Bill to bar favours to doctors from pharma companies: Azad
Table HIV-AIDS bill in this session only, demand victims, experts (Dec 1 is World AIDS Day)
November 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Three years after a bill to protect the rights of people living with HIV-AIDS was drafted and cleared by the health ministry, it is yet to be introduced in parliament. a group of experts and victims Monday demanded that the bill be presented in the current winter session.
15 percent of Indian women below 50 are obese: Azad
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India to develop swine flu vaccine by 2010: Azad
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Over 134,000 infected with leprosy in 2008-09: Azad
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Rs.332-cr budget to check swine flu: Azad
November 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The central government has committed Rs.332.92 crore in various health measures to check the spread of Influenza a (H1N1), more commonly known as swine flu, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Friday. The first case of swine flu in the country was confirmed in may this year.
US Senate unveils health care bill
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India developing own influenza vaccine for first time: Azad
November 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An influenza vaccine is for the first time being developed in India that would be effective against the swine flu pandemic, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here Friday. "Public health challenges will continue to put pressure on our system and we have to be better prepared to respond to these challenges through effective regulation, surveillance, capacity building, supervision and care," he said.
American Medical Assn. supports House health care bill; stops short of full endorsement
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Pharma exports up 29 percent to $9.35 bn
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1.25 mn capsules of new swine flu drug enter Indian market
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Indian pharma exports up by 29 percent in 2008-09
September 25th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma today said that the exports of drugs, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals for the year 2008-09 stood at Rs.39,538 crore, registering a growth of about 29 per cent over the last year. Addressing the Indo-Africa Pharma Business meet here, Sharma said: "In recent times, the Indian pharmaceutical sector has emerged as one of the major contributors to Indian exports with export earnings rising from a negligible amount in early 1990s to Rs.29,139.57 crore by 2007-08.
Don't leave for greener pastures, Azad tells AIIMS doctors
September 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Friday appealed to the faculty and doctors of the all India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) not to be lured by highly-paying private hospital jobs but stick on "for more satisfaction". "As a health minister, both private and public sector are the same for me, but as the president of AIIMS I will ask the doctors not leave," said Azad.
Doctors to get extra money to work in rural areas: Azad
September 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Doctors who opt to work in rural areas will be duly compensated with extra money and weightage points that will help them while going for higher studies, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced Thursday. "The only way to attract the attention of doctors to work in difficult, most difficult and inaccessible areas is through incentives.
Open colleges at district hospitals, Azad to private sector
September 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday invited the private sector to set up medical colleges along with government district hospitals in backward, hilly and northeastern states of India - a reformative step that private players termed as "music to ears". "We will soon allow the private sector to set up medical colleges along with our district hospitals in backward states, hilly areas and the northeastern region," Azad said here at a healthcare meet organised by industry lobby Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Private sector can start medical colleges in backward areas: Azad
September 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will allow the private sector to set up medical colleges in backward states, hilly areas and the northeast region, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Monday. "We will allow the private sector to set up medical colleges in backward states, hilly areas and the northeastern region," Azad said here at a healthcare meet organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), an industry lobby.
Orszag: Goals for making health care more efficient may take decades, even if …
December 2nd, 2009
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Orszag: Health care efficiencies may take decades
WASHINGTON — the White House budget director said Wednesday that it may take decades for America to have an efficient health care system even if Congress passes a major overhaul this year.
"It will be years to decades" before the nation has a properly working health care system that rewards quality over quantity, Peter Orszag told reporters. he said improving the quality of health care "is more like a lifelong nutrition or diet, not studying for an exam," but he added that continuous progress is a crucial goal.
Orszag is one of President Barack Obama's top aides in urging Congress to overhaul the U.S. health care system in the coming weeks. he acknowledged that many key elements of the pending House and Senate bills would not take effect for several years, but he urged Americans to embrace a gradual process.
The House-passed bill would bar insurance companies from denying coverage to sick people starting in 2013. A bill being debated in the Senate would do so in 2014.
The bills would create new government subsidies for buying insurance starting in 2014. Fines for individuals who refuse to buy insurance would begin in 2014, and increase in later years. Other provisions, such as subsidizing long-term care, also would be years away.
Orszag noted that some improvements to the health care system are already in the works. the economic stimulus bill enacted early this year included money to modernize medical record-keeping and to identify the most effective ways to address various medical needs. both efforts should lead to better care, he said.
Orszag said the nation must move away from its long tradition of fee-for-service health care that tends to reward the number of procedures performed rather than the quality of care. the pending legislation includes pilot projects meant to reduce the number of patients who are quickly readmitted to hospitals, and to restructure payments to hospitals to discourage unnecessary procedures.
Orszag said limits on medical malpractice awards — which many Republicans favor, but are not in the bills — would do little to reduce health care costs.
He also rejected claims that the proposed Senate bill would not do enough to encourage people to buy health insurance before becoming seriously ill. those who refused to buy coverage would be fined $95 in 2014, and up to $750 in later years. Critics say many people would pay the fine and gamble that a serious accident would not hit them with big medical costs before they could buy coverage.
Orszag said studies show that people base such decisions on complicated factors including "social norms," and not just on the "direct financial incentives or penalties" touching their wallets.
He said, for example, that penalties for speeding and failing to wear a seatbelt are similar, but millions of Americans insist on buckling up while tolerating speeding, because fast driving is more socially accepted.
Reactions to the proposed health care fines, Orszag said, "will depend on how social norms develop."
He said he believed the Senate will pass a bill and reconcile it with the House version, despite sharp divisions, especially among senators.
"We stand on the verge of a dramatic accomplishment," he said at an hour-long session with reporters.
Filed under Finance, Government, Industries | Tags: Barack Obama, Government Regulations, Health Care Industry, Health Care Reform, Industry Regulation, North America, Political Issues, United States, Washington | Comment Below
White House defends Senate health bill's costs, but GOP slams its higher taxes, spending
November 25th, 2009 more imagesmore imagesWhite House defends costs, cuts in health billWASHINGTON — the Obama administration pushed back Wednesday against claims that it's not doing enough to slow the growth of health care costs, a topic senators will debate heavily in coming weeks. White House budget director Peter Orszag cited economists and analysts who say a pending Senate bill would take several steps in that direction.
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Americans' advice to Congress on health care: Be clear and fair about medical coverage
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Orszag: Goals for making health care more efficient may take decades, even if ...
Netanyahu ill, trip to Germany postponed
Son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu starts 3-year military service
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Israeli: Differences with US over settlements led government to postpone Mitchell meeting
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Israel's Netanyahu postpones meeting with Obama's Mideast envoy
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Israeli president announces meeting with President Obama next week _ before Netanyahu trip
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Crew members blame ship captain for pirate attack, say he ignored warnings
Somali pirate says captain of ship captured Monday has died of wounds suffered in hijacking
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Norfolk-based Navy ship that helped rescue US ship captain due back in Virginia waters
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Somali pirates release Belgian ship's crew after ransom paid
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Cargo ship captain held hostage by pirates says he was prepared to die during lifeboat ordeal
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Ship crewman says pirate was happy to have attacked American ship and dreamed of coming to US
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Crew members blame ship captain for pirate attack, say he ignored warnings
