LONDON/MUMBAI (Reuters)—Another Indian clinical research organization, Quest Life Sciences of Chennai, is in trouble over defective trials work, according to a warning issued by the World Health Organization. The action by the United Nations health agency follows an earlier scandal over drug testing at GVK Biosciences, which resulted in approvals for hundreds of generic drugs…
Articles by Natasha Yetman
Many Healthcare Providers Come to Work Sick
(Reuters Health)—Many doctors, nurses, midwives and physician assistants come to work sick even though they know it puts patients at risk, a new survey hints. Many said they don’t call in sick because they don’t want to let colleagues or patients down by taking a sick day, and they were concerned about finding staff to…
Rheumatology Community Applauds CMS Guidance Providing ICD-10 “Safe Harbor” Period, Encourages Further Action to Ensure Responsible Transition
ATLANTA, Ga.—The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for issuing new guidance to provide a 12-month “safe harbor” period for physicians following the Oct. 1 implementation of the ICD-10 code set. The ACR has led legislative and grassroots efforts to responsibly address the transition to the…
E-Learning in Physiotherapy
A physiotherapy-specific, Web-based e-learning platform, “RAP-el,” was studied to determine its effectiveness in assisting physiotherapists with the best-practice management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It was shown to improve self-reported confidence, likely practice behaviors and satisfaction in physiotherapists’ ability to manage people with RA, and improve their clinical knowledge in several areas…
After Default, Fight Breaks Out Over Greek Medicine Supplies
LONDON (Reuters)—Wholesalers trading medicines across European borders have criticized a suggestion by manufacturers that Greek exports should be restricted to prevent shortages of life-saving drugs in the country. Such trade, which allows traders to buy products in low-cost markets and sell them where prices are higher, is allowed under EU free trade rules. But drugmakers…
Greece’s Medicine Supply May Be in Jeopardy
BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters)—Drugmakers said on Monday they would continue to ship medicines to Greece in coming weeks, despite mounting unpaid bills, but warned supplies could be in jeopardy if Europe did not take emergency action. “In the worst-case scenario of ‘Grexit’, we believe the integrity of the medicines supply chain may be in jeopardy, which…
Obamacare Ruling Ends Threat to U.S. Hospitals, Insurers
NEW YORK (Reuters)—The U.S. hospital and health insurance industries breathed a collective sigh of relief on Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld subsidies for individuals under President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law. Shares in hospitals surged, with several hitting all-time highs, on the expectation that patients would be able to continue paying for services….
Online Tools Can Help Manage Pain
(Reuters Health)—People with chronic pain may be able to use online tools to manage their symptoms, lessening the need for frequent doctor visits, an Australian study suggests. Researchers tested a series of web-based pain management tutorials on a group of adults who had been suffering symptoms for more than six months. Regardless of how much…
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare Insurance Subsidies
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. Supreme Court preserved President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law on Thursday, upholding crucial tax subsidies while turning aside a conservative legal challenge that could have doomed the law. “After more than 50 votes in Congress to repeal or weaken this law, after a presidential election based in part on preserving or repealing…
Inspiratory Muscle Training Boosts Lung Strength in Ankylosing Spondylitis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Inspiratory muscle training can help improve aerobic capacity and pulmonary function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to new findings presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress. “Inspiratory muscle training as a stand-alone therapy improves inspiratory muscle function (strength and endurance), decreases symptoms of dyspnea and improves exercise capacity,”…