Newspapers recently published editorials and opinion pieces commenting on a bill (HR 4) scheduled for vote Friday that would require the [click link for full article]

Asthma UK is to launch a new resource pack in January to support community pharmacists in England and Wales in helping people with asthma to have a better understanding of their medicines.The pack, produced in association with PSNC and MIMS, will provide information and advice for pharmacists undertaking Medicine Use Reviews for people with asthma as well as helping people with asthma to understand their medicines. [click link for full article]

Dr Lyn Smurthwaite, Research Development Manager at Asthma UK comments: ‘Reducing salt in our diets is thought to be beneficial for many reasons and the possibility that it may improve asthma symptoms is something Asthma UK is keen to explore. We are delighted to be currently funding a trial by Dr Fogarty into the longer-term effects of a reduced salt diet on asthma symptoms. [click link for full article]

People living with severe asthma in Scotland look set to be denied access to a potentially life enhancing treatment today.The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), which advises NHSScotland on new treatments, is expected to issue advice against Xolair on the grounds of cost.Asthma UK Chief Executive Donna Covey said: ‘Xolair has been proved to be safe and effective and to transform people’s lives. [click link for full article]

The following highlights recently released journal articles on women’s health issues. Pregnancy & Childbirth ” [click link for full article]

Reauthorization of the SCHIP program is a top priority this year for the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, according to subcommittee chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), CongressDaily reports. According to House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif. [click link for full article]

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday examined findings from the Women’s Health Initiative and other studies on the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women, as well as how to weigh symptoms and factors before deciding to start treatment. [click link for full article]

President Bush on Thursday indicated he would veto a bill (HR 4) that would require the HHS secretary to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the [click link for full article]

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis on Tuesday announced the full court on April 11 will hear arguments in a lawsuit challenging a 2005 South Dakota law (HB 1166) that would require abortion providers in the state to tell women before performing the procedure that it would “terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being,” the [click link for full article]

In the seven months since FDA approved Merck’s human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil, a number of states and Washington, D.C. [click link for full article]