Access barriers to medicines and health: Op-Ed

Canadian MP Keith Martin recently wrote an interesting Op-Ed for the Edmonton Journal on the challenges of providing access to medicines and health for the world’s poorest.  He notes that lack of infrastructure, access to trained health workers, potable water and sanitation are the real barriers to access to medicines and care — not patents. [...]

Alternative health treatments hinder asthma management: study

As reported by the National Post, a new Canadian study suggests that a sizable minority of child asthma patients rely on alternative treatments like acupuncture and homeopathy, and are more likely to have poor outcomes as a result. The research by doctors associated with the University of Montreal looked at 2,000 children who came to the [...]

Opinion: Knowledge-based jobs for health, wealth and security

The following opinion editorial on the future of knowledge-based economies was published by The Cameron Institute and raises some interesting thoughts in terms of how innovation can fuel economic growth while also helping improve patient outcomes and society as a whole. What do miracle blood clot-busters, cold water detergents, chlorine-free coffee filters, lighter-weight motor vehicles, [...]

Canada launches one of world’s largest health studies to gain insight into disease prevention and management

The largest population-based health study ever conducted in North America was launched this past month in an effort to help better understand the causes, prevention and treatment of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. The Ontario Health Study (OHS) will be the biggest community-based health study ever done in Ontario and is [...]

Health Canada considers changes to orphan drug approvals

After years of lobbying by patient groups, Health Canada is preparing to change the way drugs are approved to accommodate rare diseases and the “orphan drugs” needed to treat them (Montreal Gazette). Later in October, Health Canada will launch consultations on broad drug-regulation reforms and, for the first time, how orphan drugs should be treated [...]

New study highlights the importance of partnerships in improving public health.

The Cameron Institute – a Canadian not-for-profit public policy think-tank – released a report highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships and of intellectual property protections to improving global health.  The evidence in this report (Pharmaceutical Access in Least Developed Countries: on-the-ground barriers and industry successes) strongly supports North-South, public-private partnerships as the preferred means by [...]

Preventing September asthma peak

Courtesy of the Asthma Society of Canada: Canadian researchers have found that the September back-to school period brings a dramatic increase in hospitalizations for children with asthma. This increase starts when students return to school and will peak in the third week of September and continue into October.  This year, it is expected to peak [...]

Chronic conditions on the rise – new health challenges facing children

More than a quarter of all U.S. children have a chronic health condition, according to research recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of chronic conditions in children and adolescents has increased, particularly for asthma, obesity, and behavior/learning problems. Other research shows that one in [...]

Health Canada warns people not to buy unauthorized products to fight H1N1 flu

Federal authorities are warning Canadians not to buy unauthorized products from the Internet or other sources that claim to fight the H1N1 virus.  The Competition Bureau and Health Canada issued a statement Wednesday saying that only three products are authorized for use against the virus: the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline called Arepanrix, which is available at [...]

Google Flu Trends tracks real-time spread of influenza

Google Flu Trends, a flu-tracking Web tool, has expanded to cover Canada and 16 other countries.  First launched in the United States last November, Mexico was added in April and in Australia & New Zealand in June. Google Flu Trends gathers data from the company’s search engine and analyzes it to create a near real-time [...]