list in the report issued by the U.S.-based humanitarian group. Save the Children also ranked 146 countries for how good they are for mothers and children. Sweden, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand and Denmark topped the list. Niger was last. The United States placed 27th, one spot below last year's ranking. The rankings were based on data that included immunization against childhood diseases such as malaria and tetanus, access to treatment for leading childhood killers such as diarrhea and pneumonia, prenatal care and other factors.
Canada.com, May 6, 2008
http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_health_news_details.asp?news_id=4676&news_channel_id
=1020&channel_id=1020
6. *India* Birla Sun Life to enter health insurance biz
Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Ltd (BSLI) will be foraying into health insurance business soon. The
company is in the process of tying up with a national health partner, who would be finalised soon, and
the operations in health insurance are likely to begin in the second quarter of the present
fiscal year, Mr Vikram Mehmi, President and Chief Executive Officer, BSLI, told newspersons here on Monday. “We
are in the process of developing a health product as the market is very large and there is a potential of
Rs 15,000-crore business in the next five years,” he said. The company is entitled to carry out health
insurance as it is a part of its licence, he added.
The Hindu Business Line, May 5, 2008
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/05/06/stories/2008050652110600.htm
7. *Kenya* New Brain Drain Threat Looms
Scientists have warned of a looming exodus of health experts from Kenya and other African countries to meet demand in the West. Medical experts attending a conference at Kisumu's Great Lakes University said the US and the UK had new health care programmes that needed expatriates. Prof David Sanders, the Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of West Cape, South Africa, said the US needed close to a million nurses. "The UK needs 10,000 more doctors and 20,000 nurses, mostly from Africa because they are cheaper," Sanders said. Developed countries save Sh11.5 million in training costs for each professional if the same expertise was exported from Africa.
The East African Standard, May 6, 2008
http://allafrica.com/stories/200805060060.html
8. *Kenya* Look for Jobs Abroad, Minister Urges Nurses
Cabinet minister Monday told nurses to look for opportunities abroad to improve their conditions. "I don't think it is wrong if we could export our nurses," Gender and Children Affairs minister Esther Murugi Mathenge said. She was addressing nurses at Nyamachaki PCEA Hall in Nyeri Town when she launched the international nurses week. She said a lot of Kenyan nurses were going to Britain, US and South Africa where they are in great demand because they were well trained. The minister said the country had enough nurses to work in local health facilities and to export to other countries. The minister made the call even as the Central provincial medical officer of health, Dr George Ngatiri, and the national chairman of National Nurses Association of Kenya, Mr Luke Kodambo, said there was a serious shortage of nurses in the country.
The Nation, May 6, 2008
http://allafrica.com/stories/200805060031.html
9. *New Zealand* Patient numbers high as
junior doctors strike again
Junior doctors are beginning their second round of strike action this morning. More than 2,000 members of the Resident Doctors Association will walk off the job for two days from 7am in support of their pay claim. Thousands of elective surgeries have been postponed. Anne Aitcheson, District Health Board National contingency planning coordinator, says hospitals nationwide are almost full with a high number of patients. She says anytime a hospital is operating with fewer staff incredible pressure is created.
Newstalk, May 7, 2008
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=136953
10. *Saudi Arabia* Malpractice Insurance Gains Greater Acceptance
Medical malpractice insurance is witnessing a tremendous growth in the Kingdom, thanks to greater awareness in the medical community, a senior official at the Kingdom’s largest insurance provider said yesterday. Fahad Al-Hesni, vice president for property and casualty at Tawuniya, said subscriptions rose by 116 percent in the first four months of the current year compared to the same period last year. Al-Hesni attributed the unprecedented growth to the rise of insurance awareness among different medical categories as a result of numerous symposiums and conferences held by various health care providers.
