A new report claims that stents don't work as well as drugs in preventing heart disease. The news was enough to move the markets. Helen Palmer has the story.
Antibiotics are so cheap and easy to prescribe, there's little incentive for doctors not to, even though resistance grows with each use. But now a think tank has suggested novel approach: If you can't cure the behavior, tax it.
A vote is expected today on a plan to hike tobacco taxes again. This time the increase would be used to boost funding for a health insurance program for low-income children.
Last weekend's massive pet food recall has turned many nervous pet owners away from big box stores and big name brands. But organic suppliers and pet stores are having a hard time keeping up with the booming new demand.
India's economy is booming, but only 10% of its citizens have health insurance. That's prevented millions from seeking care, but now India's poor are discovering the benefits of micro-insurance — and so are the companies providing it.
Americans have the most expensive health care in the world. And a study released today says about 30 cents of every dollar paid for our health goes to administrative costs. Helen Palmer reports.
Merck's state-lobbying campaign to make their cervical cancer vaccination mandatory in schools has faced strong resistance. Backlash comes despite the fact that Gardasil has been proven very effective against the disease. Pat Loeb reports.
Afghanistan's poppies already supply over 90 of the world's heroin, and this year's crop is huge. The U.S. wants to destroy the poppy fields, but some folks think they have a better idea.
The FDA has ordered drugmakers to issue strong new warnings about sleeping pills, citing risks of odd behaviors like sleep-eating and sleep-driving. That could cause complications for Big Pharma's bottom line.
