Canadians could be paying less for generic drugs: Competition Bureau

TORONTO - Canada's Competition Bureau says the benefits of strong competition in the generic drug sector are not finding their way to consumers in the form of lower prices....More

Bayer dropping bid to market higher-dose MS treatment Betaferon; takes charge

FRANKFURT, Germany - German drugmaker Bayer AG said Monday it will take a charge of about US$218.64 million from a decision to abandon plans to market a bigger dose of its multiple sclerosis treatment Betaferon....More

W.Va. hopes little wheel to measure BMI will help doctors combat obesity

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia is hoping that a little wheel can make a big difference in the state's obesity problem....More

Use of cholesterol, blood pressure drugs by young adults rising

TRENTON, N.J. - Use of cholesterol and blood pressure medicines by young adults appears to be rising rapidly - at a faster pace than among senior citizens, according to an industry report being released in the United States on Tuesday....More

Pharmacy association says generic drug rebates help pay for drugstore services

VANCOUVER - Rebates from generic drug manufacturers are passed on to patients in the form of pharmacy services, the British Columbia Pharmacy Association said Tuesday in response to a Competition Bureau of Canada report....More

Large U.S. study raises questions about vitamin D and cancer

WASHINGTON - A large new study found no sign that vitamin D lowers the overall risk of dying from cancer, injecting a note of caution to the latest vitamin craze....More

Boo! Scientists strike back at fear, finding ways to help us cope with anxiety

WASHINGTON - Science is getting a grip on people's fears. As North Americans revel in all things scary on Halloween, scientists say they now know better what's going on inside our brains when a spook jumps out and scares us....More

B.C. Nurses' Union takes B.C. government to court over doctors' billing

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Nurses' Union is suing the provincial government for failing to stop doctors from billing the Medical Services Plan for procedures also paid for by patients....More

Pharmacy rebates should make generics cheaper for patients: Competition Bureau

TORONTO - Many generic drug companies compete for space on pharmacists' shelves by offering rebates to the retailers - but those benefits are not finding their way into consumers' wallets in the form of lower prices, a study by the Competition Bureau has found....More

New cancer research centres to have locations across the country

VANCOUVER - The headquarters for a new cancer research institute will get a $30-million boost from the provincial government. The Terry Fox Research Institute will have locations across the country but its head office will be located in Vancouver....More

Impasse declared in talks between Halifax-area hospitals and 2,400 nurses

HALIFAX - A conciliator has declared an impasse in talks between the Capital District Health Authority and 2,400 unionized nurses....More

Grocery industry conference: health and wellness, on-the-go foods are hot topics

TORONTO - Foods linked to health and wellness, as well as more upscale on-the-go convenience products, are the two trends getting the most buzz at the Grocery Innovations Canada trade show this week....More

First generation of intellectually disabled to outlive parents raises concern

FREDERICTON - They have spent years crying for their children, fighting for their rights and pleading for help and understanding from often indifferent bureaucracies....More

Canadians could be paying less for generic drugs: Competition Bureau

TORONTO - Canada's Competition Bureau says the benefits of strong competition in the generic drug sector are not finding their way to consumers in the form of lower prices....More

Bayer dropping bid to market higher-dose MS treatment Betaferon; takes charge

FRANKFURT, Germany - German drugmaker Bayer AG said Monday it will take a charge of about US$218.64 million from a decision to abandon plans to market a bigger dose of its multiple sclerosis treatment Betaferon....More

Use of cholesterol, blood pressure drugs by young adults rising

TRENTON, N.J. - Use of cholesterol and blood pressure medicines by young adults appears to be rising rapidly - at a faster pace than among senior citizens, according to an industry report being released in the United States on Tuesday....More

B.C. twins born joined at the head celebrate their first birthday

VERNON, B.C. - Two little girls in Vernon, B.C. are celebrating a special day. This is the first birthday of Krista and Tatiana Hogan, twins born joined at the head....More

Canadian firm likely supplied contaminated meat in massive recall

WASHINGTON - A now-defunct Canadian beef firm was the likely source of bacteria-contaminated meat used to make frozen hamburgers that later sickened 40 people in eight states, the U.S. Agriculture Department said Friday. A joint U.S....More

Ailing Burmese flock to neighbouring Thailand for health treatment

They travel for days though checkpoints, across dangerous roads and past Myanmar's bribe-hungry soldiers to make it to the Thai border. They're not refugees fleeing the junta - they simply want to see a doctor....More

The trail of a buttery flavour, sick workers, lawsuits and a painful legacy

Each morning, Eric Peoples sits up in bed and starts his day with a cough. A deep, long, hacking cough. He plants his feet on the bedroom floor and immediately feels as if someone is standing on his chest. That's a good day....More

Opinions differ on safety of eating microwave popcorn at home

The smell of buttery microwave popcorn can be intoxicating. But can it also be dangerous? The question took on new significance recently when a doctor alerted U.S....More

Cdn soldiers suffering mental-health problems after Afghanistan

HALIFAX - Hundreds of Canadian soldiers returning from Afghanistan are suffering from a range of mental-health problems linked to their deployment, according to new data....More

California struggles with its own diacetyl problem

When Irma Ortiz walked into Dr. Phil Harber's Los Angeles office last year, it was the end of a frustrating medical journey. For years, doctors said she had asthma. Or bronchitis. They prescribed medicine, then sent her on her way. She kept coughing. She got weaker....More

