What's needed is a new health model
In his address on “The Value of Focusing Process for Better Performance”, at the Operational Hospital Management Conference, held last week at Emperor's Palace in Gauteng, Dr Ashwin Hurribunce, discussed his theory of a hospital's obligation to “encircle the patient” around three steps of service provision - clinical, administrative and support services.


Vatican tries to redefine death
Vatican newspaper reopens debate on defining death.

Conference highlights pressing need for engagement and co-operation
Dedicated to identifying and unpacking the key issues at stake in the South African medical sector, the Operational Hospital Management Conference {OHMC}, was held from 9-12 September at Emperor's Palace, Gauteng. Terry Levin from bizcommunity.com attended the event.


Asthma and hayfever - the ills of spring - MSD Public Relations
Spring is in the air, but as the blossoms that signal the end of winter begin to bloom across the country, many asthmatic South Africans will be glumly awaiting the onset of a new season of asthma and allergy.

Eye opening results - liquidlingo Communications
The eyes are just as vulnerable if not more vulnerable to UV rays as the skin, yet eighty-five percent of South African's don't think that damage to the eyes is one of the most harmful effects of extended exposure to the sun.

South Africa pioneers another cardio-vascular breakthrough - Martina Nicholson Associates
40 years after Dr Christiaan Barnard completed his first heart transplant, South Africans have pioneered another way of assisting heart patients which may well turn out to help even more people live, and live even better, than heart transplants have done.

Brocoli may help to protect against serious lung damage
A substance found in brocoli may reduce lung damage in people with chronic obstructive airways disease.

The underdevelopment of a specific brain region may cause schizophrenia
The underdevelopment of a specific region in the brain may lead to schizophrenia in individuals, research released today, has found.

Vitamin staves off old-age memory loss
A vitamin found in meat, fish and milk may help stave off memory loss in old age, a study has suggested.

Exercise blunts effect of obesity gene
Vigorous physical activity could blunt the effects of a common gene linked to obesity, claim US researchers.

Doors open for upgraded community clinics - Jenni Newman Public Relations
Philips South Africa recently refurbished Westbury and Zandspruit clinics.

Novartis helps South Africans gain access to essential medicines - Bush Telegraph Publicity
The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development forms strategic alliances with public and private role players to improve access to medicines.

New site launches for global dental community - Interactive Dental Media
Dental learning hub launched from the UK.

Kenya: Young girls the new bait for fishermen
Dunga Beach, along the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, erupts into activity when the boats bring in their catch.

Uganda to treat more people infected with HIV with antiretrovirals
Uganda has introduced a programme to increase the number of people infected with HIV who are treated with antiretroviral drugs.

Protein that protects again HIV infection identified
A Canadian study has found the protein that protects Kenyan sex workers against HIV infection.

World Vision report finds young brides at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS
A report recently released by World Vision has found that girls in developing countries who marry before age 18 -- whose numbers are expected to double to 100 million in the next 10 years -- are at an increased risk of HIV/AIDS.

South Africa: Questions about new prevalence survey
Several prominent demographers and scientists have vigorously refuted Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's claim that South Africa's HIV epidemic is declining and that the country "may be making some real progress in its response to the HIV epidemic".

Leading names in the HIV/AIDS vaccine world to attend Cape Town conference - South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative
Leading local and international experts will be attending the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise's AIDS Vaccine 2008 Conference, to be held in Cape Town from 13 to 16 October 2008.

National Hospital Network objects to price regulation - Popcorn Consulting
Imagine if legal services were price-regulated: NHN.

HASA says that more time and engagement needed for NHRPL - Bespoke Communications
In anticipation of this week's publication of the National Health Reference Price List (NHRPL), the Hospital Association of South Africa (Hasa) says it has been working with the Department of Health to determine an appropriate NHRPL for the hospital sector but has yet to receive approval of its proposals on the relevant methodology that should be applied to the costing studies.

Wally on the road to full recovery - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
Waldemar Katze, affectionately known as Wally to the many South Africans who followed his story in the build-up to the world's first-ever live television broadcast of open heart surgery, is on the road to making a full recovery.

World's largest-ever study of 'near-death' experiences
The University of Southampton is launching the world's largest-ever study of near-death experiences this week.

EPO enhances memory
A drug used to illegally enhance endurance capacity can improve cognition.

BPA impairs synapses formation in brain, new study finds
The controversial chemical Bisphenol A commonly found in hard plastic food and drink containers may impair the brain's ability to learn and remember, according to a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph and Yale University.

Vial-filling line boosts capacity
Rising capital costs means more and more pharmaceutical companies are outsourcing their manufacturing, which is why a decision by a US-based company to boost their manufacturing capability makes sense.


Philips to lead ‘euHeart' project for highly personalized diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular - Jenni Newman Public Relations
A new research project, ‘euHeart,' is aimed at improving the diagnosis, therapy planning and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Ramadam headaches - Idea Engineers
Many people who fast over Ramadan suffer mild or moderate headaches as a result of factors such as caffeine withdrawal, stress, and low blood sugar.

Infections linked to cot deaths
Some cases of cot death may be due to a bacterial infection, researchers say.

Questions over move from RX to OTC
Is an Rx-to-OTC move the right prescription to protect pharma revenues and cut healthcare costs?

US FDA calls for tougher warnings on TNF-alpha drugs on 240 cases of histoplasmosis
US regulators are calling for stronger label warnings on tumour necrosis factor-alpha drugs as they increase the risk of fungal infections.

How holograms can stop counterfeiting
Sophisticated replication techniques have made counterfeiting and fraud a serious threat to the pharmaceutical and medical industry—and to the suppliers to the sector, like packaging companies.

Wyeth applauds inclusion of Prevenar in immunisation schedule - InZalo Communications
South Africa leads continent in bringing benefits of routine vaccination against Pneumococcal disease to infants and young children.

African ministers adopt declaration to reduce environmental threats to health
Health and environment ministers from African countries adopted a declaration during a conference sponsored by the United Nations in Gabon last week, creating a strategic alliance to reduce environmental threats to human health.

Niger cabinet passes smoking ban
Niger is the latest country to introduce a smoking ban.

Stick to a Mediterranean diet for good health
Enjoy vegetables, olive oil and a glass of wine if you want to live a long and healthy life.

Watching medical dramas feeds health fears
A taste for television hospital drama might make you more fearful about your own health, say psychologists.

A quarter of South African men are violent towards their partners
About 27.5% of men in South Africa who have been married or have lived with a partner report using physical violence against their current or most recent female partner.

Ethiopia: More parents saying no to FGM
Fewer Ethiopian parents are subjecting their daughters to female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM), according to an NGO campaigning to eradicate the practice.