Posts from — February 2010

• NHS – Nurse HomeCare Role – BBC News – Specialist nurse role 'critical to care' http://bit.ly/aPJfON #
• Impact of Femoral Vascular Closure Devices– Sanborn et al. 3 (1): 57 — Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions – http://goo.gl/VlcW #
• Don't worry, be happy:positive affect reduced 10-year incident coronary heart disease: Canadian Health Survey Eur Heart J http://goo.gl/QAtc #

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Press Release:

DMLA, quatre lettres pour perdre la vue.

RETINA FRANCE soutient, aide et renseigne les nombreuses personnes dans notre pays atteintes par un problème visuel.

La DMLA, dégénérescence maculaire liée à l’âge, touche plus d’un million de personnes en détruisant progressivement le centre de la rétine, appelé Macula. Peu à peu la vision des détails, comme le visage d’un proche ou les horaires des transports en commun, disparaît, laissant place petit à petit à l’isolement, la dépression et quelquefois malheureusement au suicide.

« Même pour aller voter aux élections régionales, il faudra se faire aider et dévoiler notre vote, c’est vraiment frustrant » confie Martine, malvoyante de 54 ans.

L’association RETINA FRANCE, première association de patients et reconnue d’utilité publique, a décidé d’agir pour sensibiliser aux maladies de la rétine. Elle a obtenu le prix de la transparence financière pour son soutien à la recherche avec vos dons et legs mais souhaite aller encore plus loin en sensibilisation le Grand Public.

Dès à présent, un livret bleu comprenant un test visuel sera offert sur simple demande au siège de l’association avec le numéro Azur mis en place : 0 810 30 20 50 ou via le site internet www.retina.fr, rubrique « Nous contacter »

« Ce test est important pour bénéficier dans certains cas des premières thérapies existantes. Il ne faut donc pas attendre et quelquefois demander un rendez vous en urgence » déclare Jean Jacques Frayssinet, Président de RETINA FRANCE et malvoyant lui-même.

Alors contactez Retina France car vous pourrez faire un test de vision chez vous avec la grille d’Amsler qui vous sera offerte et consulter un ophtalmologiste dès l’apparition des premiers signes évocateurs.

ASSOCIATION RETINA FRANCE
www.retina.fr
2 chemin du Cabirol
31770 COLOMIERS

• Invacare Rolls In Value – http://goo.gl/nLBS – No Information on peers Pride and Sunrise – at least not publically #
• Sibaya: (More Unbridled Capitalism As) Patients Battle For Drugs In The UK http://barl.in/aboGry #

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There is no doubt that with the strengthening dollar, costs for homecare products are set to rise in Europe. Most manufacturers and distributors of wheelchairs and other homecare products extensively source wheelchairs or components from China, where products are usually procured in US Dollars.

A quick glance at a ten year chart will show that a 10% or more swing in a relatively short time is not outside of the realm of possibility. It is also interesting to note the close linking of the Yuan (despite the US wish that that it will be allowed to float more in the future).

Of course with the largest revenues derived from Government reimbursement business, increasing prices is not going to be that easy. So it seems that the industry may be in for another round of restructuring, standardizing on lower featured products, or perhaps worse.

There are of course better ways to run sourcing and supply chain operations that are mostly dependent on China, but in an industry largely driven by cost, many companies have largely ignored these options – maybe at their peril.

Here is Business Week’s take on the fluctuating exchange rates.

Dollar Rises for Sixth Week Versus Euro After Fed Rate Increase – BusinessWeek.

Frank Barlin is Managing Partner at Sibaya LifeScience!

Where does the balance between the profit motive and patient care meet? Where in the so called first world can you not go to a pharmacy and pick up the drugs you need with the minimal delay – and no, more deregulation is not the answer.

BBC News – Patients miss out on treatment as drugs sold abroad.

Drug wholesalers selling stock abroad to maximise profit means UK patients are missing out on essential medicines, experts say.

• Do not let NHS use private services – http://bmj.com/cgi/content/long/340/feb12_2/c884 #
• New blog post: test http://barl.in/9dZoo8 #
• Healthcare Capitalism at it's worst – One Grand Deal Too Many Costs Lobbyist His Job – http://nyti.ms/cVLexq – #
• PAUL KRUGMAN – Republicans and Medicare – NYTimes.com – http://goo.gl/9Ve2 #
• Stent Graft versus Balloon Angioplasty for Failing Dialysis-Access Grafts http://bit.ly/bATDgy #
• Why former employees say Microsoft can't innovate Betanews – http://goo.gl/J8lu – the beer belly principle – applies 2 mobility and rehab 2 #
• New blog post: Completely Off Topic – Shaking Hands Spreads More Germs Than Kissing http://bit.ly/bEX52o #
• After years of digging, Jim Flavin (ex DCC) makes a great escape – Irish, Business – Independent.ie – http://goo.gl/2klY #
• Baxter lobbying budget tops $1 million for 4Q | – http://goo.gl/9haD – You kidding right… #

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Are hospitals who limit ties with drug companies at a competitive disadvantage? | KevinMD.com.

KevinMD asks an interesting question, and goes on to summarize:

In a lot of ways, this is similar to the college recruiting of athletes. Schools that have rigorous academic requirements put themselves at a competitive disadvantage athletically. The same could be said for hospitals, who risk driving away doctors by limiting their ties with drug companies.

My own take is simply “absolutely not”.

On the related posts several other drug company / physician ethics / commercial questions are raised.