All in the brain? Genetic rewiring alters sexual preference of worms

TORONTO - Using genetic manipulation, U.S. scientists altered the brains of nematode worms, causing them to become attracted to wrigglers of the same sex....More

New clues emerge about why Parkinson's patients are so impulsive

Your brain is supposed to fire a "hold your horses" signal when faced with a tough choice. But a brain implant that stops the tremors of Parkinson's disease may block that signal - a new explanation for why some Parkinson's patients become hugely impulsive....More

NDP calls for independent probe of B.C. Health Ministry contracts after complaints

VICTORIA - B.C.'s Opposition New Democrats are calling for an independent review of Health Ministry contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars after complaints about transparency by business and labour....More

House passes revised children's health bill but not by a veto-proof margin

WASHINGTON - The House passed a revised children's health proposal Thursday, but not by the two-thirds margin that supporters will need if President George W. Bush vetoes the measure as promised....More

Holiday shoppers should beware of counterfeit, uncertified goods: safety officials

TORONTO - Officials issued a warning Thursday about the potential dangers of counterfeit, uncertified and recalled products, aimed at Canadians who are starting to think about their holiday shopping lists....More

FDA says Sanofi-Aventis failed to stop abuses in study of high-risk antibiotic

WASHINGTON - U.S. government investigators say drug maker Sanofi-Aventis ignored misconduct by doctors who helped test an antibiotic that was later linked to several deaths. The Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to Sanofi on Oct....More

Canadians need to cut sodium in diet to reduce stroke, heart disease: coalition

TORONTO - Urgent action is needed by government and industry to reduce sodium in foods eaten by Canadians, to prevent death and disability from stroke and heart disease, a coalition of health organizations said Thursday....More

Canadian-led drug trial halted over concerns of increased death rates

TORONTO - A large Canadian-led trial comparing drugs that prevent massive bleeding during bypass surgery has been halted because of concerns that one of the medications increased the risk of death among people who received it....More

B.C. twins born joined at the head celebrate their first birthday

VERNON, B.C. - Two little girls in Vernon, B.C. are celebrating a special day. This is the first birthday of Krista and Tatiana Hogan, twins born joined at the head....More

Quite a sight: Scientists create tadpoles with extra eyes, even in the tail

TORONTO - British researchers have made an eye-popping discovery that could one day help people with vision loss see better....More

N.Y. makes second attempt to put calorie counts on fast food menus

NEW YORK - Burger joints, beware: New York's calorie crusaders are at it again. City health officials announced Wednesday that they hope to revive their stalled plan to force fast-food chains to add calorie counts to the big menu boards that hang above their counters....More

N.B. government releases report on protecting personal health information

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick should hire a full-time privacy commissioner to oversee personal health information issues, and bring in uniform guidelines for the collection and use of that information, a committee recommended Wednesday....More

Four more toddlers infected with HIV in outbreak in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Four more Kyrgyz toddlers have been infected with HIV in an outbreak blamed on medical negligence, officials said Wednesday, raising the number of people diagnosed to 26....More

Federal government opens one-stop warning website for dangerous goods

OTTAWA - The federal government has launched a new "one-stop" Internet database to provide Canadians with information on dangerous or recalled food and children's products....More

Diabetes association, dietitians translate materials for new Canadians

TORONTO - Nutrition fact sheets aimed at reaching Canadians who speak Punjabi, Chinese and Spanish have been translated and are being posted online by the Canadian Diabetes Association and Dietitians of Canada....More

Dangerous staph germ could be stopped with screening, studies show

CHICAGO - Testing all new hospital patients for a dangerous staph "superbug" could help wipe out a germ that likely kills more Americans than AIDS, consumer advocates say and early evidence suggests. Yet few U.S. hospitals do it, and many fight efforts to require it....More

Calgary health officials warn of possible hepatitis A at restaurant

CALGARY - The Calgary Health Region is warning anyone who recently ate at a McDonald's Restaurant in the city's southeast to get vaccinated after a worker tested positive for hepatitis A....More

Number of employed nurses in Canada grew by five per cent in five years

TORONTO - A new report says the percentage growth in the national nursing workforce has actually exceeded the growth of the Canadian population over the past five years....More

Norwegian author's letter to autistic son shines a light on the disorder

Halfdan W. Freihow has been a Norwegian literary critic and publisher for years, but it took him quite some time to decide how best to tell the story of Gabriel, his autistic son....More

NDP accuses B.C. government of playing booster-seat politics

VICTORIA - The Opposition New Democrats accused the B.C. government of playing booster-seat politics Tuesday....More

Imaginative approaches needed to increase nursing workforce: CNA

TORONTO - While the number of nurses working in the country is climbing, the increase isn't rapid enough to offset pending retirements, the Canadian Nursing Association warned Tuesday....More

Cannabis shows anti-depression benefits, but too much has reverse effect

MONTREAL-Cannabis in small doses has some beneficial effects for curbing depression, but too much of the drug can cause the polar opposite effect, a new study suggests....More

AIDS activist concerned with nurses being poached from Africa

FREDERICTON - Former UN envoy Stephen Lewis says he's concerned about western countries poaching nurses from developing countries, where they are needed in the battle against the AIDS pandemic....More

