Health

Respiratory Infections Surge as Italy Nears Seasonal Peak

Approximately 950,000 new cases of acute respiratory infections were recorded in Italy during the week of December 15 to 21, according to data released on Monday by the Higher Health…

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France wants to end free health care for foreign pensioners

Foreign pensioners who dream of spending their retirement under the sun in the French Riviera might have to reconsider their plans if their free health care gets axed. France wants…

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US cancels mRNA vaccine contracts worth $500 million

The US government has decided to halt the funding of 22 projects focused on the development and manufacturing of mRNA-based vaccines that help fight respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and the…

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EU Struggles to Tackle Widespread Noise Pollution, Health Risks Mount

Despite growing awareness and regulatory efforts, environmental noise remains a persistent and underestimated public health threat across the European Union, impacting millions of citizens and contributing to thousands of premature…

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Environmental Noise is a Medical Emergency

The newly released 2025 report by the European Environment Agency (EEA ) delivers a powerful wake-up call: chronic exposure to transport noise is responsible for 66,000 premature deaths, 50,000 new…

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France grapples with surging tropical diseases

French regions are waging war against tiger mosquitoes as the country records rising cases of tropical diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya. Since Jan. 1, France has already seen…

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Europe faces growing threat of fake drugs, Europol warns

The illicit trade of fake medicines is a “growing threat” in Europe, EU’s law enforcement agency warned. There is a rise in the trade of either sub-standard, falsely labelled or…

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Neighborhood noise might increase heart attack risk

Research from two studies in different European cities highlights that urban noise pollution has a significant negative impact on heart health, according to data presented at ESC Congress 2024, the…

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Extreme heat: How does it affect medicines and those taking them?

The world just experienced the hottest day on record and prolonged heat waves have become more common due to climate change, conditions that can alter medications and their effects on…

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Why students harmed by addictive social media need more than cellphone bans and surveillance

Ateqah Khaki, The Conversation; Catherine Zhu, The Conversation, and Vinita Srivastava, Recently, five school boards in Ontario filed a lawsuit against the major social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat…

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Not all ultra-processed foods are bad for your health, whatever you might have heard

Gary Sacks, Deakin University; Kathryn Backholer, Deakin University; Kathryn Bradbury, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, and Sally Mackay, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau In recent years, there’s been…

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Why is cancer called cancer? We need to go back to Greco-Roman times for the answer

Amna Artist/Shutterstock Konstantine Panegyres, The University of Melbourne One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia…

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Rise in reports of fake weight-loss drugs linked to shortage of real thing, WHO says

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned that global shortages last year of popular diabetes medicines that are also used for weight loss, such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, had…

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World risks missing deadline for pandemic accord, says WHO chief

Countries risk missing a May deadline for agreeing a legally binding treaty on fighting pandemics, which would be a big blow for future generations, the head of the World Health…

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Italy hit record number of influenza cases

Italy has passed its yearly influenza peak, which this year has been the highest on record, according to the latest bulletin of the RespiVirNet surveillance system of the Istituto Superiore…

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Digimed aims to bring cultural change in health ecosystem

Healthcare delivery is experiencing enormous shifts, driven by constant technological advancements. More importantly, people want convenience and when it comes to healthcare, this is becoming a reality we can deliver…

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Whooping cough cases increasing in the UK

You may have read recent alarming reports of a cough that “lasts 100 days” is “quickly spreading across the UK” and can “fracture ribs”. If you didn’t look beyond the…

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How worried should we be about the pneumonia outbreak in China?

