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$1 Billion More Needed For Bird Flu says World Bank
“As much as $1.3 billion more is needed to fight bird flu, with more than
$500 million of that going to Africa, World Bank and UN experts said on
Tuesday.
This is on top of the $1.9 billion pledged at a World Bank conference in
Beijing last January, said World Bank Economic Adviser Olga Jonas, who
will present her official estimates to a meeting of bird flu experts that
begins next Wednesday in Bamako, Mali. … [In an interview] Jonas said
globally, between $980 million and $1.3 billion is needed over the next
two to three years to fight bird flu. The money would go for everything
from rubber gloves and disinfectants to cash compensation to people whose
birds are culled if H5N1 is detected. Some money has gone to African
countries, but $566 million more is needed, she said, quoting figures
prepared for the 4th International Conference on Avian Influenza,
sponsored by the European Union, European Commission and the African
Union. …” [Reuters/Factiva]
“… ‘At the time of Beijing, in January 2006, the virus had not yet
appeared anywhere in Africa, or in Eastern Europe, or the Middle East,’
Jonas said. She said that today about 50 countries have been hit by bird
flu, against only a dozen when the Beijing conference was held 11 months
ago. At next month's gathering in Mali's capital, according to UN avian
influenza coordinator David Nabarro, ‘we'll be looking not just at the
needs of Africa but that will be a central focus of the discussion.’ …”
[Agence France Presse/Factiva]
“… Nabarro told reporters that many Asian countries including Vietnam,
Thailand and China have made substantial progress in programs to cull
infected flocks and quickly control outbreaks of the virus. ‘But I'm
afraid that the danger is still very much there,’ Nabarro said. …” [The
Associated Press/Factiva]
“… Asia's latest bird flu outbreak in South Korea, its first in three
years, showed that no country could let their guard down. ‘The outbreak is
not a surprise. If you look at South Korea, they are handling the outbreak
very effectively as they did last time,’ Director of the Food and
Agriculture Organization's Animal Production And Health Division, Samuel
Jutzi, said in an interview. [According to Jutzi, while Vietnam, China and
Thailand have made great strides,] … the international community should
continue to help Indonesia, where authorities confirmed the country's 57th
bird flu death on Tuesday, as well as impoverished Laos and Cambodia. …”
[Reuters/Factiva]
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Eighty Percent of Physicians Indicate Pharmaceutical Samples Key to Their Practice
VANCOUVER, Nov. 27 /CNW/ - A syndicated study examining pharmaceutical sample usage and preferences was released today. The study, prepared by MD Analytics, surveyed family physicians and general practitioners nationally and offers insights into sample use in key therapeutic areas as well as the impact samples have on physician prescribing. Drug sample availability is a major factor when physicians evaluate treatment options, accelerating the time for a patient to receive medication that best works for them. Disease areas where samples are most used to evaluate medication include depression, hypertension, asthma and erectile dysfunction. "This report offers important insights into the value samples provide, and the role they play in influencing prescription choices, especially since the majority of samples provided to patients are accompanied by a prescription for the same product." Tyler Hassman, Managing Partner, MD Analytics.
The study findings provide further understanding regarding:
- the extent to which samples are personally delivered by a pharmaceutical company representative and how this practice is changing
- the frequency with which sample delivery drives physician and representative meetings to exchange information
- the number of sample days considered ideal to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a drug across different drug classes
Government of Canada Launches Review of Canada's Access to Medicines Regime
OTTAWA - On November 24, 2006 The Government of Canada took the first step in reviewing Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) with the release of a consultation paper. The purpose of the paper is to focus dialogue on how CAMR might better meet its humanitarian objective of facilitating access to medicines in the developing world, while respecting international trade obligations and maintaining the integrity of the domestic patent system."By undertaking an early review of the relevant Patent Act provisions of CAMR, the government is demonstrating its continued commitment to being a global leader in improving access to medicines in developing and least-developed countries," said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry.
"CAMR is one part of Canada's broader response to fighting public health problems such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics afflicting the developing world," said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health.
In force since May 14, 2005, CAMR implements an August 30, 2003, decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that waives certain trade obligations. This gives members that have pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity the right to grant compulsory licences authorizing the export of patented pharmaceutical products to countries that are unable to manufacture their own. The legislation establishing CAMR amended the Patent Act to permit the Commissioner of Patents to grant export-only compulsory licences to pharmaceutical manufacturers in Canada that wish to supply eligible importing countries with needed medicines. It also amended the Food and Drugs Act to require that any products exported under CAMR meet the same safety, efficacy and quality standards as those approved for sale in Canada.
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AIDS Is On The Rise Worldwide, UN Finds
"The AIDS pandemic is growing in all areas of the world, with worrisome
signs of resurgence in some countries that were trumpeted as successes in
combating the disease, the United Nations said yesterday. At the same
time, the prevalence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, among young
people has declined in eight countries in Africa, showing that prevention
efforts can work, UN said. …
[The 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update issued Tuesday by the UN AIDS program
(UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO)] said an estimated 39.5
million people are now living with HIV. Of that total, 4.3 million became
infected this year. There have been 2.9 million AIDS deaths in 2006, the
highest number reported in any year. The comparable figures in 2004 were
36.9 million living with HIV, 3.9 million new infections and 2.7 million
deaths. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, infection rates have risen by
more than 50 percent since 2004. …” [The New York Times/Factiva]
“…Every eight seconds a person is infected with HIV somewhere in the
world, UNAIDS chief Peter Piot said. AIDS has killed more than 25 million
people since the first case was reported in 1981, making it one of the
most destructive illnesses in history. … Piot said he was particularly
worried by data showing a resurgence in new infections in countries that
had made progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, such as Uganda, Thailand,
Western European nations and the US. The reversal in Uganda -- once a
model for the world in its battle against AIDS -- can be blamed on a
change in behavior, with fewer people using condoms, more people having
sex with different partners and young people beginning sex earlier, he
said. According to the report, young people between 15 and 24 account for
40 percent of new infections worldwide. …” [The Associated Press/Factiva]
“… Sub-Saharan Africa, which recorded 2.8 million new infections, still
bears the brunt of the AIDS scourge, with 24.7 million people living with
HIV, according to the report. Of the 2.9 million global deaths from AIDS
last year -- which Piot said was the highest number recorded -- 2.1
million occurred in Africa, the core area of the 25-year-old epidemic. …
The report cited evidence of diminishing or stable HIV spread in most East
African and West African countries, while epidemics still grow in
Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland. In South Africa, where an
estimated 5.5 million people have HIV, the epidemic continues unabated,
suggesting the disease's prevalence has not yet reached a plateau, the
report said. …” [Reuters/Factiva]
According to the report, “Some 8.6 million Asians are infected with the
HIV virus [which thrives] on risky behavior in Southeast Asia and slowly
taking hold in China, the world's most populous nation. An estimated
960,000 Asians were newly infected over the past year while about 630,000
people died of AIDS-related illness… . HIV now affects ten percent more
Asians than in 2004, and new infections have increased by 12 percent. An
estimated 235,000 people are receiving life-saving antiretroviral
treatment in Asia, three times as many as in 2003, the update said.
However, that represents just 16 percent of those suffering from the
immune deficiency disease in Asia. Only Thailand has managed to deliver
treatment to more than half of those who need it, UNAIDS said. …” [Agence
France Presse/Factiva]
“… Two-thirds of the 1.7 million people infected with the virus in the
[Latin America] region (it was 1.8 million a year ago) live in the four
largest countries - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico - although it
is proportionally more prevalent in smaller countries, notably in Central
America. Despite a relative improvement in the numbers, Piot warned that
new outbreaks of the virus are being detected among users of intravenous
drugs and among men who have sex with other men. In fact, the report
attributes the expansion of the virus in the region to ‘factors common to
most Latin American countries,’ such as poverty and widespread migration
and insufficient information about trends of the pandemic outside of big
cities, but also to a ‘pervasive homophobia.’ …” [EFE News
Service/Factiva]
“Countries need to target their AIDS programs at vulnerable groups if the
continuing rise in HIV infection is to be reversed, the UN warned.