Four more toddlers infected with HIV in outbreak in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Four more Kyrgyz toddlers have been infected with HIV in an outbreak blamed on medical negligence, officials said Wednesday, raising the number of people diagnosed to 26....More

Diabetes association, dietitians translate materials for new Canadians

TORONTO - Nutrition fact sheets aimed at reaching Canadians who speak Punjabi, Chinese and Spanish have been translated and are being posted online by the Canadian Diabetes Association and Dietitians of Canada....More

Survey suggests MPs lacking in knowledge about Canadian health research

TORONTO - A new survey suggests members of Parliament appreciate the importance of health research, but don't see it as a vote-grabber when they head to the polls....More

Oral cancer in a blue spotlight as more dentists buy screening devices

An increasing number of patients have a new decision to make when they go to the dentist, above and beyond choosing tooth whitening or the flavour of a fluoride rinse. When patients visit the dental office of Dr....More

Novartis wins approval for Voltaren, treatment for osteoarthritis

BASEL, Switzerland - Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG said Monday its Voltaren Gel received U.S. regulatory approval as the first topical prescription treatment for pain associated with osteoarthritis. The U.S....More

N.B. health professionals point to need to increase nurses and nursing teachers

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick health professionals say more nursing graduates and teachers will be required to meet the province's nursing needs. There are currently 130 nursing vacancies in New Brunswick....More

More women getting both breasts removed when cancer strikes one

WASHINGTON - More women who have cancer in only one breast are getting both breasts removed, says research that found the trend more than doubled in just six years....More

Educated people develop dementia later in life, but decline quicker: study

TORONTO - It's been known for years that people with higher education levels tend to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life than those with less formal schooling....More

Does wrapping preemies in a bag immediately after birth increase survival?

TORONTO - As a fashion statement, it's somewhat lacking. But making baby's first outfit a plastic bag may have some health advantages, if the baby is a preemie....More

Canadian scientists leaving scene of Ebola outbreak in Africa

WINNIPEG - Scientists may never know the true extent of the Ebola outbreak that drew an international response to a remote region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a Canadian expert said Monday....More

Middle school in Maine to offer birth control pills, patches to pupils

PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health centre after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening....More

Infectious diseases sector wants Canada-wide strategy to counter infections

TORONTO - It's time for a Canada-wide strategy to deal with ailments ranging from the common cold and flu to deadly hospital-acquired infections and the possibility of a pandemic, say groups that have declared Thursday to be National Infectious Diseases Day....More

Genetic ancestry iffy means for tracing one's roots, researchers say

TORONTO - As ads go, they're pretty alluring: "Find out how you are related to Marie Antoinette" and "Discover your relation to Genghis Khan." With a simple swipe of a swab inside the mouth, consumers are told, they can capture DNA for analysis to trace their ancestors and country of origin....More

FDA says rare cases of hearing loss linked to impotence drugs

WASHINGTON - Viagra and other impotence drugs are about to bear new warnings that users may experience sudden hearing loss....More

No serious health risks from TB patients who crossed U.S. borders: official

WASHINGTON - Security lapses that allowed two men infected with tuberculosis to enter and leave the United States do not pose a serious health threat to people in the country, a top government health official said Friday. In April, U.S....More

Don't use cold medicines in children under 6: U.S. government advisers

WASHINGTON - The medicines long used by parents to treat their children's coughs and colds don't work and shouldn't be used in those younger than six, U.S. federal health advisers recommended Friday....More

Ketchen's heart of gold: $1 million for hospital cardiac unit

TORONTO - If you're wondering why Fred Ketchen is still working at the age of 72, it's not because he needs the money....More

Canada's drug bill could be cut if doctors knew prices: federal report

OTTAWA - Soaring drug bills in Canada could be cut if doctors simply paid attention to the cost of the medications they prescribe, says a new federal report....More

Quebec consumer magazine stands by report that Mega Brands blocks have lead

MONTREAL - Quebec consumer magazine "Protegez-Vous" is standing by its claim there are elevated lead levels in blocks made by toymaker Mega Brands Inc. (TSX:MB)....More

Pediatricians press FDA on safety of cold medicines for children under six

WASHINGTON - Cold and cough medicines given to infants and toddlers work no better than dummy pills and can be dangerous, pediatricians seeking to curb their use told U.S. government health advisers Thursday....More

Older, sicker patients face longer waits when admitted to hospital through ER

TORONTO - Older patients with more complex medical needs face among the longest waits for a hospital bed when they are admitted after a visit to an emergency department, a study released Thursday suggests....More

N.S. anti-strike bill about politics, not health care, opposition says

HALIFAX - Premier Rodney MacDonald is pressing ahead with an anti-strike bill that's doomed to fail in Nova Scotia's minority legislature, insisting Thursday that voters deserve a debate on the issue while prompting accusations of political games from the opposition....More

Middle school in Maine to offer birth control pills, patches to pupils

PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health centre after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening....More

Infectious diseases sector wants Canada-wide strategy to counter infections

TORONTO - It's time for a Canada-wide strategy to deal with ailments ranging from the common cold and flu to deadly hospital-acquired infections and the possibility of a pandemic, say groups that have declared Thursday to be National Infectious Diseases Day....More

