1. *Africa* Putting Faith in Mid-Level Workers Paying Off
Health-e reports that African countries, much poorer and less resourced than South Africa, are using trained mid-level health workers to perform tasks traditionally reserved for doctors, including surgery, and in the process saving the lives.
Health-e, October 5, 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910051611.html
2. *Australia* Indigenous smoking 'key' to health gap
Ninemsn.com reports that a high smoking rate within indigenous communities is adding to the life-expectancy gap between black and white Australia, the Heart Foundation lobby group says.
Ninemsn.com, October 6, 2009
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/871766/indigenous-smoking-key-to-health-gap
3. *Australia* Indigenous kids 'less likely to survive'
Ninemsn.com reports that indigenous children are significantly more likely to die during their first years of life than other Australian children, a new report reveals.
Ninemsn.com, October 5, 2009
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=871626
4. *Australia* Medibank converts to 'for-profit' model
Ninemsn.com reports that Medibank Private's full conversion into a "for-profit" enterprise will improve competition in the health insurance market, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner
says. The change of status to a Government Business Enterprise (GBE), announced in the May budget, will put Medibank Private on an equal footing with its major competitors.
Ninemsn.com, October 1, 2009
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/870233/medibank-converts-to-for-profit-model
5. Australia* Government extends defence health trial
Ninemsn.com reports that a quarter of Australian Defence Force family members are now eligible to participate in the defence family health trial, Defence Personnel Minister Greg Combet says.
Ninemsn.com, October 1, 2009
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/869852/govt-extends-defence-health-trial
6. *Germany* Health insurance e-cards stir debate over new era of health care
Deutsche Welle reports that a pilot program for chip-embedded health insurance cards has kicked off in the North Rhine region. But critics of the transition are putting pressure on politicians to halt the introduction of the new card.
Deutsche Welle, October 1, 2009
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4750665,00.html?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
7. *Global* Global Study Examines Toll Of Preterm Birth
The Washington Post reports that around the world, about one in 10 babies are born prematurely each year, and more than one-quarter of the deaths that occur in the month after birth are the consequence of preterm birth.
Washington Post, October 5, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/04/AR2009100401880.html
8. *Global* Most babies born since 2000 will hit 100, life expectancy still rising
The Canadian Press/The Associated Press reports that most babies born in rich countries this century will eventually make it to their 100th birthday, new research says. Danish experts say that since the 20th century, people in developed countries are living about three decades longer than in the past.
The Canadian Press/The Associated Press, October 1, 2009
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/091001/x100117A.html
9. *India* G.E. Chief Sees India Helping Cut Costs of U.S. Health Care
The New York Times reports that India will play a significant role in reducing health care costs in the United States as the Asian nation’s health care market expands, General Electric’s chief executive, Jeffrey R. Immelt, predicted here on Friday.
The New York Times, October 2, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/business/global/03immelt.html
10. *Kenya* Will NHIF Makeover Plan ease Healthcare Burden?
Business Daily reports that state-backed health insurer, National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), last week announced plans to more than double workers' monthly contributions to the fund, which were last revised in 1988.
Business Daily, October 1, 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910010110.html
11. *Netherlands* Netherlands ranked as top healthcare system
Pharmafocus reports that the Netherlands has come out top for the second year in a row in a pan-European survey of healthcare systems. The research looked at 33 European healthcare systems that were ranked against six categories and the country won with an outstanding margin.
Pharmafocus, October 2, 2009
http://www.pharmafocus.com/cda/focusH/1,2109,21-0-0-OCT_2009-focus_news_detail-0-
493233,00.html
12. *Nigeria* Health Workers' Strike Grounds Hospitals
Daily Champion reports that Medical Workers' Union yesterday commenced a nationwide strike to protest alleged unfair treatment by the federal
government. The workers are protesting discriminatory salary scale released recently by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission which addressed only the concern of medical and dental practitioners leaving out other health workers.
Daily Champion, October 6, 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910060797.html
13. *Scotland* Scots men at risk from not seeing GP
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that men across Scotland are risking their health by refusing to visit their doctor when they feel ill, new research has revealed. A study of males in three cities – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen – has shown the majority will avoid going to see their GP "at all costs".
The Edinburgh Evening News, October 4, 2009
http://news.scotsman.com/health/Scots-men-at-risk-from.5701784.jp
14. *South Africa* Health to Focus On Nursing Colleges
BuaNews reports that the Department of Health is to focus more energy on revitalizing nursing colleges and creating a vibrant nursing education and training system.
BuaNews, September 30, 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200909300778.html
15. *South Africa* Half of Doctor Posts Filled
Business Day reports that almost half the doctor and specialist posts in Free State hospitals are empty, according to a written reply to questions posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament .The province is also battling to find nurses, dentists and physiotherapists, which is hampering essential services.
Business Day, September 30, 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200909300203.html
16. *Turkey* Turkey: Healthcare
The World Bank reports that life expectancy in Turkey is nearly ten years below the European average.
The World Bank, September 30, 2009
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:22335013~menuPK:51062077
~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
17. *United Arab Emirates* Daman to roll out new system in Jan
Middle East Insurance Review reports that starting January, the National Health Insurance Company - Daman will implement a new healthcare quality assurance system, 'Payments by Results', to further encourage healthcare providers in its network to focus more on the quality of healthcare and patients' well-being. The new system, which replaces the company's inspection-based A-B-C rating system, will be implemented before the end of the year on all network hospitals and later, on all network clinics and single physicians.
Middle East Insurance Review, October 6, 2009
http://www.meinsurancereview.com/pages/e-weekly.asp?country=8
18. *United Kingdom* NHS Direct launches mental health checker
UK Net Guide reports that the NHS has today launched a mental health checker to support the aims of World Mental Health Day. The new service is aimed at helping to break through the stigma associated with mental health, and to help people with low impact long-term issues or people suffering first-time symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression, the NHS claims.
UK Net Guide October 6, 2009
http://www.uknetguide.co.uk/Latest-News/NHS-Direct-launches-mental-health-checker-19391298.html
19. *Zambia* Donor Squeeze Bites Health Sector
Times of Zambia reports that acting ACTING Health Minister, Peter Daka has said the withdrawal of funds by donors has resulted in the closure of some medical institutions around the country.
Times of Zambia, October 2, 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910020409.html
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