CMAJ 10 Health Stories That Mattered: June 21–27

News CMAJ

10 health stories that mattered: June 21–27

• British Columbians have the high- practice requirements, including • New restrictions may be required so est quality of life and residents of a lack of procedures to prevent that only Alberta Health Services Nunavut the lowest, according to microbiological contamination of can sponsor foreign physicians in the interactive OECD Regional drug products. Alberta, says the College of Physi- Well-Being website released by the cians and Surgeons of Alberta. The Organisation for Economic Co- • A molecule found in soil fungus college is concerned about the num- operation and Development. The from Nova Scotia is offering hope ber of foreign physicians sponsored scores, ranging from 0 to 10 in cat- in the fight against antibiotic-resis- by private walk-in clinics (145 over egories such as safety and health, tant superbugs. Canadian research- the past two years). are based on data from national ers found that the molecule, asper- statistics offices. Canadian scores gillomarasmine A, restores the • A resident of Saskatchewan has died in the health category are British efficacy of an antibiotic in mice from hantavirus pulmonary syn- Columbia (9.4), Alberta (8.1), Sas- infected with a strain of resistant drome, a rare condition caused by katchewan (6.7), Manitoba (6.7), pneumonia. infection with hantavirus from con- Ontario (8.7), Quebec (8.6), New tact with the urine, feces or saliva of Brunswick (7.4), Nova Scotia • Some Canadian doctors are pre- infected rodents. Since 1994, the (6.9), Prince Edward Island (6.7), scribing the antinausea drug ondan- province has reported only 27 cases Newfoundland and Labrador (5.9), setron as an off-label treatment for of the syndrome. A third of the Yukon (4.1), Northwest Territories severe morning sickness, even cases resulted in death. (4.6), Nunavut (0). though it is suspected of sometimes causing serious adverse effects, • Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has • Guidelines for diagnosing and man- according to a Toronto Star investi- appointed Dr. Eric Hoskins as the aging pediatric concussion were gation. At least 20 Canadian cases province’s new Minister of Health. released by the Ontario Neurotrauma of serious adverse effects, includ- Hoskins, a family physician and Foundation. They apply to youth ing infant deaths and babies born humanitarian, cofounded the interna- aged 5–18. Most existing concussion with heart defects and kidney prob- tional charity War Child Canada with guidelines target adults or athletes. lems, were discovered in the US his wife, Dr. Samantha Nutt. Food and Drug Administration’s • GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) says it is Adverse Event Reporting System, • The University of Toronto received “making progress” addressing con- reports the Star. a $10-million donation to create an cerns about quality control and man- institute to study and improve First ufacturing procedures at its vaccine- • Federal Health Minister Rona Nations health care. The donor, for- manufacturing facility in Sainte- Ambrose launched the Advisory mer neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Dan, Foy, Que., which produces influenza Panel on Healthcare Innovation to is using some of the proceeds from vaccines for the United States and help “foster the kinds of innovation the sale of the generic-drug com- Canada. On June 12, the US Food that improve the quality and cost- pany Novopharm Ltd., which was and Drug Administration sent a effectiveness of our healthcare sys- founded by his father. — Roger warning letter to GSK following an tem.” Dr. David Naylor, former Collier, CMAJ inspection that found deviations president of the University of from current good manufacturing Toronto, will chair the panel. CMAJ 2014. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4842