Genetic ancestry iffy means for tracing one's roots, researchers say

TORONTO - As ads go, they're pretty alluring: "Find out how you are related to Marie Antoinette" and "Discover your relation to Genghis Khan." With a simple swipe of a swab inside the mouth, consumers are told, they can capture DNA for analysis to trace their ancestors and country of origin....More

FDA says rare cases of hearing loss linked to impotence drugs

WASHINGTON - Viagra and other impotence drugs are about to bear new warnings that users may experience sudden hearing loss....More

Studies show HPV DNA test finds more cervical cancer than Pap tests

TORONTO - A DNA-based screening test for cervical cancer is substantially more effective at picking up evidence of cancer and pre-cancerous lesions than the cancer screening world's stalwart, the Pap test, two new studies suggest....More

Report says majority of Britons could be obese by 2050, calls for sweeping changes

LONDON - Most British citizens could be obese by 2050, a new government report warns, and the nation's health secretary called Wednesday for a fundamental shift in the way the nation tackles obesity....More

Quebec court rejects Mega Brands injunction against consumer magazine

MONTREAL - A Quebec Superior Court judge has rejected an injunction request by toymaker Mega Brands Inc. (TSX:MB) to stop the distribution of a consumer magazine's toy guide....More

Quebec consumer magazine stands by report that Mega Brands blocks have lead

MONTREAL - Quebec consumer magazine "Protegez-Vous" is standing by its claim there are elevated lead levels in blocks made by toymaker Mega Brands Inc. (TSX:MB)....More

Middle school in Maine to offer birth control pills, patches to pupils

PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health centre after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening....More

Mega Brands, Quebec magazine dispute lead content in toymakers' blocks

MONTREAL - Quebec consumer magazine "Protegez-Vous" is standing by its claim there are elevated lead levels in blocks made by toymaker Mega Brands Inc. (TSX:MB)....More

Middle school in Maine to offer birth control pills, patches to pupils

PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health centre after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening....More

Infectious diseases sector wants Canada-wide strategy to counter infections

TORONTO - It's time for a Canada-wide strategy to deal with ailments ranging from the common cold and flu to deadly hospital-acquired infections and the possibility of a pandemic, say groups that have declared Thursday to be National Infectious Diseases Day....More

Medtronic pulls defibrillator wires linked to 5 deaths

MINNEAPOLIS - Medtronic Inc. is stopping distribution of wires that connect some of its defibrillators to patients' hearts after learning they may have contributed to five deaths. Medtronic shares dropped more than 12 per cent by midday Monday after the disclosure....More

High-tech hospital a model of move towards electronic health-care delivery

BRAMPTON, Ont. - When the first patients walk through the doors of the new Brampton Civic Hospital in a couple of weeks, they will be entering a centre like no other in Canada - but one that will increasingly become the standard for health-care delivery across the country....More

British health chief apologizes for deadly bacterial infections at hospitals

LONDON - Britain's health chief apologized Monday for an outbreak of a deadly bacterial infection in hospitals that left 90 people dead, but insisted the incident was an isolated one....More

U.S. deaths from deadly drug-resistant staph may surpass AIDS deaths: experts

CHICAGO - More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from a drug-resistant staph "superbug," the government reported Tuesday in its first overall estimate of invasive disease caused by the germ....More

Shortage of health service dentists forces some Britons to pull their own teeth

LONDON - A shortage of National Health Service dentists in England has led some people to pull out their own teeth or use super glue to stick crowns back on, a study says....More

Egg freezing still too new to offer as commercial option for extending fertility

TORONTO - Egg freezing is still too experimental a procedure to be offered or marketed as a way to allow healthy women to hedge their bets and extend their reproductive lives, two American organizations representing professionals in the fertility field cautioned Tuesday....More

Drug company ties pervasive among department heads at U.S. med schools

CHICAGO - Nearly two-thirds of academic leaders surveyed at U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals have financial ties to industry, illustrating how pervasive these relationships have become, researchers say....More

Calvert defends NDP prescription plan, saying voters "warmly" welcome idea

SASKATOON - Saskatchewan NDP Leader Lorne Calvert is on the campaign trail in Saskatoon, highlighting his party's prescription drug plan....More

Union demands greater security in Halifax psychiatric wards

HALIFAX - A Nova Scotia New Democrat says workers at a Halifax hospital could soon refuse to work because of unsafe conditions in the psychiatric wards....More

Sask. premier says wait times down for surgery, despite report that says otherwise

REGINA - Saskatchewan's premier insists the wait times for surgeries are coming down despite a new report which says they rose slightly in 2007. Premier Lorne Calvert acknowledges that lowering wait times has been a challenge in Saskatchewan and across the country....More

New drug approved in Canada to treat HIV, first in 10 years

Health Canada has approved the first drug in the first new class of HIV medications to be brought to market in Canada in a decade. Celsentri - the brand name for the drug maraviroc - is the first of a class of drugs called CCR5 antagonists to gain regulatory approval....More

N.S. labour minister says parts of proposed anti-strike bill favour workers

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's minority government is moving ahead with proposed anti-strike legislation for health-care workers, despite getting the cold shoulder from opposition parties and union leaders....More

Medtronic pulls defibrillator wires linked to 5 deaths

MINNEAPOLIS - Medtronic Inc. is stopping distribution of wires that connect some of its defibrillators to patients' hearts after learning they may have contributed to five deaths. Medtronic shares dropped more than 12 per cent by midday Monday after the disclosure....More