National programs in many Asian countries, for instance, had failed to
tackle both the growing outbreaks of HIV among homosexual men and the
overlap between drug users and prostitutes. … The figures suggest that
while financial support for and political commitment to tackling AIDS have
risen sharply, especially in the developing world, efforts have failed to
address the problem adequately. … Piot defended the decision to expand
treatment rapidly for those in poorer countries but argued there was a
need to refocus efforts on prevention to stop new infections. …” [The
Financial Times (UK)]
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Canada's New Government Invests in Initiatives to Increase Internationally Educated Health Professionals
OTTAWA - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, announced November 21, 2006, an $18.3 million investment to help more internationally trained health professionals work in Canada. This investment will be provided under the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative, which aims to reduce barriers so that a greater number of internationally educated doctors, nurses and other health professionals can be assessed and integrated into the Canadian health care system.
"In rural communities, remote regions and in urban centres, Canadians
across the country deserve a health care system that provides them the care
they need, when they need it. This is why increasing the number of
internationally educated doctors and nurses is so important," said Minister
Clement. "Canada's new government is investing in initiatives that will ensure
more qualified doctors, nurses and other health professionals can begin
providing care to those who need it."
The projects announced today will improve the availability of
information, testing, assessment process, education and training, and
placement of internationally educated health professionals. By providing
funding to partners, Canada's new government will help to:
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- Develop a common, standardized national knowledge exam and performance
assessment for international medical graduates. A total of $100,000
over seven months will be provided to the Medical Council of Canada.
- Establish an internationally educated health professional centre in
Ontario. The centre will provide a single point of access to assist
internationally educated health professionals in accessing the
information, assessment, education, and training they require to
practice in Canada. A total of $15,952,445 over four years will be
provided to Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to
establish this centre and to expand the current level of assessment
services.
- Develop an orientation program to help internationally educated nurses,
pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical
laboratory technicians and medical radiation technicians to adapt to
the many dimensions of practising in the Canadian health care system. A
total of $599,915 over two years will be provided to the University of
Toronto Faculty of Pharmacy.
- Simplify access to assessment processes, registration requirements, and
employment opportunities for internationally educated health
professional in Manitoba. A total of $1,403,601 over four years will be
provided to Manitoba Health.
- Provide an orientation and bridging program for internationally
educated nurses in Nunavut. A total of $305,859 over two years will be
provided to the Territory of Nunavut.
In addition to this $18.3 million, the Government of Canada is also
providing an additional $7.46 million this year to 10 projects under the
Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice
initiative. This initiative is focused on education and training which helps
to ensure that health professionals can effectively work together in our
evolving health care system, to provide timely, quality patient-centred health
care.
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Epilepsy Research in Dogs Could Help Treat Humans
A University of Guelph professor who is working to find ways to diagnose and treat epilepsy in dogs says a better understanding of canine epilepsy may help with treating the condition in humans.
“In a clinical setting, we often jump from clinical symptoms to treatment of epilepsy,” said Prof. Roberto Poma, a veterinary neurologist at the Ontario Veterinary College.“What we’re looking at is the information missing in the middle, which will help us characterize epileptic syndromes in dogs and hopefully provide valuable support to investigate human epilepsy.”
Poma and his research team hope to characterize specific breed-related epilepsy syndromes and compare them with human epilepsies. Even within dog breeds, seizure type and neurological signs vary. Understanding these variations is important for proper diagnosis and treatment, he said.
The pilot study involves three common breeds suffering from canine idiopathic epilepsy (having no known cause for the disease): the golden retriever, Australian shepherd and Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever.
To characterize conditions properly, Poma begins by gathering information on the dog’s history and performing a neurological examination. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain is performed to rule out primary abnormalities. He also conducts electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate brain electrical activity in epileptic dogs. For this, he uses two types of equipment — a routine EEG system for patients in hospital and an ambulatory system adapted for dogs in their home environment.
Because most dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy tend to have seizures at night — and often only in their home environment — using the ambulatory technique will allow researchers to monitor patients more precisely, Poma said.
Both EEG systems can be synchronized with video monitoring to help compare the clinical symptoms observed with abnormal brain electrical activity experienced by the dog during a seizure.
Canine epilepsy often results in frustrating outcomes because dogs can be resistant to conventional treatment with antiepileptic drugs. An alternative research treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is currently available at OVC. Non-invasive and painless, it uses magnetic stimuli to influence brain electrical activity and reduce the likelihood of a seizure occurring.
It is paired with sophisticated imaging software called Brainsight, which reconstructs a 3-D image of the dog’s brain from the MRI and helps guide the placement of magnetic stimulation to target the affected epileptic site. TMS has been widely used for treating human neurological conditions such as depression, mood disorders, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and epilepsy.
Poma hopes to further link his findings to genes in dogs and humans. He plans to use his improved understanding of the disease to locate abnormal genes and map the causes of epilepsy. He’ll be working with Berge Minassian, a neurologist, epileptologist and geneticist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.
Also involved in this study are Guelph graduate student Fiona James of the Department of Clinical Studies and epilepsy researcher John Ives of the University of Western Ontario. This work is sponsored by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
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CIHI report shows health gaps between neighbourhoods in Canada's cities
Factors potentially linked to health include a neighbourhood's average
income, as well as social and physical characteristics
OTTAWA - The neighbourhood you live in can play a role in your health, according to a new study by the Canadian Population Health Initiative (CPHI) of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The report shows that health differences between neighbourhoods can be just as big as - or sometimes bigger than - differences between Canada's cities or even between countries.
Improving the Health of Canadians: An Introduction to Health in Urban
Places is the first report of its kind to compare health outcomes and
behaviours between neighbourhoods within five large cities in Canada:
Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal and Halifax. "Eighty percent of
Canadians - more than ever before - live in urban areas," says Cory Neudorf,
Chief Medical Officer of Health and Vice-President, Research, Saskatoon Health
Region, and Interim Chair of the CPHI Council. "It's important to understand
what aspects of urban life can potentially influence the health and well-being
of millions of Canadians."
Using the 2001 Census from Statistics Canada, the study grouped
neighbourhoods according to five characteristics (income, education, recent
immigration, people living alone and lone-parent families). Among the key
findings:
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- In Vancouver, there was a 15-percentage-point gap between neighbourhood
groups in the proportion of youth and adults who rated their health as
excellent or very good in 2003 (52% to 67%). A similar health gap was
observed in the city of Montréal (53% to 68%). In both Vancouver and
Montréal, the neighbourhoods reporting better self-rated health had a
higher percentage of people with postsecondary education, higher-than-
average median income and a lower percentage of lone-parent families or
people living alone.
- In contrast, there was an 11-percentage-point health gap between the
five cities as a whole, with 67% of youth and adults in Calgary
reporting their health as excellent or very good, followed by
Halifax (63%), Vancouver (59%), Montréal (58%) and Toronto (56%).
- In general across the five cities, people living in neighbourhoods with
higher income and education levels were more likely to be active in
their leisure time, less likely to smoke, and more likely to report
excellent or very good health. Previous research shows an association
between neighbourhood affluence and positive health effects over and
above individual income, demographic and health-related behaviours.
- The study also found that physical characteristics of neighbourhoods,
such as a neighbourhood's location, were related to health. For
example, the proportion of people reporting that they were overweight
or obese (based on a body mass index of 25 or more) tended to be lower
in urban neighbourhoods situated close to downtown.
