HIV/AIDS news from FierceHealthcare
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Bone marrow transplant may have cured AIDS
We've been reporting a fair amount of bad news about HIV/AIDS recently but now, at last, we have some good news--a man was apparently cured of AIDS by a transplant. The man, who also had leukemia,... Read more...
HIV vaccine is not close, but efforts continue
With HIV and AIDS spreading rapidly both in places close to home and far away, an HIV vaccine may be the premier challenge for this generation of researchers; unfortunately, several trials have just... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: Agencies address global healthcare worker shortage
The United States is not the only country in the world facing a shortage of healthcare workers. In fact, with diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria still prevalent in some parts of the world, the shortage is even more pronounced. Fortunately, though, donors and international agencies have begun to take note of the problem, pouring money and effort into improving wages and incentives and boosting productivity among existing workers. Article
Medicare may boost nursing-home rates
CMS may be instituting a $690 million boost in Medicare nursing home payments for 2008. Nursing facilities would get a 3.3 percent increase in payments under the new adjustments to the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system. Right now, payments are based on a "market basket" of services calculated in 1997, but the new initiative would adjust the rates to reflect 2004 costs. The change would result in an increase for room, board, medical care and other nursing home expenses. …
... Read more...ALSO NOTED: Boston CEO rebukes competitor; Blue Cross of MA questions mental health patients;and much more...
> The CEO of a Boston-area hospital delivers a gentle rebuke to one of his competitors, arguing that said competitor could stand to be more cooperative. Meanwhile, a daily newspaper columnist spells out just how aggressive they can be. Blog and Article
> Blue Cross Blue Shield of …
... Read more...SPOTLIGHT: New infectious disease challenges emerge
In the sixties, physicians were confident enough to predict the end of infectious disease control issues. Today, in 2006, scientists and physicians know how wrong they were, said Dr. Antony Fauci, director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, who spoke at the Mid-Atlantic Bio conference this week. Public officials face more challenges than ever, including the possibility of a bird flu …
Buffett gives fortune to Gates Health Foundation
Warren Buffett gave shares worth approximately $30 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, approximately doubling the size of what was already the world's largest charitable trust. Buffett said he will donate 10 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway to the charity established by the Microsoft founder, which focuses on global health issues including the fight against HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and tuberculosis. That gives the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation an endowment …
... Read more...Physician shortage in developing countries
A World Health Organization report argues that the global shortage of doctors and nurses is hurting the fight against HIV/AIDS and other serious diseases and leaves the world exposed in the event of an event of a pandemic. The WHO study concludes that the developing world has about 4.5 million fewer doctors and nurses than population trends suggest it needs. The authors argue the shortfall is due to the so-called "brain drain" effect, with medical professionals in many areas migrating to …
... Read more...SPOTLIGHT: Article triggers academic spat
A recent article in Harper's that details a controversial clinical trial in Uganda and research that questions mainstreaming thinking on HIV/AIDS has led to dissension in the scientific community. A group of leading researchers and activists has written a widely-circulated response to Celia Farber's "Out of Control: AIDS and the Corruption of Medical Science." The piece profiles controversial UC Berkeley researcher Dr. Peter Duesberg and focuses on his "strained relationship" with the National Institutes of Health. Article
H5N1 draws renewed attention
After a brief respite, the H5N1 virus is back in the news, as documented cases are confirmed in Africa and the European Union by international health officials. Over the weekend Greece and Italy said they detected cases of the virus, but for now experts are more worried about Africa. International health experts warn that the continent may be the perfect breeding ground for a stronger variant of the virus, noting the continent's weak governments and dilapidated central health systems may …
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