Reports of a surge in pneumonia-like illness primarily affecting children in northern China have captured our attention. The last time we heard about a mysterious respiratory outbreak leading to overcrowding…

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Mental Health: Business leaders are vulnerable too

Hygeia Conference addresses mental wellness at work You cannot help others if first, you cannot help yourself. In the ongoing discussion on the need for action to safeguard employees’ mental…

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US FDA approves Pfizer’s blood cancer therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted accelerated approval to Pfizer's therapy for treating patients with a type of blood cancer that is difficult to treat, the company…

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Health leaders of the EU pledge to make progress in building the European Health Union

At the informal ministerial meeting in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, EU health ministers committed to boosting the European Health Union, the aim of which is to tackle future crises…

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New HIV-focused drug gets approval by European regulator

GSK Plc said that its HIV-focused unit ViiV Healthcare's cabotegravir long-acting injectable and tablets had received a recommendation for marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency's human medicines committee. Cabotegravir,…

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Tuberculosis on the rise for first time in decades

By Carlos Franco-Paredes Associate Faculty Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Colorado State University Before SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spread across the world in 2020, tuberculosis was responsible for more deaths…

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‘Alarming’ rise in diabetes globally by 2050- study

By Jennifer Rigby LONDON, (Reuters) - Every country in the world will see rates of diabetes rise in the next 30 years without action, according to a new global study.…

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Pope ‘progressively improving,’ off I.V. tubes, moving about

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis' overall condition is progressively improving and his post-surgical recovery is normal, allowing him to get out of bed, be detached from intravenous tubes and resume…

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Scientists warn meat is crucial for human health

Meat is crucial for human health, scientists have warned, as they called for an end to the “zealotry” pushing vegetarian and vegan diets. Dozens of experts were asked to look…

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As families struggle with medicine shortages, EU revamps drug laws

The EU is revamping laws governing the 136 billion euro ($148 billion) pharmaceuticals industry aimed at reviving investment and boosting access to affordable drugs at a time when health budgets…

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60% of Italians do not go to the dentist

Some 60% of Italians do not go to the dentist because they cannot afford it, Higher Health Council representative and advisor on dentistry to the Minister of Health Enrico Gherlone…

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Study finds dogs and cats could be passing on drug-resistant bugs to owners

Healthy dogs and cats could be passing on multidrug-resistant organisms to hospitalised owners. In addition, humans could be transmitting these dangerous microbes to their pets, according to new research to…

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Pfizer’s COVID drug data supports use in high-risk patients – FDA staff

Data from Pfizer Inc's trials of its COVID-19 drug support its use in adults at high-risk of the disease, staff reviewers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said…

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Italy ministers fume over proposed smoking ban

The Italian health minister's proposals to extend a smoking ban include the outdoor areas of bars and parks, according to details reported by local media, drawing the ire of right-wing cabinet colleagues…

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Average of 50 people admitted with kidney stones every month in Malta

When it comes to kidney stones, Malta is facing several challenges namely limited stone analysis with only qualitative data available, the fact that certain tests are still being conducted abroad,…

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Why Europe’s drug shortages may get worse

Most European countries reporting shortages of antibiotics Low generic drug prices mean razor-thin margins for firms Companies say they cannot boost output enough due to costs Some say making generics…

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European Doctors and Pharmacists wants stronger laws to prevent medicine shortages

As patients throughout the content struggling to find antibiotics and other medicines, particularly for children, doctors and pharmacists have called on the European Commission to deliver stronger legislation to prevent…

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EU drug regulator must do more to tackle medicine shortages – patient orgs

The European Union drug regulator needs to do more to tackle shortages of some widely-used antibiotics in the region, according to a letter from a group of European patient and…

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WHO investigating links between cough syrup deaths, considers advice for parents

he World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating whether there is any connection between manufacturers whose contaminated cough syrups it has linked to the deaths of more than 300 children in three countries,…

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Pfizer to sell all its drugs in low-income countries at non-profit price

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc PFE.N said on Tuesday it will offer its full portfolio of drugs, including off-patent medicines such as chemotherapies and oral cancer treatments, on a not-for-profit basis to 45…

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Pfizer explores options for some rare disease, cancer drugs

Pfizer Inc is exploring options for some early-stage treatments for rare diseases and cancer in a bid to focus on "high-impact" medicines and vaccines, the company said on Thursday. The U.S.…

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EY sees other Big Four firms mirroring its proposed split

Splitting EY into separate accounting and consultancy businesses will help pay rising technology bills and "inevitably" be copied by rival "Big Four" firms, a top EY official told a Reuters…