- Injury rates differed by neighbourhood in two of the five cities:
Toronto and Vancouver. In these cities, people living in neighbourhoods
that had a higher-than-average percentage of recent immigrants and/or
percentage of lone-parent families were less likely to report having
had an injury in the past 12 months. These neighbourhoods also had a
lower-than-average median income and an average or lower-than-average
percentage of postsecondary graduates. However, rates of injury did not
vary significantly between neighbourhoods in Calgary, Montréal and
Halifax.
"Canada's life expectancy is among the best in the world, but not everyone
has the same chances for a long life," says Jennifer Zelmer, Vice President,
Research and Analysis at CIHI. "Differences between regions of Canada - or
even between neighbourhoods within a city - can be as large as differences
between countries."
The latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) show a 13-year range in life expectancy among member
countries. Across Canada, there is a 12-year range of life expectancy among
provinces and territories. And previous research shows that there is a more
than 10-year range between neighbourhoods within the city of Montréal.
Today's report also summarizes what we know and don't know about what
factors were linked to health in urban neighbourhoods. For instance, research
suggests that income, social characteristics (such as whether neighbours are
willing to help each other), physical characteristics (such as whether a
neighbourhood is "walkable") and housing (such as whether housing is safe,
affordable and suitable in size) may all be linked with health at a
neighbourhood level.
Health differences between cities
The report also examines the differences between Canada's 27 largest
census metropolitan areas (CMAs):
- Compared to the CMA average, in 2003, people living in Calgary,
Edmonton, Winnipeg and St. John's were more likely to rate their health
as excellent or very good. Residents of Toronto, Kingston, Thunder Bay,
Greater Sudbury and Windsor, Ontario, as well as Saguenay, Quebec, were
less likely to describe their health as very good or excellent. Results
for the remaining cities did not differ significantly from the CMA
average.
- Residents of Montréal, Sherbrooke and Québec were more likely than the
average to perceive their life as being extremely or quite a bit
stressful, whereas those living in urban areas on the East and West
Coasts (Halifax, St. John's, Victoria and Vancouver), as well as in the
Prairies (Saskatoon and Winnipeg) tended to report less stress in their
lives. Differences were not significant between results for the
remaining cities and the CMA average.
Canadian Population Health Initiative
The Canadian Population Health Initiative (CPHI) is part of the Canadian
Institute for Health Information (CIHI). CPHI's mission is to foster a better
understanding of the factors that affect the health of individuals and
communities and to contribute to the development of policies that reduce
inequities and improve the health and well-being of Canadians
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PEPID™ Releases Medical Knowledge Tool and Drug Database on BlackBerry
Evanston, Illinois, and Waterloo, Ontario - PEPID LLC (the developer of mobile medical information resources for healthcare) announced November 20, 2006 the launch of new medical knowledge tools and drug information applications designed exclusively for use on BlackBerry® handsets from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM) . Based on the widely used PEPID integrated knowledge tools, this new line of knowledge products employs advanced technology that provides a local application on a BlackBerry handset with a wireless capability for receiving up-to-date information.
"We are proud to develop an application to take full advantage of the outstanding performance capabilities of the BlackBerry wireless solution," says John Wagner, President of PEPID LLC. "BlackBerry users of the PEPID application will now benefit from the ability to quickly access in-depth medical content wherever they are, even while out of coverage."
PEPID on BlackBerry handsets delivers mobile access to fully-integrated medical, clinical, and pharmacological information, including evidence-based medicine; medical calculators, dosing calculators, drug interactions generator and illustrations. There are specialty-focused applications for all emergency medical specialists, primary care physicians, internal medicine specialists, nurses, pharmacists, and emergency medical teams, physicians, residents, nurses, students, emergency medical teams, and pharmacists.
The PEPID product line has been re-engineered specifically for the BlackBerry wireless solution, so users can more easily access vital reference content. The new line of specialty-focused, knowledge products is a result of PEPID joining the BlackBerry ISV Alliance Program earlier this year and leveraging the expertise of both companies.
"There is a growing interest in having medical reference materials with the ability to receive wireless updates on a handset that also serves as a general communications device for voice and email," said Jeff McDowell, Vice President, Global Alliances, Research In Motion. "The availability of the PEPID medical reference application on BlackBerry is another important milestone that will help drive the adoption of BlackBerry among healthcare providers."
In addition to products for individual caregivers, PEPID will soon launch knowledge-based solutions for BlackBerry for hospitals and healthcare systems. Utilizing BlackBerry® MDS technology, PEPID content will be able to integrate into new and existing medical information systems which will help enable enhanced clinical decision-support and risk management, access to more detailed medical records, and the ability to provide better patient care and services.
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Canada's senior population at risk of being "fat-frail" One Protein-rich meal a day can help stave off Sarcopenia
OTTAWA - Between the ages of 60 and 80, Canadian seniors can lose up to 40 per cent of their lean muscle mass. This condition is called Sarcopenia, and leaves many seniors without the strength to perform even basic daily activities. As their strength decreases, the risk of falls and fractures increases - along with the need for expensive treatment and hospital care.
Another common side effect of the loss of lean muscle is an increase in
body fat. As we age, excess body fat increases the risk for cardiovascular
disease, insulin resistance and type II diabetes. Therefore, without physical
activity and high-quality proteins in our diet to offset the muscle mass loss,
Canadian seniors run the risk of becoming "fat-frail."
For seniors, ingesting protein can sometimes be difficult. One of the
most easily digestible sources of protein is eggs. Eggs provide numerous other
benefits as well including 14 essential nutrients needed to stay active and
healthy - including vitamin B12, which can stave off fatigue and cartenoids,
which collect in the eye and play a role in promoting and improving vision.
"Eggs are custom-made for seniors' special dietary and lifestyle needs,"
according to Margaret Hedley, Registered Dietitian, and recent retiree. "They
are nature's original functional food: in addition to being a great source of
high-quality protein, they are low in saturated fats, contain no trans fats,
and are inexpensive - all at just 70 calories each. A serving of one to two
eggs is also easy to prepare - an important factor for seniors who are often
cooking for one."
Seniors who have avoided eggs in the past for fear of cholesterol can now
take heart. A recent Harvard School of Public Health study found no link
between eating eggs and developing cardiovascular disease in healthy
individuals. In fact, the Harvard study indicated that avoiding dietary
cholesterol can actually lead to an unbalanced intake of nutrients, which may
increase risk for other health problems.
"My advice to seniors, and all Canadians wanting to boost their protein
levels, is to have an egg or two for breakfast - you'll have more long-lasting
energy and you'll be fuelling your body's important protein needs for a more
active and healthy lifestyle," added Hedley
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Targeted Insurance Strategy Helps Small Businesses Compete in Battle for Talent
Toronto, ON - A new benefits plan for small business owners and their
employees has been launched by Toronto-based The Benefits Trust in
partnership with Advocis, the oldest and largest voluntary professional
membership association of financial advisors in Canada, to provide Canada's
small business community with a competitive edge against larger employers in
the battle for employee attraction and retention.
"We know from our small business customers that one of the key elements
employees look for in an employer is a robust health benefits package -
which up till now only large employers have been able to afford" said Robert
Crowder, president of The Benefits Trust. "The Vero Health Care Plan is
designed to put small employers on a more level playing field against their
larger competitors by allowing them to offer a much more robust and flexible
benefits package - without the costs they would have been required to
shoulder previously."
Designed for groups of 3 to 15 employees, The Vero Health Care Plan allows
small business employers to extend a range of health care benefits to their
employees that up to now have only been available to employees of large
companies.
"This plan clearly fills an unaddressed need in the small business
community," said Roger J. McMillan, Chairman of Advocis. "The willingness
of Advocis to partner in offering this program to our members - many of whom
are in the insurance industry - is a testament to its significance and
strategic value for small businesses."