High-tech hospital a model of move towards electronic health-care delivery

BRAMPTON, Ont. - When the first patients walk through the doors of the new Brampton Civic Hospital in a couple of weeks, they will be entering a centre like no other in Canada - but one that will increasingly become the standard for health-care delivery across the country....More

Company pulls defibrillation leads due to risk they may fracture

WASHINGTON - Medtronic Inc. has suspended distribution of its Sprint Fidelis defibrillation leads after identifying five patient deaths in which a lead fracture may have been a contributing factor....More

British health chief apologizes for deadly bacterial infections at hospitals

LONDON - Britain's health chief apologized Monday for an outbreak of a deadly bacterial infection in hospitals that left 90 people dead, but insisted the incident was an isolated one....More

Scientists explain why you crave chocolate deep down - right into your gut

WASHINGTON - If that craving for chocolate sometimes feels as if it is coming from deep in your gut, that's because maybe it is. A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate....More

FDA to examine group's claim that some lipsticks contaminated with lead

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it would look into claims from an advocacy group that certain lipsticks contain potentially dangerous levels of lead. Similar claims in the past have not been confirmed, the agency said....More

Cholesterol-lowering drugs still work a decade after patients quit them: study

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs help prevent heart attacks for at least a decade after people stop taking them, the first long-term study of the world's top-selling type of medication finds....More

Personal care, restaurant industries have highest rates of depression

WASHINGTON - People who tend to the elderly, change diapers and serve up food and drinks have the highest rates of depression among U.S. workers. Overall, seven per cent of full-time workers battled depression in the past year, according to a government report available Saturday....More

Overweight teens face same risky eating behaviours as too-thin peers

MINNEAPOLIS - For parents concerned about their overweight teens, new research suggests the best tactic might be to just relax and cook a healthy Sunday dinner. Pushing diets probably won't help. Neither will teasing about weight....More

Drug body's advice against provinces paying for MS drugs seen as unfair

TORONTO - An expert panel's advice that provinces and territories not cover the cost of two Multiple Sclerosis drugs creates a system of two-tiered care, MS advocates say....More

Website shows videos of autistic vs. normal behaviour as guide for parents

CHICAGO - What's so unusual about a baby fascinated with spinning a cup, or a toddler flapping his hands, or a preschooler walking on her toes? Parents and even doctors sometimes miss these red flags for autism, but a new online video "glossary" makes them startlingly clear....More

Company pulls defibrillation leads due to risk they may fracture

WASHINGTON - Medtronic Inc. has suspended distribution of its Sprint Fidelis defibrillation leads after identifying five patient deaths in which a lead fracture may have been a contributing factor....More

Johnson & Johnson recalls cough medicines for kids due to overdose concerns

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Johnson & Johnson on Thursday voluntarily recalled certain infant cough and cold products in the United States, citing "rare" instances of misuse leading to overdoses....More

ConAgra asking U.S. stores to quit selling pot pies, offers refunds

OMAHA, Neb. - ConAgra Foods Inc. has asked U.S. stores to stop selling pot pies linked to a salmonella outbreak and is offering refunds for the turkey and chicken-filled meals. The company and the U.S....More

Cold remedy makers pull infant cold medications over safety concerns

TORONTO - Drug makers voluntarily pulled some cold and cough medicines aimed at children under the age of two off the market in Canada and the United States on Thursday, amid growing concerns about safety....More

Canadian researcher heads new initiative to hunt for elusive AIDS vaccine

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Dr. Alan Bernstein of Toronto, who founded the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, has been named the first executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise. The announcement was made today at an AIDS conference in Cape Town, South Africa....More

Canadian family doctors call for more pay, recruitment to fill health-care gaps

WINNIPEG - Family doctors across the country say they need higher paycheques and better recruitment efforts to improve patient care and cut wait times....More

Advocates call for more mammograms for at-risk Ontario women

TORONTO - Advocates say more Ontario women considered most at risk for breast cancer need to get mammograms. Cancer Care Ontario reports the number of women aged 50 to 69 requiring regular breast screening has increased by 3.3 per cent this year....More

About a third of U.S. adults with arthritis say work limited by the condition

ATLANTA - About a third of U.S. adults with arthritis say the chronic condition - America's leading cause of disability - has limited their ability to work, the government said Thursday....More

Abortion is just as common where it's legal as where it's not, experts say

LONDON - Women are just as likely to get an abortion in countries where it is outlawed as they are in countries where it is legal, according to research published Friday....More

N.S. New Democrats launch campaign to reduce health wait times

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's New Democrats have launched a campaign to counter government claims that anti-strike legislation is needed to ensure public access to health care....More

Fewer women need chemo drug Taxol; study finds it doesn't work for most

The widely used chemotherapy drug Taxol does not work for the most common form of breast cancer and helps far fewer patients than has been believed, surprising new research suggests....More

FDA panel recommends approval for Medtronic's drug-coated Endeavor stent

WASHINGTON - Medtronic's drug-coated stent Endeavor cleared a major regulatory hurdle Wednesday, as U.S. government advisers recommended approval for the artery-opening device....More

Families caught in red tape are stuck in mouldy homes unfit for habitation

OTTAWA - Families are still living in mouldy homes more than two months after Health Canada called for immediate repairs on the Fort Albany First Nation in northern Ontario....More

