estimates

The World Health Organization and the United Nations said they probably will not meet their goal of providing 3 million people with HIV/AIDS with retroviral drugs by the end of 2005. Current estimates indicate that health groups have been able to get retrovirals to about 1 million people in poor countries, according to WHO AIDS project head Dr. Jim Yong Kim. Story

Medtronic is expected to announce this morning that it is entering the obesity market with the acquisition of Transneuronix, a company which makes an implantable stomach pacemaker. Minneapolis-based Medtronic will pay $260 million to take over Transneuronix, which has been in business since 1995. The deal will allow Medtronic to market the company's Transcend pacemaker, which it describes as a "gastric stimulator." Although the technology, which sends impulses to the brain telling it …

> Critics attacked new HIV figures released by the Indian government, saying the estimates are far too low. Story

> The Kaiser Family Foundation releases a report on medical malpractice. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline has high hopes for its new vaccine for cervical cancer. …

The city of Detroit appears ready to become the first in the nation to impose a sin tax on the fast food industry. The 2 percent sales tax, which would be applied to purchases made at fast food outlets throughout the city, would go to help the city fight a $300 million budget deficit. The idea, which is supported by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, would bring in $20 million per year, according to estimates. It also might help Detroit shed its image as one of the most overweight cities in America. …