"Combining insurance protection from catastrophic events with the cost
control and flexibility of a Health Care Spending Account enables small
businesses to provide employees a wide range of health benefits for
virtually any imaginable health need while at the same time providing
significant tax advantages to the business owner" explained Crowder.
Employers have full control over the Health Care Spending Account amounts,
and are able to provide their employees with the flexibility of claim
dollars which can be spent on their own families needs. The Life, Critical
Illness, Hospital, Out of Country and Stop Loss Insurance components have a
combined fixed rate. The insurance rates renew every June 1st and the
benefits require no medical evidence for coverage. There are no restrictions
on the type of business for eligibility.
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Obesity Could Hit Economies As Hard As Malnutrition
“Obesity could knock economic output as severely as malnutrition, which
shaves as much as 3 percent off production in the poorest countries, a
World Bank specialist said on Wednesday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates obesity has tripled in the
past two decades and that one in 10 children and one in five adults will
be obese in Europe and Central Asia by 2010 unless action is taken. Meera
Shekar, Senior Nutrition Specialist with the World Bank, says malnutrition
slices 2 to 3 percent off gross domestic product in the hardest-hit
countries, and obesity could cost the same. ‘We suspect that these
estimates will be just as high,’ she said at a WHO-sponsored conference on
obesity in Istanbul. ‘If you're obese you're more likely to be sick, to be
absent from work...the opportunity cost of not working, these are indirect
costs,’ Shekar told Reuters.
Already, six percent of health costs in the WHO's European region, which
includes Central Asia, come from obesity in adults, the organization’s
data show. … ‘The important thing is that because the problem is
increasing we would see an increasing drain on economies, particularly
developing economies,’ she said, adding obesity had appeared recently in
the Middle East and North Africa and was a big problem in Latin America.
As developing countries' economies grow, the prevalence of obesity shifts
to the poor from the rich. …” [Reuters/Factiva]
“Health ministers and other senior officials from 48 European countries
met in Istanbul Wednesday [for the conference] to map out a strategy
against obesity, which is seen as one of the greatest health challenges of
the era. The meeting … is the first of its kind in the region, where half
of all adults and one in five children are overweight, with a third of
them already obese, according to WHO figures. … Participants are expected
to sign a European Charter on Counteracting Obesity on Thursday, outlining
political guidelines for action to combat the health challenge. …
If no action is taken, [the WHO] warns, by 2010 the region would be home
to an estimated 150 million obese adults -- or 20 percent of the
population -- and 15 million obese children and adolescents, or 10 percent
of the population. Statistics presented in Istanbul showed that the
Albanian capital, Tirana, has the largest overweight population in Europe
-- 79 percent of men and 78 percent of women. Second was Bosnia
Herzegovina, with 65.1 percent of men and 61.4 percent of women
overweight, followed by Scotland, with 65.5 and 59.7 percent respectively.
…” [Agence France Presse/Factiva]
“… WHO regional adviser Franceso Branca said he would like to see economic
incentives to encourage consumers to buy healthier food. ‘Taxes on soft
drinks, for example, should be considered,’ he said. ‘The problem is that
consumers are not completely free in deciding food choices.’” [Sydney MX
(Australia)/Factiva]
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New President for Canadian Psychiatric Association
TORONTO - The Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) elected its new President, Dr. Manon Charbonneau of Sept Iles, Québec.
Dr. Manon Charbonneau began her career as the only psychiatrist in
Sept-Iles, on the north shore of Quebec, after graduating from the University
of Montreal in 1990. Over the next 15 years she developed a comprehensive,
collaborative mental health program, based in the Sept-Iles community
hospital, for Côte-Nord Région 09, under the authority of the Côte-Nord Local
Health and Social Services Network Development Agency. 60,000 people
(francophones, anglophones and Montagnais Innu) live in the region along over
1,000 km of St. Lawrence Seaway coastline. Dr. Charbonneau headed the program,
as its Chief of Psychiatry in 1990-96, 1998-2000 and 2004-2005.
The region's collaborative mental health care system is now resourced by
an interdisciplinary care team that includes: four adult psychiatrists, one
child psychiatrist and two family physicians working in psychiatry, and other
health professionals. Its 21 psychiatric beds accept referrals from the
region's three hospitals and a telecommunications system, and a fourth
hospital in Baie Comeau also has 22 psychiatric beds. The patient care
coordinators (nurses, social workers, psychologists and family doctors) form a
pivotal component of the program. Psychiatry provides continuing medical
education to support family doctors and other members of the mental health
care team. The program now also has an affiliation contract with the
University Hospital of Louis H. Lafontaine in Montreal.
Since 1997, Dr. Charbonneau has coordinated and supervised senior
resident rotations in remote psychiatry. She also served as Chair of the AMPQ
Congress in 2004. In 2005 she was appointed professor responsible for clinical
training at the University of Montreal's medical faculty.
In June 2005, Dr. Charbonneau was invited by the Standing Senate
Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to share her expertise
with the Committee on organizing a mental healthcare system in a remote
community.
Dr. Charbonneau's past service to the Canadian Psychiatric Association
(CPA) includes four years as the Council of Provinces' Quebec representative
(2001-2005), two years as Chair of the Membership Affairs Committee
(2004-2006), and two years on the Board of Directors as the Quebec
representative (2004-present).
She has also been active with the Quebec Psychiatric Association as a
member of its executive since 2001 (Secretary, 2003-2005), its Board since
1995, the organizing committee for secondary and tertiary services and Chair
of the human resources committee from 1997 to 2001. She has also served as a
member of the scientific committee of the AMPQ Congress and is presently Chair
of the AMPQ Committee on telepsychiatry.
Dr. Charbonneau says that, although her practice has its challenges, the
beauty of the region and the proximity of the seashore and nature, provide a
wonderful lifestyle for her and Daniel and their son and daughter. They
regularly enjoy fly-fishing on the Moisie River, a world-renowned salmon
river.
Dr. Charbonneau takes over from outgoing President, Dr. Donald A.
Milliken of Victoria, B.C. Dr. Patrick J. White of Alberta becomes the CPA
President-Elect. Dr. Blake Woodside from Toronto continues as Chairman of the
Canadian Psychiatric Association.
The Canadian Psychiatric Association is the national voice for Canada's
4,100 psychiatrists and more than 600 psychiatric residents. Founded in 1951,
the CPA is dedicated to promoting an environment that fosters excellence in
the provision of clinical care, education and research.
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Hershey Canada recalls select products
MISSISSAUGA - Hershey Canada, in cooperation with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, today announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of products produced at its Smiths Falls plant between the dates of October 15 and November 10, 2006. The recall of these items, listed below, is being conducted due to the potential of Salmonella contamination associated with an externally sourced ingredient.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with consumption of
these items. No Halloween or Christmas items are included in the recall.
"Product quality and safety are top priorities at Hershey," said Eric
Lent, General Manager, Canada. "We are working in close cooperation with the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency to quickly retrieve the product in question
from our customers and to ensure that consumers who may have purchased this
product are aware of the potential health concern."
Only the date codes starting with four digits ranging from 6417 to 6455
of the following products are included in the recall. The date codes can be
found on the back of each unit.