Even insured U.S. kids get needed health care less than half the time, study finds

As Washington debates children's health insurance, a startling study finds that kids who regularly see doctors get the right care less than half the time - whether it's preschool shots or chlamydia tests for teen girls....More

Cholesterol-lowering drugs still work a decade after patients quit them: study

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs help prevent heart attacks for at least a decade after people stop taking them, the first long-term study of the world's top-selling type of medication finds....More

Aboriginal families caught in red tape still stuck in mouldy, flood-prone homes

OTTAWA - Families are still living in mould-contaminated homes more than two months after Health Canada called for immediate repairs on the Fort Albany First Nation in northern Ontario....More

Marvel halts Curious George shipments over possible lead concerns

SAN FRANCISCO - Marvel Enterprises Inc. has halted shipments of its Chinese-made Curious George products to retailers and says it will issue a recall if testing confirms allegations the items contain illegally high amounts of lead....More

New emergency unit at Vancouver hospital to speed patient care

VANCOUVER - An upgraded emergency unit at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver is aimed at fast-tracking patients through the emergency room....More

Migraine pill helps some alcoholics taper off drinking without detox: study

CHICAGO - A migraine pill seems to help alcoholics taper off their drinking without detox treatment, researchers report, offering a potential option for a hard-to-treat problem....More

Low-fat diet after menopause seems to reduce risk of ovarian cancer

WASHINGTON - Cutting dietary fat may also cut the risk of ovarian cancer, says a study of almost 40,000 older women that found the first hard evidence that menu changes protect against this particularly lethal cancer....More

Heart attack patients who return to high-stress jobs at risk of recurrence: study

TORONTO - People who have had a heart attack and return to stressful jobs face double the risk of having recurrent heart problems than those without high levels of job strain, a new study suggests....More

Head of Sask. dentist group wants province to recruit and retain more dentists

SASKATOON - The chief executive officer of the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan says dental care is a forgotten component of health care. Dr. Bernie White says there is a critical shortage of dentists in Saskatchewan, especially in northern areas....More

ConAgra shuts down pot pie plant because of salmonella concerns

OMAHA, Neb. - ConAgra Foods Inc. voluntarily stopped production Tuesday at the Missouri plant that makes its Banquet pot pies after health officials said the pies may be linked to 139 cases of salmonella in 30 states....More

B.C. to cover acupuncture treatments for low-income residents

VICTORIA - Low income B.C. residents will have acupuncture treatments covered by the province's Medical Services Plan starting next April....More

13 per cent of Cdn-trained doctors working in U.S. likely to return home: survey

TORONTO - About one in 10 Canadian-trained doctors who have moved to the United States would consider returning to their native land to practise medicine, a survey by the Canadian Medical Association suggests....More

Coming to your doctor's office: Small scanners to spot hidden artery plaque

MADISON, Wis. - What if your doctor could swipe a wand over your neck and reveal whether you have hidden heart disease? That is now possible in places other than the sickbay of the starship Enterprise....More

Breast cancer survivors face more heart risk, especially after certain chemo

WASHINGTON - Breast cancer survivors may face increased risk of heart disease - and doctors are debating if it's time to largely abandon a chemotherapy mainstay that is one reason for the problem....More

Banked blood may lose vital chemical needed to supply oxygen

WASHINGTON - Much of the stored blood given to millions of people every year may lack a component vital for it to deliver oxygen to the tissues....More

Bad marriage, sour relationships might literally hurt the heart, says study

CHICAGO - A lousy marriage might literally make you sick. Marital strife and other bad personal relationships can raise your risk for heart disease, researchers reported Monday....More

Americans, Briton win Nobel Prize in medicine

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Americans Mario R. Capecchi and Oliver Smithies and Briton Martin J. Evans won the 2007 Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for groundbreaking discoveries that led to a powerful technology known as gene targeting in mice....More

Americans, Briton win Nobel Prize in medicine

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Americans Mario R. Capecchi and Oliver Smithies and Briton Martin J. Evans won the 2007 Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for groundbreaking discoveries that led to a powerful technology known as gene targeting in mice....More

2 Americans, Briton share Nobel Prize in medicine for gene manipulation work

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Two American scientists and a Briton won the 2007 Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for groundbreaking discoveries that led to a powerful technique for manipulating mouse genes....More

Vancouver's QLT Inc. enters agreement to take over ForSight Newco for $42 M

VANCOUVER - Vancouver-based biopharmaceutical firm QLT Inc. (TSX:QLT) announced early Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement to take over California's ForSight Newco II....More

Health officials on Prairies wrapping up worst-ever year for West Nile

Health officials on the Prairies are wrapping up one of the worst years on record for infections with the West Nile virus....More

Group including former Vancouver mayor, judge pan Tory anti-drug strategy

VANCOUVER - Critics of the Conservative government's new anti-drug plan are calling it everything from naive to politically opportunistic and a threat to the civil liberties of Canadians....More

Consumers warned against use of recalled contact lens solution

TORONTO - Health Canada is warning consumers not to use a recalled contact lens solution believed to be associated with serious eye problems that could lead to vision loss....More

Canada confirms to WTO it will be first to export cheap, generic AIDS drugs

GENEVA - Canada has become the first country in the world to invoke a provision allowing it to export a cheap, generic version of patented AIDS drugs, the World Trade Organization said Friday....More