Arab News, May 6, 2008
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=109614&d=6&m=5&y=2008&pix=
kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
11. *Scotland* Drink Nation: Scotland's alcohol abuse costs £2.25bn a year
Alcohol abuse is costing Scotland more than £2.25 billion a year – double the previous estimate – The Scotsman can reveal. But that massive figure is still considered to be a substantial underestimate of the true cost to the health service, justice system and economy. Liver cirrhosis deaths have soared in Scotland over the past 30 years, while falling across Europe, prompting calls for urgent action to tackle the alcohol epidemic. Radical measures being considered include upping the age limit for buying alcohol to 21 and raising taxes on drinks with high alcohol content. Tighter restrictions on the sale of alcohol and limits on advertising have helped to cut liver deaths in other nations, and the SNP has decided to make tackling alcohol misuse a top priority for its second year in office, in the belief that drink is stopping the country fulfilling its true potential.
Scotsman, May 6, 2008
http://news.scotsman.com/health/Drink-Nation-Scotland39s-alcohol-abuse.4051891.jp
12. *Scotland* Scottish doctors angry over e-health cuts
Doctors at the Scottish BMA conference have expressed concerns over the Scottish government’s decision to cut £5m from the e-health budget earlier this year. The move, which was announced by the government in February in order to recruit more police officers, has angered Scottish doctors, who say it could endanger patients. Dr Stuart Scott, chairman of the Scottish GP committee's IT sub-committee, told E-Health Insider: “We are concerned that this cut will mean that things won’t get done, which need to be done in Scotland in the area of e-health. The lack of modern healthcare IT could raise questions over if Scottish patients are getting the service they deserve or need.” Dr Scott said they were eagerly awaiting the release of the new Scottish e-health strategy plan, which will determine how money is spent and when systems are deployed.
E-Health Insider, April 29, 2008
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/3701/scottish_doctors_angry_over_e-health_cuts
13. *South Africa* 2,759 wait for surgery in Jhb
Some 2,759 patients are waiting for surgery at the Johannesburg hospital, sometimes for as long as 12 months, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday. DA Gauteng spokesman on health Jack Bloom said health MEC Brian Hlongwa revealed the figures in a written reply to his questions. The figure stood at 2,759, he said. Bloom said the figures kept on going up and, until such time as the private sector was involved, the number would keep on rising. "Cataracts are the worst backlog, with 1,320 patients waiting to get operated on to restore their sight," he said. Some 759 patients are waiting for operations in the orthopaedics department - this includes 298 who need hip operations and 213 for knee surgery. And 100 patients needed heart surgery, and 100 children were waiting for paediatric surgery. High patient load and skills shortage primary factors. Bloom said according to the Gauteng health department, the backlogs were caused by increased patient loads, and the high number of trauma cases which took precedence.
Health24, May 6, 2008
http://www.health24.com/news/Health_care/1-918,46257.asp
14. *South Korea* South Korea Looks to Medical Tourism
South Korea has now turned its attention to the lucrative medical tourism sector by recognizing the skills of cosmetic surgeons in the country. Helped by active government support, a boom in cosmetic surgery and a pool of experienced surgeons, the country wants to surpass Singapore, Thailand and India to become Asia's new medical tourism hub. "In foreign countries, the combination of the health and tourism industries is emerging as a new future-oriented industrial sector," President Lee Myung-Bak said at a recent policy briefing. "South Korea, which has world-class medical staff, has failed to capitalise on the combination of health and tourism, mainly due to excessive regulations." Health Minister Kim
Soung-Yee said recently the government would step up efforts to win parliamentary approval of a bill that would legalise profit-oriented medical brokerages linking hospitals and patients.
MedIndia, April 29, 2008
http://www.medindia.net/news/South-Korea-Looks-to-Medical-Tourism-36045-1.htm
15. *Sweden* More Swedish nurses join strike
A two-week long strike by Swedish nurses was extended at noon (1000GMT) Monday when a further 4,300 nurses walked off their jobs. The move by the Swedish Association of Health Professionals means that some 7,100 nurses all over the country are on strike. The labour action took place on the eve of a new meeting Tuesday between the union and the employers' grouped in the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. Union leader Anna-Karin Eklund told Swedish television news that the union planned to attend the meeting at the invitation of mediators. Last week, a spokeswoman for the employers said the strike notice was not conducive to the talks. Eklund said patients will likely experience some effects from the labour action including the cancellation of scheduled operations as well as longer trips to hospitals or clinics not impacted by rolling strikes.