<<
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brand Name Product Name Size
HERSHEY CHIPITS Milk Chocolate Chips 270 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY'S Creamy Milk Chocolate With Almonds 43 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY'S Creamy Milk Chocolate 45 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OH HENRY! OH HENRY! 62.5 gram
62.5g / 4 bars
145 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OH HENRY! Bites 130 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OH HENRY! Peanut Butter 60 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY CHIPITS Semi-Sweet 350 gram
Chocolate Chips 2 kg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY CHIPITS Mini 300 gram
Chocolate Chips 10 kg
175 gram
500 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY CHIPITS Chocolate Chip Bulk 10 kg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY CHIPITS Semi-Sweet Mint Chocolate Chips 300 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 300 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate 45 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate with Almonds 43 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
REESE Peanut Butter Cups 51 gram
68 gram
51 gram / 4 bars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOWNEY Cherry Blossom 45 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GLOSETTE Peanuts 45 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GLOSETTE Almond 42 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GLOSETTE Raisin 50 gram
145 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY'S Chocolate Shell Topping 177 ml
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
EAT-MORE Dark Toffee Peanut Chew 56 gram
56 gram / 4 bars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOWNEY Bridge Mix 52 gram
340 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY Assorted 16 count 728 gram
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERSHEY Assorted 50 count 2.5 kg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nut Roll 5 kg
-----------------------------------------------
HERSHEY Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 10 kg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
Consumers who have purchased the items in question should contact Hershey
Consumer Relations at 1-800-468-1714
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PEPID Releases First Medical Knowledge Tool and Drug Database for BlackBerry Devices
PEPID LLC has launched the first medical knowledge tools and drug information applications designed exclusively for use on BlackBerry handheld devices. Leveraging the expertise of PEPID and Research In Motion (RIM)—makers of BlackBerry wireless devices and enterprise platform solutions—this new line of knowledge products employs advanced technology that uses both a native application on a BlackBerry device and mobile wireless data exchanges.
"We are proud to be the first and only developers in our space to take full advantage of the outstanding performance capabilities of the popular BlackBerry devices," says Dennis Carson, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at PEPID LLC. "PEPID for BlackBerry users will now benefit from deep medical content, plus the speed and reliability of a native application. It is an extremely valuable addition to the resources available to the nearly six million BlackBerry users around the world."
"Doctors and nurses are extraordinarily busy people and, with PEPID on their BlackBerry devices, they will have the latest mobile communications and medical information to help them save time and make better informed decisions," adds Carson. "Launching PEPID for BlackBerry further demonstrates our commitment to put first-in-class medical resources in the hands of caregivers worldwide and to use advanced information technology to improve the quality of healthcare."
PEPID for BlackBerry delivers mobile access to fully-integrated medical, clinical, and pharmacological information, including evidence-based medicine; medical calculators, dosing calculators, drug interactions generator and illustrations. There are specialty-focused applications for all emergency medical specialists, primary care physicians, internal medicine specialists, nurses, pharmacists, and emergency medical teams, physicians, residents, nurses, students, emergency medical teams, and pharmacists.
The PEPID product line has been re-engineered specifically for BlackBerry, so users can more easily access vital reference content. The new line of specialty-focused, knowledge products is a result of an alliance agreement signed earlier this year between PEPID LLC and Research In Motion.
In addition to products for individual caregivers, PEPID and BlackBerry will soon launch knowledge-based solutions for hospitals and healthcare systems. Utilizing BlackBerry® MDS Technology, PEPID content will integrate into new and existing medical information systems for enhanced clinical decision-support and risk management, more detailed medical records, and better patient care and services.
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McGuinty Liberals forced to slow plans for three regional centres
TORONTO - The lack of available community alternatives has forced the Liberal government to slow its plans for layoffs at the three regional centres for people with developmental disabilities.
The cancellation of the latest round of layoffs is good news for
residents and their guardians, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union
says. "This is a tough time for our members, and the people they serve, but
this announcement has given us renewed hope," said OPSEU President Leah
Casselman.
"I want to thank the local executives, the Ministry Enforcement and
Renewal Committee (MERC) and the families, for their continued fight to keep
these centres open," she said.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services has said it wants to close
the three remaining regional centres - Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls,
Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia, and Southwestern Regional Centre in
Blenheim by 2009.
"Any residents still living in regional centres are among the most
vulnerable and hard-to-serve special-needs individuals in the province," said
Roxanne Barnes, union spokesperson for the COMSOC Ministry.
OPSEU continues its campaign to have the regional centres transformed to
Centres of Excellence. "We'll keep fighting against these closures because we
believe it is wrong to force people, often with severe disabilities, to leave
the only homes they have known," said Barnes.
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Competition Bureau Reaches Agreement with the Three Major Cigarette Manufacturers to Stop Using "light" and "mild" on Cigarette Packages
OTTAWA - At the request of the Competition Bureau, the three major cigarette manufacturers in Canada have agreed to accelerate the removal of the descriptors "light" and "mild", or variations thereof, from their cigarette packaging. Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc. and JTI-Macdonald Corp. will each phase out these descriptors on affected brands and products, commencing no later than December 31, 2006 and ending no later than July 31, 2007.
A total of 79 brands of cigarettes will be affected. Also affected will be 18 varieties of fine-cut tobacco.
"Through this action Canada joins other countries where cigarettes are no longer described as "light" or "mild", said Sheridan Scott, the Commissioner of Competition. "Light, mild, and similar descriptors are no longer used in the European Union or in Australia".
"I am pleased that the tobacco companies have agreed to voluntarily discontinue use of these descriptors in advance of anticipated regulations requiring their removal," the Commissioner said.
A complaint was received by the Bureau concerning the use of "light" and "mild". The inquiry into the complaint will, therefore, be discontinued.
In addition to the three largest tobacco companies, there is also a number of smaller manufacturers in Canada who sell cigarettes described as "light" or "mild". The Commissioner will seek similar agreements from these firms to cease use of these descriptors.
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains competition so that all Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality services. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.
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Chinese Bird-Flu Expert Is Selected To Lead WHO
“The World Health Organization (WHO) nominated Chinese infectious-disease
expert Margaret Chan to lead the United Nations health agency,
underscoring the increasing importance countries throughout the world are
putting on halting the spread of pandemic flu and other deadly viruses.
Yesterday's selection of the 59-year-old Chan by WHO's Executive Board
also confirms China's growing clout in global politics and health, as well
as a desire to prod the country to be more forthcoming with health
information. China has been criticized for failing to disclose cases of
avian flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome to WHO until those
diseases had spread to Hong Kong and beyond Chinese borders. While WHO
officials say their recent pressure on China to track and report
infectious-disease cases more openly has been effective, Chan's nomination
suggests that many countries want the agency to be even more aggressive.
…” [The Wall Street Journal/Factiva]
“… Chan was the one left standing following the fourth round of voting by
the 34-member Executive Council of the UN agency. The last vote was 24-10
in favor of Chan, one source on the council said. Previous rounds of
voting eliminated successively Kuwait's Kazem Behbehani, Spanish Health
Minister Elena Salgado and Japan's Shigeru Omi. …” [EFE News
Service/Factiva]
“Chan … on Wednesday became the first Chinese national to run a leading UN
agency. It ends a period of uncertainty after the sudden death in May of
South Korea’s Lee Jong-wook, the previous Director General. The
appointment is also expected to deepen Beijing’s engagement in global
health policy, with Gao Qiang, China’s health minister, on Wednesday
pledging closer cooperation with WHO. …” [The Financial Times
(UK)/Factiva]
“… The decision-making body of the 193- nation organization, the World
Health Assembly, will be asked to approve the nomination by its board at a
special session Thursday. The assembly has never rejected a candidate
nominated by the board. … Chan stepped aside from her job as the WHO's
Assistant Director General for Communicable Diseases to run for the top
job in global health. The profile of the WHO, which has a two-year budget
of $3.3 billion, has risen dramatically with the emergence of global
health emergencies like AIDS and threats from new diseases like bird flu.
