Headlines
MedicalProposed new cap on doctor's dispensing fees rejectedA body representing dispensing doctors has rejected the revised dispensing fee. NAPM appoints Dr Skhumbuzo Ngozwana as chairman - Zenzes Marketing The National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NAPM) is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Chairman, Dr Skhumbuzo Ngozwana. Advertisement: | M-NET Breast Cancer Luncheon.
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Chronic diseasesTrial of 'polypill' to startThe much vaunted pill for all ills may be back on track. Obesity in children becoming a worrying fact - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA[Ayesha Seedat] Obesity Week runs from 13 to 17 October 2008. Obesity is now recognised as a major public health problem in many countries like Australia, America, UK, Mexico, Brazil as well as South Africa. Worldwide statistics show that 22 million children under the age of five are overweight.
Corporate Social ResponsibilityCataract Blitz saves sight Thirty minutes gives years of future sight to cataract patients at Eersterivier Hospital. SBV shows its commitment to staff safety - Julian FouchéLocal medical supply company, Mkhuseli Trauma Products, have concluded a deal with SBV Services which will see field cash-in-transit personnel being issued with a customised “Critical Bleeding Kit” containing the internationally renowned HemCon haemostatic wound dressings. Incontinence: impacts on productivity and relationships - Magna CartaUrinary incontinence, defined as any involuntary loss of urine, affects a significant proportion of the population, impacting seriously on sufferers' quality of life. Elderly to have sight restored during Eye Care Awareness Week - Quo Vadis CommunicationsMore than 1700 elderly people are to receive cataract operations during Eye Care Awareness Week (6-10 October) through a partnership between the Vodacom Foundation and three organisations working in the field of eyesight. Suit yourself and experience rheumatoid arthritis - InZalo Communications A suit that simulates rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms and teaches doctors and decision-makers more about the debilitating effects of this disease, has been developed by a German doctor.
HIV/AIDSBenin: Blood shortage proves deadly Fear, a lack of blood donation supplies and ill-trained health staff have led to a dangerous blood shortage in Benin, said the head of the country's blood donor association. South Africa: Rapid HIV tests not infallibleThe reliability of HIV diagnoses obtained from finger prick tests has come into question with the recall of a brand of rapid HIV test kits used at public testing sites in two South African provinces.
Infectious diseasesMystery virus identifiedThe mystery virus has been provisionally identified as an arenavirus. An end to elephantiasisA painful and disfiguring disease affecting more than 100 million people worldwide could be wiped out by 2020, say experts. New EU pesticide regulations will increase incidence of diseaseWashington, DC - Today 160 senior scientists from around the world release a petition against proposed EU pesticide regulations which they believe would shrink the global insecticide markets, leaving millions of people in poor countries at an increased risk of malaria and other insect-borne diseases. SA: Congo Fever scareAt least three people have been confirmed dead in Johannesburg, South Africa, in an outbreak of what officials believe to be contagious hemorrhagic fever. DRC: Diarrhoea outbreak kills IDPs in North KivuScores of people have died while hundreds have been affected by an outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea in internally displaced people's (IDP) camps in North Kivu Province.
MalariaNew five-year plan for new drugsMedicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has outlined a $600 million, five-year plan to develop new malaria drugs, SciDev.net reports. The plan was launched in conjunction with the release last week of the Global Malaria Action Plan.
Medical AidTop marks for Cape Medical Plan - Cape Medical PlanThe 2006/7 annual report for the Council of Medical Schemes (CMS) is hardly light reading, but within the 175 pages of facts and figures there is plenty of evidence that Cape Medical Plan is secure, growing prudently and ensuring that members' money is actually spent on health care.
Medical ResearchProbiotics do not help eczemaProbiotics found in yogurt and health drinks do not improve asthma symptoms. Red wine may cut the risk of lung cancer in smokersIf you smoke, drinking red wine may reduce your risk of lung cancer. A gene is found for inflammatory bowel diseaseGenetic variations which predispose people to a common inflammatory bowel condition have been uncovered by a team of German and UK researchers.
