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Occasional significant medical items which we have a main article about
Novartis challenges the commissioning of bevacizumab out of license as an alternative option to ranibizumab in wet age related macular degeneration. Case law in the UK relating to NICE technical appraisals and unlicensed drug use will be tested for the first time. Both drugs were originally developed by Genentech (now a subsidiary of Roche) but at the time Novartis obtained the marketing agreement for ranibizumab ouside the USA. Bevacizumab from Roche is considerably cheaper if the preparation marketed for cancer treatment is subdivided aseptically for intra-ocular injection. The resulting political and economic controversy is world wide but this is believed to be the first time an aspect is being legally tested in a jurisdiction.
The Health and social care bill 2011 passes (becoming the Health and social care act 2012) despite widespread opposition.
Clive Peedell and David Wilson run 6 marathons in 6 days in "Bevan's Run", to protest the Health and social care bill 2011.
The British Medical Association surveys its members over whether they would be prepared to take industrial action. But, sadly, over their pensions, rather than the Health and social care bill 2011.
The Association of Medical Royal Colleges pulls back from the brink of demonstrating that they have integrity and a backbone by not coming out in opposition to the Health and social care bill 2011.
December 2011
Successful gene therapy for Haemophilia B announced.
November 2011
The Department of Health announces that the human papillomavirus vaccine used for the vaccination programme will change in September 2012 from Cervarix to Gardasil.
Nobody knows how the English NHS is supposed to run in the future. A health bill staggers through parliament.
Pioglitazone risk of bladder cancer confirmed.
Hydroxyethyl starch colloid fluids in particular have their evidence base challenged when 89 papers were withdrawn after investigation confirmed fraudulent data in one study by a proliferate author that was retracted for ethical reasons in December 2010.
January 2011
December 2010
H1N1 influenza gives significant trouble in the UK. A guideline remains at
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/SeasonalInfluenza/Guidelines/ and the CMO has written.
Consider the diagnosis, test if it may be the case, treat with antivirals. Thus far the department of health has managed not to meet the problem by abandoning tested and working prescription arrangements and inventing a wholly new system.
The UK Government announced a further and more extensive than expected redesign of NHS structures in its first health white paper
Major USA healthcare reform is enabled by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its amendment the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 of 30th March.
There is more tuberculosis in Britain than there was for a while. Much of the increase is from migration. In Devon people are no longer routinely immunised against Tb, although badgers are to be.
The UK Health Protection Agency says London and the West Midlands continue to have the highest incidence.
HPA shows 9,153 cases of TB reported in the UK last year, an increase of some 5.5 per cent on 2008, when 8,679 cases were reported. Of these cases 3,476 were in London and 1,035 in the West Midlands region.
The World Health Organisation warns about drug-resistant TB. In some countries this affects as many as 25 per cent of patients.
February 2010
- The UK government announces £20M funding for care of the Thalidomiders (the term preferred for themselves by the people affected by the Thalidomide disaster which led to better surveillance of drugs and adverse drug reactions.
- The NHS looks set to be a political football in the coming British election. This is probably the thing least needed for healthcare.
More ... 2010
As of Christmas 2009 it appeared that a more equitable system with mechanisms for cost containment would appear in the USA early in 2010.
more ... 2009, 2010
The Year
2012, Last year, 2010, 2009, 2008
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