The News Review:
- Africa: Africa – “Diagonal” Health Financing
- Health Highlights: March 27, 2008
- Normality Reigns in Family Life After Childhood Liver Transplant
- Children – Well – Tara Parker-Pope – Health – New York Times Blog
Africa: Africa – “Diagonal” Health Financing
AllAfrica.com – Mar 27, 2008
The opportunity offered by "diagonal" financing (aiming for disease-specific results through improved health systems) seems to be obscured in this polarisation. In April 2007, the board of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria agreed to consider comprehensive country health programmes for financing. The new International Health Partnership Plus, launched in September 2007, will help low-income countries to develop such programmes. The combination could lead the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to a much broader financing scope. DiscussionThis evolution might be critical for the future of AIDS treatment in low-income countries, yet it is proposed at a time when the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is starved for resources. It might be unable to meet the needs of much broader and more expensive proposals. Furthermore, it might lose some of its exceptional features in the process: its aim for international sustainability, rather than in-country sustainability, and its capacity to circumvent spending restrictions imposed by the International Monetary Fund.
Health Highlights: March 27, 2008
Washington Post – Mar 27, 2008
All three are FDA-approved medications. The review of Regranex Gel, a skin product used to heal leg and foot ulcers, was prompted by study data suggesting there may be an increased risk of death from cancer in diabetic patients who use the gel. While the review is ongoing, health care professionals should discuss the risks and benefits of the product with patients, the FDA said. Recent findings from a study on anti-HIV drugs indicate that patients infected with HIV-1 who take Ziagen or Videx may have an increased risk of heart attack. Until the safety review is complete, health care professionals should evaluate the potential risks and benefits of each HIV-1 antiretroviral drug their patients are taking, the FDA said. —–Drug Store Test May Settle Paternity QuestionA $29. 99 paternity kit that’s now available at some 4,300 Rite Aid drug stores in 30 states may help settle the question, “Who’s Your Daddy” for thousands of curious families,MSNBCreports… 99 paternity kit that’s now available at some 4,300 Rite Aid drug stores in 30 states may help settle the question, “Who’s Your Daddy” for thousands of curious families,MSNBCreports. The do-it-yourself Indentigene test, produced by Sorenson Genomics of Salt Lake City, uses DNA to determine paternity. The kit includes swabs for collecting cheek cell samples from the possible father and the child. It’s recommended that the mother provide her cells, too, to help bolster the results. Cheek cells are mailed to a Sorenson lab for analysis. Results — a probability figure — are available online, by telephone or by mail in three to five business days,MSNBCreported. The total cost is about $150, including a $120 lab fee.
Normality Reigns in Family Life After Childhood Liver Transplant
MedPage Today – Mar 27, 2008
In each case, the mean scores were well below the thresholds for unhealthy functioning. For two of the components, affective involvement and communication, scores for 25% of families surpassed the thresholds. Parental stress appeared higher than normal in those with children five and older, according to scores on the parental impact item on the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 50. They showed mean scores of 67 (SD 26), compared with a mean of 80 (SD 19) in a previously published normative sample (P. Nevertheless, family function in this subgroup remained normal, Dr. Alonso and colleagues said.
Children – Well – Tara Parker-Pope – Health – New York Times Blog
nytimes.com – Mar 27, 2008
“That all depends on what is wrong with her,” I told the mother, who quickly scowled her disapproval, and the child erupted in protests. Parents are an essential part of their children?s health care. Even though pediatricians are trained to treat children, we rely on parents’ instincts about their child’s health and their ability to comfort a child during an exam. Knowing what to say and what not to say can make the experience better for everyone, especially the child. Yet well-meaning parents, who are really trying to make things as comfortable as possible for their child, can sometimes end up doing the exact opposite. Here are some examples.