The Earth Times, May 5, 2008
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/203255,more-swedish-nurses-join-strike.html
16. *Uganda* Back Health Insurance - Health Minister
If the private sector supported the Government's health insurance scheme, it would take off faster, a minister has said. Richard
Nduhura, the state minister for health, speaking at Bushenyi District's Labour Day celebrations, complained that some employers are against the policy because they do not want to contribute towards the health of their workers. He advised the workers to form unions through which they can contribute money for their health insurance. The minister said in neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Rwanda the policy has already been adopted or accepted.
New Vision, May 3, 2008
http://allafrica.com/stories/200805051322.html
17. *United Arab Emirates* Government employees in Dubai get comprehensive healthcare cover
Dubai Government has announced a comprehensive health insurance programme for public employees and their dependents. Government employees, including UAE nationals and expatriates, will now have access to a range of healthcare services and facilities for the first time. Commenting on the new scheme, Ahmad Bin
Byat, Secretary General of the Executive Council, said: "Our employees are our most important asset and their continued good health remains one of our key priorities. Therefore, following the introduction of its new law, the government has made a commitment to provide comprehensive healthcare cover for all its employees as well as their dependents."
Gulf News, May 1, 2008
http://www.gulf-news.com/nation/Health/10209870.html
18. *United Kingdom* Public in favour of polyclinic scheme for London, says NHS
The NHS will today claim public support for a radical plan from Lord Darzi, the health minister, to amalgamate GP surgeries into "polyclinics", each offering a range of services to about 50,000 patients. The proposal - regarded by ministers as potentially the most radical reform of health services since 1948 - was designed to halve the number of patients needing hospital care by providing most routine treatment and diagnostic tests in super-surgeries run by teams of about 20 GPs.
Darzi, a leading cancer surgeon, developed the plan for the London strategic health authority last year before Gordon Brown asked him to head a reorganisation of the NHS throughout England. He is expected to tell Brown next month that the polyclinic model is needed in other conurbations across England, but may not be suitable everywhere.
Guardian, May 6, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/may/06/nhs.health
19. *United Kingdom* Health tourist checks 'not done'
About a third of hospitals in England and Wales are ignoring government advice to charge foreign visitors for NHS treatment. Guidance published in 2004 stipulates hospitals should check whether foreign nationals are entitled to free care. But a third of overseas visitor managers polled by their association admitted patients were not routinely asked about their entitlement. The Department of Health said those not entitled to free care should pay.
BBC News, May 1, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7379891.stm
20. *United Kingdom* Law lords rule NHS policy on overseas doctors is unlawful
Thousands of doctors trained outside Europe yesterday won a House of Lords ruling that the Government could not block them from applying for training posts in Britain. By a four to one majority, the law lords ruled that guidance originally issued by Patricia Hewitt when she was Health Secretary, aimed at limiting the employment rights of overseas doctors, was illegal. She had issued instructions saying that doctors from outside Europe should be appointed to training posts only if there were no suitable candidates from Britain or the EU to fill them. By “dashing the legitimate expectations” of doctors who had been encouraged to come to Britain, the law lords said, Ms Hewitt had acted unfairly. The ruling ends a long legal battle. Her guidance was challenged by the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
(Bapio), which lost in the lower court but won on appeal. The department brought a further appeal to the Lords, which it has now lost, bringing final victory to
Bapio.
Times Online, May 1, 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article3847002.ece
21. *United Kingdom* Axing specialist nurses is putting health reforms at risk, RCN warns
The government's healthcare reforms are being put at risk by a short-sighted decisions by NHS managers to axe thousands of "expensive" specialist nursing jobs, the Royal College of Nursing said yesterday at its annual conference in Bournemouth. Peter Carter, the RCN general secretary, said nurses with advanced training in the treatment of diabetes, asthma and Alzheimer's disease are due to lead a revolution in healthcare. Lord
Darzi, the health minister who is preparing the next stage of NHS reform, wants them to improve the service for millions of patients with long-term medical conditions. But a survey of 330 specialist nurses found that 20% of them are threatened with redundancy, while 12% have had their post downgraded. One in three trusts have imposed a freeze on filling vacancies, leaving hundreds of specialist posts unfilled after a wave of job cuts last year.
Guardian, April 30, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/30/nhs.health1
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