CFIA warns of possible milk protein in organic imported chocolates

OTTAWA - People with allergies to milk protein are being warned about a type of bio-organic chocolate imported from Belgium....More

Enzyme discovery, DNA fingerprinting may lead to possible Nobel medicine win

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - American scientists who discovered an enzyme that broke new ground in research on cancer and aging are among potential winners of this year's Nobel Prize in medicine, the first of six prestigious awards being announced by the Nobel committees....More

Americans, Briton win Nobel Prize in medicine

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Americans Mario R. Capecchi and Oliver Smithies and Briton Martin J. Evans won the 2007 Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for groundbreaking discoveries that led to a powerful technology known as gene targeting in mice....More

Americans, Briton win Nobel Prize in medicine

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Americans Mario R. Capecchi and Oliver Smithies and Briton Martin J. Evans won the 2007 Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for groundbreaking discoveries that led to a powerful technology known as gene targeting in mice....More

Kids' use of heartburn drugs surges; obesity, overuse a cause?

CHICAGO - The number of young children on prescription drugs for heartburn and other digestive problems jumped about 56 per cent in recent years and researchers say obesity and overuse might be contributing to the surprising increase....More

ICU docs in rural NS hospitals threaten walkout; minister hopes for settlement

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister says he hopes doctors who work in the intensive care units of the province's rural hospitals don't make good on a threat to walk out on Monday....More

Health Canada pulls market approval for drug Prexige, citing liver problems

TORONTO - Health Canada has ordered the anti-inflammatory drug Prexige off the market, citing the potential for severe liver-related side-effects....More

Harper announces $64 million to fight drug dealers, help users

WINNIPEG - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is promising to put more drug dealers behind bars and help users kick the habit as part of a $64-million anti-drug strategy....More

Females who leave home for university at higher risk for binge eating: study

TORONTO - Female students who leave home to attend first-year university or college are significantly more likely to start binge eating than peers who stay home to attend school - a behaviour that puts them at risk for more serious eating disorders in the future, new research suggests....More

CDC tells Congress it doesn't conduct surprise inspections at germ labs

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government does not conduct surprise inspections of laboratories handling the world's most dangerous organisms and poisons, but regulators said Thursday they may change their tactics....More

B.C. spending $70 million on three-year Alzheimer's drug study

VICTORIA - The B.C. government will pay for three Alzheimer's medications during a $78-million study of the effectiveness of those medications. Premier Gordon Campbell has announced the province will provide Pharmacare coverage for three cholinesterase inhibitors....More

ATV, snowmobile injuries that send people to hospital rose 25 per cent in a decade

TORONTO - A new report says the number of people hospitalized because of injuries on all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles rose 25 per cent from the mid-1990s to 2005....More

Provinces' school nutrition policies are 'disappointing,' says health watchdog

TORONTO - Not a single province scored an A on a school nutrition policy report card released Wednesday by a health advocacy group, and three provinces - Prince Edward Island, Ontario and Saskatchewan - received a failing grade....More

Ont. closing facilities for intellectually disabled in wrong way: opposition

Ontario's gradual closure of facilities for developmentally disabled adults isn't being handled properly and could force residents to move into group homes that may not be adequately equipped to care for them, say the province's opposition leaders....More

One educator in every Alberta grade school to be taught mental health first aid

EDMONTON - Mental health is moving to the head of the class in Alberta. Starting in February, at least one teacher or staff person in every grade school in the province will be taught mental health first-aid to spot students suffering from depression, help them get professional...More

Harper to announce $64-million anti-drug strategy

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is set to announce a $64-million anti-drug strategy that cracks down on dealers and offers more help for users....More

Drug-coated stents appear safer than previously thought, study finds

TORONTO - They may not be the sexiest devices in medicine, but those little wire-mesh cylinders that prop open coronary arteries to prevent heart attacks have been causing a big controversy worldwide....More

Delegates to Edmonton tobacco conference told provinces should sue more

EDMONTON - Delegates at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health are urging provinces to sue tobacco companies and recover billions in lost health-care dollars. A discussion held Wednesday focused on litigation as a major strategy for tobacco control....More

Avoiding a colonoscopy? An X-ray version may be more widely available soon

NEW YORK - Having an X-ray to look for signs of colon cancer may soon be an option for those who dread the traditional scope exam....More

1 in 4 disabled Americans smoke versus 1 in 5 in non-disabled population

ATLANTA - Americans with disabilities smoke more than everyone else, according to the first national study to compare smoking rates between the two groups. About one in four disabled people are smokers, compared to about one in five among the non-disabled, the U.S....More

Mothers from poor neighbourhoods have smaller babies, more early births

OTTAWA - Mothers from poor neighbourhoods in Toronto are more likely to have smaller babies or give birth prematurely, although immigrant moms partly buck that trend, a new Statistics Canada survey suggests....More

Morning-sickness remedy calabash chalk may pose health risks: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising Canadians, especially pregnant and breastfeeding women, to avoid taking the traditional remedy calabash chalk because of potential health risks from high levels of lead....More

Montreal Compassion Club opens new wheelchair-friendly pot dispensary

MONTREAL - The Montreal Compassion Club, which sells medical marijuana to those with illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy and HIV-AIDS, has opened a new storefront location....More

