Health

Related media - News 24 hours Countries with limited budgets typically choose to pay for what are considered more essential health services, such as vaccines, rather than reproductive health, said Dr Ayman Abdelmohsen, head of the family planning division of UNFPA's technical division, because they produce more immediate results. But a recent UNFPA initiative to get low-income countries to shoulder a greater share of the costs has prompted 44 governments to sign up to a new financing model that commits them to increasing their contributions to reproductive health each year. Despite this, last year saw a significant global shortfall of…

Related media - Latest news When I was little, my father, who rarely traveled, would tell stories of a trip to Europe he took with his parents when he was 14, in 1966. He remembered how Nonie loved the pristine Swiss roads and flowerbeds; the cozy fireplace in the hillside house near Lugano, where her father was born, with its clever alcoves for drying clothes or warming bread; and the palpable poverty in the house in Pozzuoli, near Naples, where Nonie’s aunt had lined the walls with newspaper for insulation. Occasionally, my father would show me his Kodachrome slides on…

Related media - News 24 hours Ann Lurie, a former pediatric nurse turned prominent Chicago philanthropist, died Monday at her home. She was 79. Northwestern University, where Lurie was a trustee and major donor, announced her death without giving a cause. Raised in Miami by a single mother, Lurie was an only child and protested the Vietnam War during her college years. She initially planned to join the Peace Corps, but instead married Robert H. Lurie. Robert Lurie built a large real estate and investment business with Sam Zell, which included holdings such as The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago…

More news - Recent news The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday that all Americans aged 6 months and older should receive one of the new COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available this fall. This recommendation comes amid a summer surge in COVID-19 cases, with infection rates rising in at least 39 states and territories. While most Americans have developed some immunity to the coronavirus through previous infections or vaccinations, the new vaccines offer an incremental boost. However, their effectiveness wanes over a few months as immunity wanes and the virus continues to mutate. Data…

More news - Recent news For many Americans, the rising tide of prescription drug prices seems like a relentless force, threatening to swamp family budgets and access to health care. While pharmaceutical companies often assume public responsibility, the web of influences on drug costs is much more intricate. Today we shine our spotlight on a critical, but typically hidden, player in this system: pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Rebecca Robbins, a leading investigative reporter specializing in pharmaceuticals for the New York Times, takes us on a deep dive into the world of PBMs. We explore their role as middlemen between…

More news - News 24 hours Mosquito-borne dengue fever is spreading rapidly around the world, reaching record levels and even popping up in unexpected places. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning doctors in the United States to watch out for cases, as the risk of infection has increased this year. Why the surge? Several factors are driving the increase in dengue. The Aedes a Egypti mosquito, which transmits the virus, thrives in warm, humid environments. Climate change is creating the ideal conditions for these mosquitoes to expand their range and become more numerous. Additionally, urbanization brings…