…” [The International Herald Tribune, The Associated Press and Reuters]
“… Chan [has] … championed health for developing countries in her campaign
for the top post. … Chan paid tribute to the late Director General, Lee …
and his partly unsuccessful but continuing initiative to deliver
life-saving drugs to three million people struggling with HIV/AIDS in poor
countries by 2005. ‘He will always be remembered for the Three-by-Five
Initiative, that was all about preventing untimely deaths on the grandest
scale possible,’ Chan said. … Chan gained initial praise as Hong Kong's
health chief from 1994. However, she later faced a barrage of criticism of
her handling of the SARS crisis. She first drew international attention
with her swift action in ordering the cull of 1.4 million local poultry
that halted an initial outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in the then British
colony. …
The global health chief needs a blend of managerial skills, medical
knowledge and political judgment to navigate between the differing
priorities of developing countries and those of wealthy nations, headed by
the US, that dominate the agency's funding. With the advent of widespread
travel, Chan must marshal governments so that they react swiftly in unison
to cross-border health threats. The new UN health chief will also deal
with an expanding number of private actors in global health, including the
pharmaceutical industry and its pricing and research priorities. …”
[Agence France Presse/Factiva]
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Study: Trends in weight change among Canadian adults 1996/1997 to 2004/2005
Canadian adults keep putting on weight, but indications are that the pace at which they are gaining has slowed down, according to a new report.
The report was based on data from the National Population Health Survey, a longitudinal survey that has followed the same group of people every two years, on six separate occasions, between 1994/1995 and 2004/2005. Data for height and weight for this survey were self-reported. This study is based on data from 1996/1997 to 2004/2005.
The survey showed that every two years since 1996/1997, adults aged 18 to 64 were heavier on average.
But while they continued to gain weight, the amount they put on decreased significantly in the most recent two-year interval, 2002/2003 to 2004/2005.
This downturn was due in part to a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of men who gained weight and a significant increase in the amount of weight loss among women who lost weight.
However, among people who gained weight, the amount they put on actually increased over time.
During the eight years covered by the study, men gained an average of 4.0 kg, while women gained an average of 3.4 kg. While these results appear relatively small, a number of studies have shown that even a small shift in the population distribution toward excess weight may have important consequences for the incidence of weight-related diseases.
Rate of gain slowing
Canadians are still gaining weight, on average. But this report found that the pace at which they are gaining has slowed down.
Over the two-year interval from 1996/1997 to 1998/1999, the average self-reported weight of people aged 18 to 64 increased by 1.0 kg for men and 0.9 kg for women.
Between 2000/2001 and 2002/2003, average gains were higher: 1.1 kg for men and 1.0 kg for women.
Over the next two years, that is, 2002/2003 to 2004/2005, the weight of adults continued to rise. However, the average amount gained was lower: 0.7 kg for men and 0.6 kg for women.
Thus, overall adults were still gaining weight, but statistically significantly less than in the earlier periods.
Weight changes associated with sex, age and level of obesity
Changes in weight were significantly associated with sex, age group and the level of obesity as measured by the body mass index (BMI).
Over the eight years from 1996/1997 to 2004/2005, the average self-reported weight of men and women in all age groups increased.
However, in each two-year interval, younger people aged 18 to 33 experienced significantly greater average gains than did individuals aged 34 to 49. Older adults aged 50 to 64 experienced significantly smaller gains than 34 to 49 year-olds.
The general trend of a decline in the amount of weight gained between 2002/2003 and 2004/2005 applied to men and women in most age groups. The exception was men aged 18 to 33, whose average weight gain in the most recent two-year interval was greater than that in the previous one.
An individual's BMI is associated with how much his or her self-reported weight changed in each two-year interval.
On average, overweight people (BMI from 25.0 to 29.9) gained 0.8 kg less than did people whose weight was in the acceptable BMI range (BMI from 18.5 to 24.9). Obese individuals (BMI 30.0 and higher) gained 1.9 kg less. In fact, during most two-year intervals, people who were obese experienced a mean loss in self-reported weight.
Smaller proportion of men gaining weight
The overall pattern of average change in weight in the last interval (2002/2003 to 2004/2005) reflects a mixture of trends at a finer level of detail. These include a smaller proportion of men gaining weight and greater losses among the women who lost weight.
During each of the first three two-year intervals in the survey, almost half of adults reported that they gained weight. However, between 2002/2003 and 2004/2005 the proportion of men gaining weight fell to 44%.
As well, 32% of men reported a loss in weight between 2002/2003 and 2004/2005, a significantly higher percentage than in the first two intervals.
Among women, the proportion losing weight did not differ significantly from one interval to another.
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MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN UPGRADE AND REPAIRS FOR WATERLOO REGION’S HOSPITALS
Funding Will Ensure Best And Safest Care For Patients
Kitchener – The McGuinty government is investing $4 469 302 in Waterloo Region hospitals to make upgrades and repairs needed to provide better care to patients, John Milloy, MPP, Kitchener Centre announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.
“Our hospitals are an important part of our local community,” said John Milloy, “This investment will enable them to provide quality care in facilities that are well-maintained, safe and comfortable for patients.”
This funding is part of $41 million in capital funding being provided to all Ontario public hospitals for critical or high-need priority infrastructure projects.
Funding is being provided through the government’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, which allows hospitals to decide where to invest the money and lets them proceed quickly with projects.
“This funding helps us strengthen our infrastructure and supports the delivery of quality patient care to our community,” said Julia Dumanian, CEO Cambridge Memorial Hospital noting that specific projects will be determined in the near future.
“Our government is strengthening all areas of our hospitals so that they can better serve patients,” Smitherman said. “We’re continually working to find the best way to determine the most economical and efficient way of improving hospital facilities and long-term investments.”
For local hospitals, the allocations are as follows:
Cambridge Memorial Hospital Cambridge $ 4,000,000
Grand River Hospital Corporation Kitchener $ 312,661
St. Mary's General Hospital Kitchener $156,641
Total $4 469 302
Under the province’s ReNew Ontario investment infrastructure plan announced in May, the McGuinty government and its partners will invest $5 billion over the next five years to improve health care facilities. This is the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working to provide quality hospital care.
Other initiatives include:
Investing over $142 million in an Emergency Department Action Plan, which contains system-wide solutions to ensure emergency rooms stay open and increase capacity in the health care system to meet the needs of Ontario patients.
Increasing operating grant funding to hospitals to $12.9 billion in 2006/07, growing to $14 billion in 2008/09
Reducing wait times for five key health care services (hip and knee joint replacement, cataract surgeries, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures) with a recent investment of $222.5 million
Issuing Requests for Proposals for 11 new hospital projects in 2006/07 worth $2 billion.
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New HR report outlines 7 key steps to take while planning pandemic preparedness strategies
HRPAO-sponsored whitepaper focuses on HR's leading role in creating a
pandemic business continuity plan
TORONTO - Regardless of whether an influenza pandemic is imminent or unlikely, being prepared is critical. On November 8, 2006, a must-have whitepaper called "Pandemic Planning: a Guide for HR Professionals" will be unveiled at the Conference on Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning for Human Resource Professionals.
Written by Colin S. Braithwaite of First Reference Inc. and researched by
the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO), this
essential report focuses on the leading role that HR professionals must take
in building their organization's pandemic Business Continuity Plan.
An influenza pandemic is a critical human resources issue since the flow
of goods and services will be impacted by the gradual reduction of personnel.
It is estimated that 25 to 35 per cent of the Canadian work force will be
affected by such a pandemic.
Critical elements of an effective pandemic plan
In the corporate world, it's important to demonstrate transparency
through business continuity. Therefore, in case of a pandemic, it's essential
to create a plan that delineates how your organization will continue to
function with limited staff and resources.
"Pandemic Planning: A Guide for HR Professionals" expands upon seven key
areas to address when building a business continuity plan related to a
pandemic:
1. Lead the pandemic planning process with Human Resources professionals
2. Establish responsibilities and core functions
3. Review and revise existing employment policies, including pay and
benefits
4. Review and revise Health & Safety policies
5. Create a pandemic "shadow" policy manual
6. Communicate the plan with employees, customers, suppliers, the
community, and government
7. Assess the plan's effectiveness after the threat has passed and
revise the process accordingly
About the Whitepaper
"Pandemic Planning: A Guide for HR Professionals" is written by Colin S.
