> Siemens bought the diagnostics unit of Bayer in a deal worth €4.2 billion ($5.3 billion). The deal makes Siemens Healthcare one of the biggest players in the emerging immunodiagnostics field. Article [1]
> Canada's plan to allow pharmacists to write prescriptions is triggering fierce debate. Some observers want something similar here. Blog [2]
> PracticePartner said it has completed the certification SureScripts certification process, meaning users of the EMR system can now use the SureScripts e-prescribing network. Article [3]
> Experts are divided about how well the Internet would perform in event of an influenza outbreak, making firms' plans to rely on telecommuting workers shaky. Article [4]
> Critics continue to worry that the new Medicaid rule that requires recipients to prove their citizenship could hurt hundreds of thousands of low-income patients. Article [5]
And Finally… The Times of London (ironically, a Murdoch-owned newspaper) is warning of a stealth approach to privatize the UK's NHS. Article [6]
Links:
[1] http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20060629:MTFH96529_2006-06-29_21-27-42_L29171911&type=comktNews&rpc=44
[2] http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/06/pharmacist-wonders-about-prescribing.html
[3] http://www.surescripts.com/june29_06.htm
[4] http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyId=15&articleId=9001491
[5] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/29/AR2006062902093.html
[6] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2250363,00.html