Reuters - Health Report

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Thursday, April 27, 2017

South Korea fines Novartis $49 million over kickbacks, suspends insurance payment

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Thursday it has fined Swiss drugmaker Novartis 55.1 billion won ($48.80 million) for offering doctors kickbacks to recommend the company's drugs, and also suspended insurance coverage for some of its drugs.

Conservatives back latest U.S. healthcare bill, obstacles remain

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The conservative House Freedom Caucus came out in support of a reworked U.S. healthcare overhaul bill even though it would not fully repeal Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

Merck cholesterol drug Vytorin faces competition from Impax, Teva generics

(Reuters) - Merck & Co's cholesterol-reducing drug Vytorin faces competition for the first time ever after two companies announced progress on their generic versions of a drug that generated more than $1 billion in sales last year.

Pregnancy complications await childhood cancer survivors

(Reuters Health) - Women who manage to conceive after surviving childhood cancer may encounter treatment-related pregnancy and labor complications if they got radiation for their malignancies, a recent study suggests.

White House to keep paying Obamacare subsidies for now: official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration will continue to pay subsidies for low-income Americans receiving healthcare coverage under Obamacare, but no decisions have been made about future funding, a White House official said on Wednesday.

Cheap blood drug could prevent thousands of maternal deaths in developing world

LONDON (Reuters) - A cheap and widely available drug could save the lives of one in three of the 100,000 new mothers who bleed to death after childbirth every year, mostly in poorer countries, according to the first study of its use in postpartum haemorrhage.

UK plain cigarette pack law seen cutting number of smokers by 300,000

LONDON (Reuters) - The introduction of plain packaging for tobacco cigarettes sold in Britain from next month could cut the number of smokers in the country by another 300,000 within a year, researchers said on Thursday.

Drugs firms call for phased transition of regulation after Brexit

LONDON (Reuters) - Pharmaceutical companies called on Thursday for a phased transition in drug regulation after Britain leaves the European Union, in order to avoid supply disruption and protect public health.

Global foundation launches value-based healthcare pilots

(Reuters) - Key healthcare stakeholders, led by the World Economic Forum, plan pilot programs this year to show the value of a new model for healthcare that would track and pay for treatment based on how well it works rather than the volume of care.

Potentially harmful effects of energy drinks - it's not the caffeine

(Reuters Health) - Drinking 32 ounces of energy drink is associated with potentially harmful changes in blood pressure and heart function that are beyond those seen with caffeine alone, according to a new study.