Drug Access - Thailand Will Not Issue Compulsory Licenses for Patented Drugs if Pharmaceutical Companies Match Generic Prices, Health Minister Says Thai Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla on Tuesday said that Thailand will not issue compulsory licenses to produce reduced-cost versions of patented drugs if pharmaceutical companies offer prices lower than those charged by generic drug makers, Reuters AlertNet reports. Mongkol's comments came one day afte www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=44931

2007-05-16

Bioethics & Science - Stem Cells Found in Amniotic Fluid Appear To Offer Research Benefits, Study Says Stem cells derived from human amniotic fluid appear to offer many of the benefits of embryonic stem cells -- including the ability to grow into brain, muscle, bone and other tissues -- according to a study published in the Jan. 7 online edition on the journal Nature Biotechnology, the Washington Post reports www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=2&DR_ID=41981

2007-01-08

Global Challenges - Physician Shortage, Lack of Regulation, Education Make Launching Male Circumcision Programs in Africa Difficult, Wall Street Journal Reports A physician shortage, lack of medical regulation and low education levels are making it difficult to implement safe male circumcision programs in Africa in an effort to curb the spread of HIV, the Wall Street Journal reports (Schoofs, Wall Street Journal, 9/7). According to final data from two NIH-funded stu www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=47351

2007-09-07

10th Annual William T. Small, Jr. Keynote Lecture: "The Science and Epidemiology of Racism and Health in the United States: An Ecosocial Perspective" This lecture is part of the University of North Carolina's 29th Annual Minority Health Conference, which focuses on the impact of poverty, culture and environment on minority health. www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2516

2008-02-29

National Politics & Policy - President Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, Issues Executive Order Encouraging Methods That Do Not Destroy Embryos President Bush on Wednesday as expected vetoed a bill (S 5) that would have allowed federal funding for research using stem cells derived from human embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients, the Washington Post reports (Fletcher, Washington Post, 6/21). Bush also www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=2&DR_ID=45722

2007-06-21

Capitol Hill Watch - Senate Passes Prescription Drug Reimportation Amendments Allowing Practice, Requiring Safety of Reimported Drugs To Be Certified The Senate on Monday voted 49-40 to approve a second-degree amendment to a bill (S 1082) to reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act that would not allow prescription drug reimportation from other nations until the HHS secretary certifies that the practice would 'pose no additional risk to the public's www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=44761

2007-05-08

Global Challenges - Thailand's HIV/AIDS Treatment, Prevention Programs Should Serve as Model for Other Countries, Report Says Thailand's HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs should serve as a model for other countries with limited resources to fight the disease, according to a World Bank report released on Wednesday at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Reuters UK reports. The report examines Thailand's antiret www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=39235

2006-08-17

MSNBC May 2007 Republican Candidate Debate Excerpts MSNBC and The Politico host this debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library with ten Republican presidential candidates. www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2161

2007-05-03

Global Challenges - Botswana Health Officials Announce HIV-Prevention Project To Circumcise 80% of Eligible Men Over Five Years Botswana's Ministry of Health is launching a project that aims to circumcise nearly 500,000 men over the next five years in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV, the AFP/Daily Telegraph reports. Janet Mwambona, a public health specialist who is leading the project, said that officials decided to launch the www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=58395

2009-05-11

Capitol Hill Watch - Senate Approves Prescription Drug User Fee Act Reauthorization Bill That Includes Post-Market Safety Provisions The Senate on Wednesday voted 93-1 to approve a bill (S 1082) that would reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which will expire on Sept. 30, the Wall Street Journal reports (Wilde Mathews, Wall Street Journal, 5/10). The legislation, which the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=44828

2007-05-10