Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Ontario children with diabetes to get help with funding for insulin pumps

From the Canadian Press:
Ontario will become the first province in Canada to fund insulin pumps for children with diabetes as part of a $1.9-billion increase in health-care spending included in Thursday's provincial budget.

The pledge will provide some 6,500 children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes with the best possible chance to lead a normal lifestyle, said Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, who called it the one item in the budget of which he's proudest. ...more

Dangerous drugs stolen from pharmacy

From the Brandon Sun:
Police fear a big dose of of dangerous drugs — including potentially deadly ‘hillbilly heroin’ — is on city streets following a brazen break-in at a Brandon pharmacy.

With surgical precision, thieves cut into a lock and defeated the Clinic Pharmacy’s alarm system during an overnight raid discovered Tuesday morning. ...more

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

School of Pharmacy starting to take shape

The University of Waterloo's new School of Pharmacy officially had its groundbreaking today. The new school will accept 120 students in the fall of 2007. ...more

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

From Health Canada:
Health Canada is advising women who are taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby. ...more

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Drug residue tainting water, report warns

From the Globe and Mail:
Residues from drugs and cosmetics are widespread contaminants in Canadian waterways, and should be subject to increased oversight by regulators because they represent a possible health hazard, says a report that is being released today.

The report, by the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, said tests of the past decade in the United States and Europe have found water to be laced with residues from cosmetics and 100 drugs, and while studies in Canada have not been as extensive, the situation is unlikely to be much different because of the high use of these products. ...more

Some patients will probably die if MS drug allowed: FDA official

From the Brandon Sun:
Dozens of multiple sclerosis patients asked federal health advisers Tuesday to let them decide whether to take Tysabri, a promising drug that was pulled from the market after it was linked to a rare, often-fatal brain infection.

‘‘I am at the end of my road, in terms of what I can take. I want it to be my choice,’’ said Barbara Crooks, 48, who travelled with her husband, David, from the Pittsburgh area to testify before a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee. ...more

Thursday, March 02, 2006

State renews Canada drug pact

From the Badger Herald (Wisconsin):
As part of Wisconsin’s prescription drug program with Canada, Gov. Jim Doyle extended medication importation agreements with three Canadian pharmacies last Friday.

“Hopefully, drug prices will fall, but until then, the renewal of the agreement provides seniors with another option to obtain low-cost prescription drugs,” said Gail Sumi, director of the National Association of Retired Persons Associate State Advocacy. ...more

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Seized Drugs Being Released

From the Los Angeles Times:
Amid mounting criticism of their crackdown on mail-order medications, customs officials have begun releasing hundreds of seized packages to consumers, Canadian pharmacies and U.S. lawmakers said Tuesday.

It was unclear whether the action signaled an end to the crackdown, which started in November when U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly increased seizures of prescription drugs mailed from abroad.

After repeatedly denying that they had changed policies, customs officials this week acknowledged that the agency had stepped up enforcement of a federal law banning personal importation of pharmaceuticals. ...more

Nevada's Canadian drug import plan moves ahead

From the Las Vegas Sun:
A divided state panel moved ahead Wednesday with plans to let Nevadans get low-cost prescription drugs from Canada, voting 4-3 for new rules that will be up for final approval April 20.

The state Board of Pharmacy action at a workshop was taken despite an earlier warning from state Attorney General George Chanos that the import program could have dire legal consequences because it puts the state at odds with the federal Food and Drug Administration. ...more