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Pfizer boosts COVID vaccine sales forecast by $2 billion to $34 billion

Pfizer Inc on Tuesday raised its forecast for annual sales of its COVID-19 vaccine by $2 billion to $34 billion on demand for Omicron-targeted boosters, helping allay some investor worries…

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‘Challenge’ to maintain world’s focus on global health after COVID-19: Bill Gates

Asking the world to prioritise saving lives in the world's poorest countries is increasingly challenging in a world still rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of climate change, rising…

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BioNTech expects Omicron-adapted vaccine deliveries as soon as October

BioNTech expects to begin deliveries of two Omicron-adapted vaccines as soon as October, which will help spur demand in the fourth quarter, the German biotech firm said on Monday as…

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ЗДОРОВ’Я – Health

Протягом пандемії Covid Україна отримала понад 190 мільйонів євро на підтримку своїх невідкладних потреб, а також на соціально-економічне відновлення. ЄС надав країні понад 36 мільйонів одиниць засобів індивідуального захисту, а…

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Study finds adding salt to food at table can cut years off your life

Adding salt to meals at the table is linked to an earlier death, according to a study of 500,000 middle-aged Britons. Researchers found that always adding salt to food knocks…

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Canada to slap warning labels on sugary, salty and fatty foods

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Foods high in sugars, sodium and saturated fat will come with clear warning labels in Canada starting in 2026, the federal government said this week, in an…

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U.S. seeks to expand monkeypox testing as cases rise

U.S. health officials are working to expand capabilities to test for monkeypox beyond a narrow group of public health labs, heeding calls from infectious disease experts who say testing for the virus…

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French health authority recommends targeted monkeypox vaccinations

France's health authority said on Tuesday it recommended starting a targeted vaccination campaign against monkeypox. The health authority said it recommended that at-risk adults who have been in contact with…

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Almost 200 cases of unexplained acute hepatitis reported in children -ECDC

Around 190 unexplained cases of severe hepatitis have been reported in children around the world, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Tuesday. The outbreak was first reported this…

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G20 discusses establishment of worldwide health protocols for travel

Group of 20 major economies (G20) chair Indonesia has started talks with members on standardising health protocols for travel, its health minister said on Monday, stressing the importance of harmonising…

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Euthanasia pushed among proposals on Future of Europe

CDE News - Strasbourg A proposal on euthanasia made its way among the recommendations brought forward by citizens' panels from accross Europe debated today at a plenary session on the…

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AstraZeneca boosts oncology credentials with breast cancer trial success

AstraZeneca said its Enhertu cancer drug has been shown to significantly help women suffering from a type of breast cancer that leaves them with poor treatment options, opening the door…

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Just two glasses of wine can exceed adult daily sugar intake

Drinking just two glasses of wine can push an adult over their recommended daily sugar limit, experts have warned. The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA), which represents more than 60…

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Over 1.2 million people died from drug-resistant infections in 2019 – study

Jan 20 (Reuters) - More than 1.2 million people died in 2019 from infections caused by bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, higher than HIV/AIDS or malaria, according to a new…

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Sugar detox? Cutting carbs? A doctor explains why you should keep fruit on the menu

One of my patients – who had been struggling with obesity, uncontrolled diabetes and the cost of her medications – agreed in June 2019 to adopt a more whole-food plant-based…

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FIAU imposes €2.6m penalty on BOV/ Malta News Briefing – Friday 17 December 2021

FIAU imposes €2.6m penalty on BOV: The Financial Intelligence and Analysis Unit (FIAU) has imposed a fine of €2.6 million on it as an administrative penalty for failing to report…

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Health cash plans for employees launched in Malta

HSF health plan (Malta) Ltd is part of a group of Health Cash Plan providers wholly owned by the charity, called The Hospital Saturday Fund. The health plan provided by…

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One in five Maltese smokes daily, Eurostat finds

Almost one in five Maltese persons smoked daily, a Eurostat study has found. The prevalence of Maltese smokers is slightly above the European Union average. In 2019, 18.4% of the…

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