Braithwaite, Managing Editor at First Reference Inc., one of Canada's leading
publishers of policy-based resources. John Johnson, Information Specialist at
HRPAO, is the lead researcher for this imitative. The whitepaper will be
unveiled at the Conference on November 8 and will be available for sale at
www.hrpao.org. All conference registrants will receive a complimentary copy.
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Wary patient advocates skeptical of NPS process
VANCOUVER - Patients and their healthcare professionals are skeptical of a federal/provincial initiative that is exploring a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS). This was among the conclusions reached at an exclusive Vancouver gathering of patient groups, physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare stakeholders hosted by The Medical Post and Pharmacy Post, Canada's leading publications for healthcare professionals. The NPS process desperately needs an infusion of transparency and clinical expertise on decision-making panels, more than two dozen delegates from four provinces told the roundtable session.
Definitions of such basic terms as "catastrophic" drug coverage and which
"evidence" will help determine a drug's safety, effectiveness, price and place
on government formularies are still up in the air, they add. This has sparked
continued speculation among groups lobbying for patients with heart disease or
stroke, diabetes, respiratory conditions, arthritis, Alzheimer's, mood
disorders, epilepsy and hemophilia, among others.
John Forman of New Zealand's Access to Medicines Coalition and executive
director of that country's Organization for Rare Disorders, warned
participants to guard against strategies where "the budget is king".
"Our current obsession is to stay within budget," Forman said of New
Zealand's Pharmac program. "That focus has led to some obtuse
decision-making...We want doctors to have the best tools in their toolbox. To
do that, we need much wider consideration than just a cost utility analysis,"
he added.
"It's up to you, but don't go down without a fight," Forman urged invited
delegates, "to ensure optimal patient care is the top priority".
Confirming the views of several other patient advocates, Gordon Whitehead
of Arthritis Consumer Experts expressed discomfort with what he called the
country's "patchwork quilt of different access to medications".
Whitehead is among those who continue to mistrust the NPS and its
process. He wishes he could believe more in the conference's slogan. "The fear
I have running underneath and behind the scenes is that this is a cost
containment exercise," he noted. "I don't buy a lot of the economic analysis
behind the Chicken Little sustainability bugaboo."
"We need to put some of the economic shibboleths to bed by really
analyzing the economic angles, ripping sustainability right out of the
exercise and considering optimal patient care instead."
Paul Gudaitis, acting executive director for the B.C.-based NPS
Secretariat, acknowledged that "stakeholders have to be part of the discussion
and we need to be more engaged with them. There will be a dialogue. You'll be
seeing more of me, and I hope I'll be seeing more of you."
Janet Cooper of the Canadian Pharmacists Association, spoke out on
patient safety. "Adverse drug reactions are costing us millions,
billions...that's money we can be spending on improved access."
"Everyone should have access to the best drugs available," said
Toronto-based Louise Binder representing the Best Medicines Coalition. "But
the practicalities of this country aren't likely to make that a reality," she
admitted.
"Will drugs be coming off Ontario's formulary because Prince Edward
Island can't afford them? I hope not," she said, referring to a proposal for a
common national formulary outlined in a 48-page NPS progress report last
summer. "We should try to meet the best standard of medicine possible for each
person."
A common national formulary, though supported by some delegates, "won't
be done with the health of patients in mind," Binder predicted. "It will be
about dollars. We need to take the politics out of it and make it about
health."
The Vancouver roundtable was the third such session held this by The
Medical Post and Pharmacy Post. The national initiative was undertaken by
these Rogers Publishing Limited publications in an effort to keep their
readers abreast of legislative changes that could restrict their ability to
prescribe and dispense what they deemed the most appropriate medications for
their patients.
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Canada's Family Physicians of the Year for 2006 Announced by The College of Family Physicians of Canada
QUEBEC CITY - The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) announced today the 10 national recipients of Canada's Family Physicians of the Year Awards for 2006. The awards will be presented at the CFPC's annual Family Medicine Forum being held this year in Québec City, Québec.
Including one representative from each Canadian province, the 2006 Family
Physicians of the Year are:
Dr. Darlene Hammell, Victoria, British Columbia
Dr. Josephine Wilson, Calgary, Alberta
Dr. Ross Kerkhoff, Moosomin, Saskatchewan
Dr. Kenneth Kliewer, Altona, Manitoba
Dr. George Burrows, Sutton, Ontario
Dr. Carlo Jean-Louis, St-Anne-des-Monts, Québec
Dr. Robert Boulay, Miramichi, New Brunswick
Dr. Wayne Phillips, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Dr. Alfred Morais, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Dr. Carmel Casey, Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
The awards are named in honour of Dr. Reg L. Perkin, CFPC Executive
Director from 1985 to 1996. This is the 34th year the College has honoured
family physicians with the national Family Physician of the Year award. The
program is supported through a generous donation to the CFPC's Research and
Education Foundation from Janssen-Ortho Inc.
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McGuinty Government MOVES TO SHORTEN EMERGENCY ROOM WAIT TIMES
Enhanced Community and Hospital Resources, Improved Physician Compensation Models Among Initiatives
WATERLOO REGION - The McGuinty government provided a comprehensive response to the challenges faced by emergency rooms, committing more than $142 million in new resources in Ontario through a three-point Emergency Department Action Plan, John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre announced October 27, 2006.
“Our plan will help ensure emergency rooms stay open and will allow them to respond effectively and efficiently to local patient needs,” said Milloy. “Our investment will strengthen our health care system from community-based care to our local hospitals.”
The $142.4 million Emergency Department Action Plan contains system-wide solutions to ensure emergency rooms stay open and the health care system has increased capacity to meet the needs of Ontario patients. The three-point plan includes:
$13.2 million to Ontario hospitals to retain and recruit emergency room physicians and launch 6 pilot projects to add physician assistants and nurse practitioners to emergency rooms including one at Cambridge Memorial Hospital
A total of $1,284,600 for Grand River, St. Mary’s and Cambridge Memorial Hospitals to improve the capacity of the hospital system, enhance critical care capacity in hospitals and create a “Better Access to Emergency Care Fund,” which will reduce emergency room waiting times and improve working conditions for frontline health care workers.
$635,688 in Waterloo Region to support current community-based services and provide more services in the community
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has also announced that it will be allocating $30 million in funding to Community Care Access Centres across the province so they may better serve the needs of their clients and provide services that most appropriately meet their needs and allow people to remain safely, comfortably and independently in their homes longer.
Investments in community care will alleviate some of the pressure on emergency departments by allowing hospitals to focus on critical services and allow patients to move through the system and obtain the level of care that is necessary and appropriate. This funding will be allocated in the near future.
The plan announced today compliments additional action taken by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to assist Grand River Hospital and the other hospitals in Waterloo Region to address the emergency room challenges that they are experiencing:
A team led by Ken Deane, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, has been appointed to review the management of emergency services at the Grand River Hospital and assist the hospital in resolving the operating issues in the emergency department as identified by the hospital’s medical staff.
Tom Closson has been appointed as investigator under the Public Hospitals Act to review the delivery of emergency services at hospitals across Waterloo Region and provide recommendations to the government.
Mr. Closson was also appointed as a supervisor to oversee services at Grand River Hospital with a mandate to resolve the staffing issues at the hospital’s emergency department and ensure the effective management of the department in the future.
The McGuinty government has worked with the Ontario Medical Association over the past few weeks to build upon recommendations contained in the Improving Access to Emergency Care: Addressing System Issues report, prepared by a joint committee of the Ontario Hospital Association, the Ontario Medical Association and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and released earlier this month.
Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.
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Toyota Canada Inc. and Providence Healthcare Partner To Promote Recovery and Rehabilitation Through New Motor Skills Clinic
TORONTO - The official opening today of the new Toyota Canada Motor Skills Clinic at Providence Healthcare gives patients requiring rehabilitation a greater chance at regaining their independence and relearning vital skills that they will need once they are discharged from the hospital and return to their home and to the community.
A $300,000 donation from Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) to the Providence Healthcare Foundation has enabled the construction of an innovative clinic that will benefit patients who are recovering from a stroke, orthopaedic surgery or a lower limb amputation. The clinic authentically recreates key elements of an external streetscape and brings the challenges of the outdoors into a safe, reassuring indoor environment. The interior streetscape includes a brand new Toyota Camry; a stoplight and crosswalk; and a variety of challenging surfaces such as curbs and roadways.
"Toyota's goal is to help people enjoy the social and economic benefits
of personal mobility," said Kenji Tomikawa, President and CEO of TCI. "We hope that the establishment of the Toyota Canada Motor Skills Clinic will allow
Providence Healthcare to help many more patients undergoing rehabilitation to
regain a measure of independence and enjoy an improved quality of life."
Mary Beth Montcalm, President and CEO of Providence Healthcare said that
the Toyota donation is a measure of the importance and significance that
Toyota places upon mobility and independence. "The simple skills so many of us take for granted - such as manoeuvring in and out of a car, stepping up onto a curb or walking across the street before the light changes - can be an
overwhelming challenge to an individual who has recently had a stroke, a hip
or knee fracture or an amputation," says Mary Beth. "Toyota's generosity and
foresight has made it possible for us to integrate the challenges of the
external street environment into the rehabilitation process so that patients
are better prepared when they are discharged home and can avoid any potential setbacks."
Providence Hospital admits 1,800 patients each year to its 347-bed
facility and the Toyota Canada Motor Skills Clinic is accessible immediately
to any of these individuals who require rehabilitation following a stroke,
orthopaedic surgery, or lower limb amputation. These patients will benefit
significantly from a controlled, safe environment that will enable them to
practice getting in and out of a car, navigate a concrete ramp and curb, and
experience what it is like to walk on a number of different surfaces including
interlocking brick, gravel and grass. The lighting in the room has been
created so that lighting conditions for day, dusk and evening can all be
simulated.
Providence Healthcare provides a range of health care programs and
services to individuals and their families through three Integrated Care
Divisions: Providence Hospital, a 347-bed rehabilitation and complex
continuing care facility; the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence, a
long-term care home for 288 residents; and the Providence Community Centre, providing community clinics, education, outreach and caregiver support including the nationally-acclaimed Alzheimer Day Program. |
U of G Chemist Hopes to Decode Cancer-Causing Mould
A University of Guelph chemist is helping to determine how a dangerous mould that forms on wheat and oats causes kidney cancer, which could have an impact on the allowable levels of the substance in Canadian food sources.
Prof. Richard Manderville is studying a type of mycotoxin – a naturally occurring toxin produced from fungi that often attach to grain crops – called ochratoxin A, to see why it causes cancer in animals.
A recent study by Health Canada found that the toxin is present in 50 per cent of Canadian breakfast cereals and many grain products.
“Mycotoxins should be a big, hot item in Canada because ochratoxin A thrives in northern wet climates and is the most potent kidney carcinogen that’s ever been tested by the National Toxicology Program in the United States,” said Manderville.
The problem is, this mould is naturally occurring in grain products and is difficult to prevent, said Manderville. “You can’t see it with the naked eye. The mycotoxins can be detected only because our analytical techniques are so good today. They’ve probably always been in our cereal; we just couldn’t detect them until recently.”
When wheat is processed into cereal or bread, a lot of the mycotoxins are eliminated, but not enough to meet international standards. They resist high temperatures, so cooking also doesn’t destroy them. “Canada produces great wheat, but if we’re not being stringent enough with our allowable levels of mycotoxins, the implications could be huge,” said Manderville.
Scientists currently don’t know how ochratoxin A causes cancer, but he suspects it acts as a genotoxin (something that damages DNA) and, after it’s metabolized, attaches to DNA, initiating a mutation that causes cancer.
Manderville and his research group are the first scientists in the world to assess the nature of DNA damage caused by this toxin. They have found that once ochratoxin A is oxidized, it tends to target the G-base of DNA to form an ochratoxin A DNA adduct. They are now chemically reproducing the adduct to incorporate into DNA using a DNA synthesizer in Manderville’s lab in U of G’s new science complex. He will structurally characterize the modified DNA and, in turn, study repair of the lesion and mutagenicity.
“We’re looking at how this modification alters DNA structure, such as stability of the duplex, and we’re going to determine if it’s mutagenic,” he said. His team is determining if affected DNA gets repaired naturally and, if not, the kinds of mutations that ochratoxin A causes. “Once we know the answers to those questions, that will provide the key for finding out how this molecule causes cancer.”
Currently, the allowable levels of ochratoxin A in food for humans is governed by its toxic properties in pigs. “If we establish that ochratoxin A is a genotoxin, the allowable levels of ochratoxin A in food will be decreased,” said Manderville. “This will be problematic for the food industry because it’s a natural product and they don’t know how to get rid of it.”
He notes that European scientists are working on procedures to prevent the mould from growing on their crops, and European health officials have set stringent regulations on the limits of the toxins in foods.
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OVC Researchers Find Bacterium in Meat
The University of Guelph researchers who earlier this month found a dangerous bacterium in food animals now have evidence that Clostridium difficile is in ground and processed meats sold in Canada.
Preliminary findings are being presented today in France at the World Buiatrics Congress by Alex Rodriguez-Palacios, a clinical studies D.V.Sc. student at Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College.
But Guelph clinical studies professor Scott Weese, one of the study’s authors, is once again cautioning people against drawing premature conclusions.
“I want to reiterate that it’s too soon to conclude that the presence of the bacterium in meat automatically means people can become infected and develop C. difficile-associated disease through eating meat,” he said. “Finding this bacterium in meat is an important step in trying to determine whether C. difficile is a food-borne pathogen, but much more work is required to see whether there is any real risk.”
About 18 per cent of meat tested in Ontario contained the bacterium. A separate independent study by researchers at the University of Arizona found C. difficile in about 30 per cent of meat they tested. Similar research is also being done by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Food Safety and Inspection Services and National Institutes of Health.
Although the U.S. researchers found the human epidemic strain, it was not found in Ontario samples. But the majority of strains found in Ontario meat samples can cause disease in people.
C. difficile is recognized as the major cause of colitis (inflammation of the colon) and diarrhea. The bacterium is primarily acquired in hospitals and chronic-care facilities following antibiotic therapy covering a wide variety of bacteria, and is the most frequent cause of outbreaks of diarrhea in hospitalized patients. It has caused severe hospital outbreaks in Quebec and Great Britain, and in the United States alone, it causes about three million cases a year.
Earlier this month, Weese, who specializes in diseases that pass between animals and humans, his OVC colleague Henry Staempfli and Rodriguez-Palacios found the bacterium in the feces of about 11 per cent of dairy calves they tested in Ontario.
They found that the cattle strains were “indistinguishable” from those that have infected humans. Weese said there could be several explanations for this. The strains may be evolving in parallel in different species, for example, or there may be regular movement of various types of the bacterium among different species. "Further study is needed to evaluate these possibilities,” he said. Their study will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Their follow-up research looked at ground beef and ground veal that was purchased randomly from grocery stores in Guelph and tested over a period of several months. Rodriguez-Palacios is presenting preliminary findings today in France, and the full study is expected to be published in upcoming months. Weese said they plan to expand the study to include other provinces.
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