Lawyer for Perrault talks of 'recompense' for cleared ex-Red Cross director

TORONTO - The prospect of compensation was on the lips of Dr. Roger Perrault's lawyer Tuesday after the former national director of the Canadian Red Cross was acquitted in the first criminal case to emerge from the tainted-blood scandal....More

Jehovah's Witness parents in transfusion case can cross-examine doctors

VANCOUVER - The Jehovah's Witness parents of sextuplets have won the right to cross-examine the medical professionals who provided affidavits supporting blood transfusions for some of their babies....More

Flu vaccination rates rise but still fall short of targets, study finds

TORONTO - Flu vaccination rates more than doubled in the past decade in Canada, a country at or near the top of the list of flu vaccine-using nations in the world....More

Compassion Club head wants Quebec to run medical marijuana access plan

MONTREAL - The founder of the Montreal Compassion Club wants Quebec to take over the administration of the federal Medical Marijuana Access program in the province. Marc-Boris St-Maurice said Tuesday the program is "an embarrassing oxymoron....More

Beijing bans smoking in taxis ahead of 2008 Olympics

BEIJING - As part of its efforts to spruce up the city ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has banned smoking in taxis, state media reported Tuesday....More

Four doctors, pharma company acquitted of all charges in tainted blood trial

TORONTO - Activists and lawyers for victims of the worst public-health disaster in Canadian history lashed out in anger Monday after an Ontario judge acquitted four doctors, including the former national medical director of the Canadian Red Cross, of criminal charges in the tainted-blood...More

Four doctors, pharma company acquitted of all charges in tainted blood trial

TORONTO - Four doctors, including the former national medical director of the Canadian Red Cross, were acquitted Monday in the first criminal trial to emerge from what's been described as the worst public-health disaster in Canadian history. Dr....More

Four doctors, pharma company acquitted of all charges in tainted blood trial

TORONTO - Activists and lawyers for victims of the worst public-health disaster in Canadian history lashed out in anger Monday after an Ontario judge acquitted the former national medical director of the Canadian Red Cross and three other doctors of criminal charges in the tainted-blood...More

Elizabeth Hurley lights up Vancouver Art Gallery for breast cancer awareness

VANCOUVER - Supermodel and actress Elizabeth Hurley helped illuminate the Vancouver Art Gallery with pink light Monday night in honour of breast cancer awareness....More

Doctors report details of rare spasm-caused heart attacks in children

CHICAGO - Beth Meter is a cardiac nurse who has seen plenty of heart attacks, so when her son complained of sudden crushing chest pain that spread to his arm, she was certain he was having one. Doctors at first didn't believe her. That's because her son had just turned 13....More

B.C. Health Minister says there's no private-care plot in letter

VICTORIA - B.C. Health Minister George Abbott says there's nothing nefarious about a letter and survey sent to private clinics by his deputy minister. The B.C....More

A chronology of Canada's tainted-blood scandal:

March 1985: Major blood suppliers in the United States begin testing blood products for the AIDS virus. November 1985: Canadian Red Cross begins testing blood products for the AIDS virus. Dec....More

'Limb-salvage teams' fight amputations from common diabetic foot sores

WASHINGTON - A stubbed toe can lead to having your foot amputated? It can if you're a longtime diabetic. And it can happen fast. "Tuesday in the office, they're fine. Friday, they're in the emergency room with gangrene in a toe," says Dr....More

Researcher defends assisted suicide study on 'vulnerable groups'

PORTLAND, Oregon - Doctor-assisted suicide in Oregon and the Netherlands does not result in more deaths among certain groups of terminally ill patients such as the poor or the elderly, according to a controversial new study....More

Low-income smokers would pay disproportionate share of children's health plan

WASHINGTON - Congressional Democrats have chosen an unlikely source to pay for the bulk of their proposed $35 billion increase in children's health coverage: people with relatively little money and education....More

Hemophilia community awaits Monday's verdict in tainted blood trial

TORONTO - Members of Canada's hemophilia community are awaiting a Superior Court judge's verdict Monday in what has been called the worst public health disaster in Canadian history....More

Families fear for loved ones as Ontario closes centres for mentally handicapped

TORONTO - Eighteen short months is all that stands between Toni Jeffreys and the "terrifying" prospect that her severely developmentally disabled sister will lose the only home she's known for nearly half a century....More

Ebola outbreak may be on the verge of containment, Canadian expert says

The Ebola outbreak that drew a large international assistance effort to the Democratic Republic of Congo may be coming under control, one of the Canadian experts involved in the response said Sunday. In an interview from Mweka, Dr....More

B.C. Nurses Union brief calls for stronger commitment to public health care

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Nurses Union says the province should deepen its commitment to public health care. The demand is included in the union's submission to the government's Conversation of Health, a public process aimed at helping reform the health-care system....More

B.C. Nurses Union brief calls for stronger commitment to public health care

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Nurses Union says the province should deepen its commitment to public health care. The demand is included in the union's submission to the government's Conversation of Health, a public process aimed at helping reform the health-care system....More

Doctors report details of rare spasm-caused heart attacks in children

CHICAGO - Beth Meter is a cardiac nurse who has seen plenty of heart attacks, so when her son complained of sudden crushing chest pain that spread to his arm, she was certain he was having one. Doctors at first didn't believe her. That's because her son had just turned 13....More