1. *Australia* Australian government to push health insurance means
test
Asia Insurance Review reports that the Australian government has
estimated that failure to bring the private health insurance rebate
under means tests would cost the country A$100 billion (US$88.2 billion)
over the next four decades. The cumulative cost of leaving the 30%
private health insurance rebate without a means test would be A$100
billion, says Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Asia Insurance Review, February 2, 2010
http://www.asiainsurancereview.com/pages/e-weekly.asp?country=4
2. *Australia* NSW hospitals 'worst for
mishaps'
Ninemsn.com reports that the NSW government is failing to improve health
services, despite a new report highlighting a number of serious mishaps
in the state's hospitals, opposition leader Barry O'Farrell says.
Ninemsn.com, January 29, 2010
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/1005356/nsw-hospitals-worst-for-mishaps
3. *Australia* Aborigines made
`invisible' in data, says medical expert
The Australian reports that Australia makes its indigenous population
"invisible" and will never be able to close the gap in the life
expectancy between Aborigines and white people because of the
"outrageous" inaccuracy in the statistics keeping track of their births
and deaths.
The Australian, January 28, 2010
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/aboriginal-australia/aborigines-made-invisible-in-data-says-medical-expert/story-e6frgd9f-1225823755593
4. *Canada* Faculties of medicine
issue report on training doctors for the future
CBC News reports that a century after the last comprehensive study of
medical education in Canada and the United States, a new report released
Thursday offers a blueprint for the training of Canadian medical
students in the future.
CBC News, January 28,2 010
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/100128/x012823A.html
5. *Canada* ATM-like kiosks to fill
prescriptions in Ont. hospitals, remote areas
CBC News reports that large green and white kiosks that resemble bank
machines but instead take prescriptions and dispense medicine 24 hours a
day are coming to hospitals and remote communities in Ontario.
CBC News, January 28, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/100128/x012833A.html
6. *Canada* Hospital budgets won't be
frozen in the spring, says McGuinty
The Canadian Press reports that Premier Dalton McGuinty says Ontario
hospitals won't see their budgets freeze in the spring budget. Hospitals
were asked to submit draft plans in December using three different
scenarios - a funding freeze, a one per cent increase and a two per cent
increase.
The Canadian Press, January 27, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/100127/x012704A.html
7. *Global* White House Aims to
Broaden Approach to Global Health
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Obama administration is
expected to propose in its fiscal 2011 budget Monday new funding to
combat preventable and tropical diseases, malnutrition and other
conditions afflicting the world's poor, as part of a strategy to broaden
its approach to global health.
Wall Street Journal, January 31, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703762504575037580751176788.html
8. *Global* Fake drug web sales to hit
€50 billion
E-Health Europe reports that the global sale of online counterfeit drugs
is likely reach €50 billion in 2010, according to research by UK,
Swedish and American academics. The research, which covers more than 50
studies published 1995-2009, provides an overview of the scale of
counterfeit internet drugs and shows a 92% increase over the last five
years.
E-Health Europe, January 27, 2010
http://www.ehealtheurope.net/news/5591/fake_drug_web_sales_to_hit_€50_billion
9. *India* India Healthcare - New
Avenues For Growth - New Market Report Published
OfficialWire reports that India represents one of the most rapidly
emerging healthcare products and services market in the world, with the
worth of around US$ 45.8 Billion in 2009.
OfficialWire, February 2, 2010
http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=89464
10. *India* Doctors warm up to
co-ownership of health care facilities
Business Standard reports: Rajesh Dave, a specialist doctor, has been
running a small clinic in Central Mumbai for over a decade. In the next
three weeks, Dave and 35 other doctors will together own an advanced
medical centre at Tardeo in Mumbai, with four operation theatres, 20
beds and advanced diagnostic machines. Their venture, Nova Medical
Centre, is part of a new model of day-care medical centres in various
parts of the country planned by its founder, Mahesh Reddy, and funded by
New York-based GTI Ventures, a venture capital company.
Business Standard, January 27, 2010
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=383767
11. *Indonesia* Indonesian telecom
giant to enter healthcare insurance sector
Asia Insurance Review reports that Indonesian telecommunications giant,
PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), through a subsidiary, has agreed
to acquire a 75% stake in Admedika, an electronic healthcare network
company in Jakarta
Asia Insurance Review, February 1, 2010
http://www.asiainsurancereview.com/pages/e-weekly.asp?country=1
12. *New Zealand* Government denies GP
fee hike plans
TVNZ reports that claims by the Labour Party that there are plans to
raise GP fees are being shot down by the government. Labour MP Ruth
Dyson has made the allegations because of a direction made to Primary
Health Organisations to find savings of $25 million.
TVNZ, January 28, 2010
http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/government-denies-gp-fee-hike-plans-3343993
13. *Nigeria* NMA Seeks Restriction of
Overseas Treatment for Public Officers
Vanguard reports that even as Nigeria gradually inches towards
eradication of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) particularly polio,
concerns about the overall state of immunisation coverage in the country
and the general state of public health institutions continue to make the
rounds.
Vanguard via AllAfrica.com, January 25, 2010
http://allafrica.com/stories/201001270116.html
14. *Scotland* 16,000 NHS operations
cancelled
The Scotsman reports that almost 16,000 operations were cancelled on the
NHS last year, official statistics have revealed. The figures were
branded an "unnecessary cost" to the health service by Labour, which
called for action to cut the number of call-offs.
The Scotsman, February 1, 2010
http://news.scotsman.com/health/16000-NHS-operations-cancelled.6029549.jp
15. *Scotland* Women GPs outnumber men
for first time
The Scotsman reports that the number of women working as GPs in Scotland
has passed men for the first time, figures revealed yesterday. The
statistics showed that last year female GPs accounted for 50.7 per cent
of Scotland's family doctors, up from 45.4 per cent in 2004.
The Scotsman, January 27, 2010
http://news.scotsman.com/health/Women-GPs-outnumber-men-for.6016203.jp
16. *United Arab Emirates* Daman gives
up exclusive rights for direct billing at public healthcare facilities
Middle East Insurance Review reports that the National Health Insurance
Co (Daman) has voluntarily ended its exclusive rights for direct billing
within the Abu Dhabi Health Services Co's (Seha) healthcare facilities
in the UAE, effective 1 February.
Middle East Insurance Review, February 2, 2010
http://www.meinsurancereview.com/pages/e-weekly.asp?country=8 |