Medical TechnologyStudy to look at lifestyle choices following DNA discoveriesA new study will look into the choices people make after they have had their DNA analyzed for the risk of disease. The study will examine whether people work with their doctors to head off a disease to which they're predisposed or fall into bad habits when they find out they don't have any predispositions.
Mental healthFinancial crisis to increase mental illnessBEIJING: The global financial crisis is likely to cause increased mental health problems and even suicides as people struggle to cope with poverty and unemployment, the World Health Organisation warned Thursday, 9 October, 2008.
NutritionGlobal food and fuel crisis will increase malnourished by 44 millionDouble shock is a threat to basic survival, says a new report from the World Bank. It says that high food and fuel prices will increase the number of malnourished people around the world in 2008 by 44 million to reach a total of 967 million.
Obstetrics and GynaecologyNew prenatal test for Down's syndromeA new blood test introduces a non-invasive way to screen for Down's syndrome.
OncologyTalc may increase risk of ovarian cancerUsing talc in the genital area may increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer. Regular use of painkillers may cut the risk of breast cancerCommon pain killers such as aspirin and ibuprofen may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
PaediatricsMicrowave ovens need more safety features to protect youngstersMicrowave ovens should be equipped with safety controls to prevent children from opening them and being burned by hot foods and drinks, according to a study published today by University of Chicago Medical Centre researchers in the October 2008 issue of the journal Paediatrics.
Pharmaceutical companiesOpportunity knocks for big pharma in credit crunch[Dr. Chris Phelps] The primary consequence of the credit crunch for non-financial companies is the loss of access to cheap debt. Pfizer updates its development pipeline - Magna CartaPhase 3 Cohort now Includes 25 Programmes; additions in key disease areas including cancer and heart disease.
Public healthAfrica: ‘Sexually-transmitted grades' kills quality educationSexual exploitation in African schools has become so widespread that children have come up with their own terms to refer to sexual relations with their teachers. US tells African governments to stop supplying international family planning groupThe US has told African governments to stop supplying partners to the Marie Stopes Foundation. Amalgamated to cash in on SA's health[Tamar Kahn] Amalgamated Healthcare is planning an exclusive deal to roll out Holland & Barrett health stores in SA. US court seems to ‘lean' towards tobacco companiesHigh court seems to lean toward cigarette-makers; boundary of state-federal law at crux of case weighing smokers' complaints over labelling. UK drink labels aim to cut binge drinkingA new supermarket labelling scheme being piloted in the North and Scotland in a bid to curb binge drinking was welcomed tonight. Read those instructions - and follow them!Checks find that improper cooking of poultry products - often because the instructions were not followed - has been linked to 32 cases of salmonella in the US. Seriously obese benefit from small amount of exerciseThe severely obese can benefit greatly from a little bit of exercise. Consumer Goods Council says that melamine not a concern in South Africa - Simeka FunctionThe mere presence of melamine in foods does not indicate that the food is contaminated, the Consumer Goods Council said today.
Women's healthProblems and solutions of maternal mortality in the developing world[Alina Haddad] Every minute a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth. This adds up to 536,000 women a year and more than 10 million over a generation. About 99 percent of these women live and die in developing countries. Maternal death in industrialiSed countries is a rarity, proving that a majority of maternal deaths in the developing world could be prevented. Computers will speed mammogram testingIt has been found that mammograms read by computers will boost cancer detection and reduce doctors' workload. | 
As the refugee camps around South Africa are closed, the foreigners who have lived in them since May this year are dispersing. Many have been refused asylum on the grounds that they are 'economic migrants' - not a UN asylum category. In many cases this may be true. But perhaps we need to start looking at the definition of an 'economic refugee' instead of conveniently using this as a reason to send thousands of people back across our borders to uncertain lives. A recent BBC documentary about Somalia certainly belied Home Affair's statement that this country is now 'safe'.