RxPG News : World Healthcare

Illegal kidney trade thrives in Pakistan

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:33:31 PST

Islamabad, July 20 - In what seems to be a sub-continental malaise, illegal trade in kidneys is thriving in Pakistan, like it does in parts of neighbouring India.

Healthcare reform in Hungary facing serious challenges

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:54:52 PST

Budapest, March 17 - Hungary's plans to overhaul its ailing healthcare system by allowing private capital into the health insurance market are on the rocks as political pressure mounts following a referendum in which voters have rejected other welfare-state cuts.

Colombo AIDS event reveals a 'safe pearl in ocean'

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:47:32 PST

Colombo, Aug 21 - Every morning, A.H. Sheriffdeen, one of the chief organisers of a large regional AIDS meeting being held in the capital of war-ravaged Sri Lanka, says a little prayer.

Global AIDS figures to come down

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:45:44 PST

Colombo, Aug 19 - Some 25 years after the discovery of the first case of AIDS, the global figure for people living with the virus will come down when fresh figures are released in November, a senior official of the United Nations AIDS umbrella disclosed Sunday.

Ukraine says bird flu vaccine almost ready

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:52:12 PST

Kiev, Aug 10 - Ukraine has almost completed clinical trials for a bird flu vaccine, the head of the Ukrainian State Veterinarian Department said.

4.3 million new HIV infections in 2006: UNAIDS

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:23:25 PST

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) The global AIDS epidemic continues to spiral with 4.3 million new infections reported in 2006, with sub-Saharan Africa alone accounting for 65 percent of the cases, states a new UNAIDS report.

Future of sexual and reproductive health at tipping point according to global study

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:10:00 PST

The first-ever global study of sexual and reproductive health - to be published in the medical journal The Lancet starting this week - shows a picture of declining financial support, increased political interference and an overall reluctance to tackle threats to sexual and reproductive health.

Community model effective in allotting anti-AIDS medication

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:57:00 PST

When there are millions of patients clamoring for anti-AIDS drugs and precious little to go around, who decides which patients go to the front of the line? The answer, says Stanford AIDS researcher Dennis Israelski, MD, is relatively simple: the affected community.

Burkina Faso reaches major milestone in protecting its people against tropical parasites

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 23:22:00 PST

With the recent completion of the latest rounds of treatment targeting the entire country, Burkina Faso has become the first in the WHO African Region to achieve nationwide coverage with anthelminthic drugs against three major neglected tropical diseases: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (intestinal parasites).

The Best and Worst Countries to Be a Mother

Wed, 10 May 2006 02:58:00 PST

Save the Children, a U.S. - based independent global humanitarian organization, released today its annual Mothers Index that ranks the best - and worst - places to be a mother and a child. The Index, highlighted in the organizations State of the Worlds Mothers 2006 report, ranks the status of mothers and children in 125 countries based on 10 indicators pertaining to health and education.

Imran Khan to set up second cancer hospital

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:50:00 PST

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan plans to open a second cancer hospital, this time in the southern port city of Karachi.

Considerable gaps exist among European national pandemic plans

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:54:00 PST

Considerable gaps exist among European national pandemic plans, according to a new report published in the online edition of The Lancet on 20 April 2006. The report, 'How prepared is Europe for Pandemic Influenza? An analysis of national plans', issued by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), reveals marked discrepancies in pandemic preparedness across Europe. The authors conclude that further planning and implementation is needed so that governments can effectively respond in the event of a pandemic, recommending action by the European Union to ensure governments work together towards a coordinated approach.

Six Hong Kong women lose breasts after operation

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 18:26:00 PST

Health officials here Thursday warned women to avoid controversial breast enlargement gel injections after six women lost parts of their breasts due to complications.

Parents can view premature babies in ICU online

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 22:20:00 PST

A trial service here is enabling parents and relatives of premature babies to view the tiny infants online, a hospital said Friday.

Poison Plant Oleander Fuels Suicides in Sri Lanka

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:17:00 PST

Common roadside yellow oleander plants have fuelled suicide rates in Sri Lanka with people consuming its poisonous seed often for the most trivial reasons, a British doctor says.

