December 1st 2009
This week in medicine
The following will appear in the December 5 issue of The Lancet:
Syringe safety From April 1, 2013, the UK’s National Patient Safety Agency wants all epidural and spinal injections to be done via needles fitted to connectors that will not also connect with intravenous devices. Since such connectors do not currently exist, the National Health Service watchdog says it is “expecting” device manufacturers to develop them.
Vaccination donation As part of a strategy to supply an H1N1 vaccine to 10% of the population in developing countries, WHO has pledged 9 million doses to the Philippines. In return, adverse effects noted in post-vaccination surveillance will be reported to WHO. Priority groups are health workers, pregnant women, adults with chronic illnesses, and very young children.
FDA reaches out The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has teamed up with the online consumer health group Everyday Health to provide patients with “FDA-approved” information about food and drug safety, medical devices, cosmetics, and health conditions. Patients can sign up for a weekly email newsletter of health alerts.
Doctor shortage 67 of the 111 medical clinics opened in 2008 in Tongzhou district, Beijing, China, have closed because of a scarcity of doctors, according to a report presented to the city’s people’s congress last week. Of the 44 remaining open in this rural region, most employ only one doctor. The shortage is due to unfriendly living conditions, lower incomes, and little career development.
No movement on mines The US Government was “observing” the second review conference of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty in Colombia this week, without actually participating. The USA has declined to sign the treaty, claiming it would compromise national defence. Committed to the clearance and destruction of antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions, the treaty is supported by 156 other countries.
Alcohol pricing The Scottish Government’s new alcohol bill has received a mixed response from members of parliament. Although increasing the age for buying alcohol and a new social-responsibility fee for retailers were popular, the setting of a minimum price was deemed anti-competitive. The measure had received support from medical officers, police chiefs, and other experts.
HIV/AIDS in south Asia The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved, in principle, a US$47 million grant towards reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS in men who have sex with men and transgender people in south Asia. This is the first time that the Global Fund has supported a major regional project in Asia specifically addressing HIV issues in these marginalised groups.
Unethical practice UK scientists and doctors gave evidence in a parliamentary inquiry into homoeopathy last week. They told the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that it was unethical and a waste of public money to provide homoeopathy on the National Health Service. The government spent £12 million on homoeopathic treatments between 2005 and 2008.
Cannabis in the USA The movement to relax marijuana laws in the USA is gaining momentum, according to the Washington Post. Maine recently became the fifth state to approve the sale of cannabis for medical purposes, and the American Medical Association has called for a review of cannabis’ status as a schedule 1 drug. An October poll showed that 44% of Americans now favour full legalisation.
Camp progress Sri Lanka has granted greater freedom of movement to 130 000 displaced Tamils who have been detained in government camps since the escalation of the ethnic conflict earlier this year. People are now able to come and go freely, although their whereabouts will be “tracked”. The country has been under international pressure to close the crowded camps and resettle people.
Investing in life UNICEF has reported a 20% increase in the death rate of Zimbabwean children younger than 5 years, owing mainly to a scarcity of clean water and access to obstetric services. A report released at the same time by the Guttmacher Institute and the UN Population Fund shows that moderate investment in maternal and child health services could reduce maternal mortality by 70% and child mortality by 50% in developing countries.
Hard to swallow Italian Government minister Gianfranco Rotondi’s suggestion that long lunches are unnecessary and counterproductive has been heavily criticised. Unions claim restriction of lunches would infringe on human rights, and nutritionists deplored the idea on the grounds that breakfast is commonly very light.
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