Europe slow to add infant pneumococcal vaccine to national programmes despite strong US results

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:45:00 PST

Up to 90 per cent of cases of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) - which includes serious infections like meningitis - occur in otherwise healthy young children, according to a study published in the April issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

WHO warns of health system collapse in Asia-Pacific

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:57:00 PST

Health systems in Asia and the Pacific are on the brink of collapse if governments fail to address the plight of health workers, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned Thursday.

Pakistan has bleak future in public health, warns report

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 23:14:00 PST

Nearly 10 percent of Pakistan's 155 million population carries the deadly hepatitis virus, a group of medical professionals said Monday.

Increased health problems for Pakistani population living near the Tasman Spirit oil spill

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:07:00 PST

People living on the coast of Pakistan affected by the Tasman Spirit oil spill, in August 2003, experience more health problems than individuals living inland. A study reveals that individuals living on the coast of Karachi, near the oil spill, report an average of 14 different health symptoms. This is more than three times the number reported by populations living two or 20 kilometres away from the coast.

Health is big business in Germany

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:28:00 PST

When it comes to wellness, sport, vitality or anti-ageing, German consumers are willing to spend lavishly and this has led to a booming $87-billion market for health products in the country.

Bird flu rakes in more EU aid than quake

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 02:09:00 PST

The European Commission Wednesday acknowledged it was providing more aid to fight bird flu than to victims of the devastating earthquake that hit the northern areas of Pakistan and India last October.

64% of new HIV infections occurring in sub-Saharan Africa - WHO

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:05:00 PST

There is new evidence that adult HIV infection rates have decreased in certain countries and that changes in behaviour to prevent infectionsuch as increased use of condoms, delay of first sexual experience and fewer sexual partnershave played a key part in these declines. The new UN report also indicates, however, that overall trends in HIV transmission are still increasing, and that far greater HIV prevention efforts are needed to slow the epidemic.

WHO report finds domestic violence is widespread

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 05:54:00 PST

The first-ever World Health Organization (WHO) study on domestic violence reveals that intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence in womens lives - much more so than assault or rape by strangers or acquaintances. The study reports on the enormous toll physical and sexual violence by husbands and partners has on the health and well-being of women around the world and the extent to which partner violence is still largely hidden.

Poorest countries well behind global health goals

Sat, 12 Nov 2005 19:08:00 PST

Despite a world strategy for health agreed five years ago, most of the poorest countries on earth are lagging far behind achieving it, say a series of papers published on BMJ.com on 11/11/05.

WHO for better control of PHEIC outbreaks

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 17:37:00 PST

For the countries of the Asia Pacific region, two important measures will help to strengthen national capacity for controlling the spread of infectious diseases, particularly those with possibility of trans -border transmission. Delegates to the 58th Regional Committee for the South-East Asia Region discussed the revision of the International Health Regulations, which are globally applicable, and also the development of the Asia-Pacific strategy on emerging diseases.

Immunization program in Israel resulted in 95 % reduction in hepatitis A incidence

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:15:00 PST

A national immunization program for infants in Israel has resulted in a 95 percent reduction in overall hepatitis A incidence, according to a study in the July 13 issue of JAMA.

Project launched to combat vitamin and mineral deficiency in Côte dIvoire

Fri, 24 Jun 2005 17:57:00 PST

A national food fortification project designed to improve the health of at least 14 million people in Côte dIvoire was launched today in Abidjan. The project, announced by Côte dIvoire Minister of State, Minister of Health and Population Dr Albert Toikeusse Mabri, is supported by a US$3 million grant from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and contributions by the private sector and government in Côte dIvoire, and will be implemented by Helen Keller International, Côte dIvoire.

10,000 children in developing countries to receive AIDS treatment

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 16:41:00 PST

UNICEF praised a Clinton Foundation plan that will significantly increase the number of children receiving life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) drugs specifically formulated for them.

UN condemns irresponsible attack on antiretroviral therapy

Thu, 31 Mar 2005 16:58:00 PST

A recent advertising campaign is touting the benefits of vitamin therapy above antiretroviral therapy and claiming that antiretroviral therapy is toxic. These advertisements are wrong and misleading, said the WHO, UNICEF and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today.