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Opinion Piece Criticizes Winfrey For 'Unbalanced' Medical Advice On Hormone Replacement Therapy
Oprah Winfrey "has scored good ratings with her health episodes" of her television show, but "in doing so, she seems to have thrown therapeutic caution to the wind," such as on her shows featuring actress Suzanne Somers" opinions on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, Salon contributor and physician Rahul Parikh writes in an opinion piece. Somers, while advocating for the use of bioidentical HRT as a safe alternative to traditional HRT for postmenopausal women, said she used "mega-doses of bioidenticals continuously and aggressively," according to Parikh. Parikh writes that Somers, on television and in her 2007 book, "argues that these hormones are more natural, more effective and safer than what doctors prescribe." According to Parikh, "In reality, ...÷ there are no good medical studies to back up those claims."Parikh says that although "what Somers was advocating was radically different from standards of medical care," Winfrey "was not concerned" and even said that Somers ""might be a pioneer,"" Parikh continues. Winfrey billed the episode as part of a ""great debate"" on hormone therapy, but she "didn"t ask about whether [Somers"] super-hormone regimen could have contributed to Somers" history of breast cancer"; "her hysterectomy, the result of pre-cancerous changes in her uterus from her use of HRT"; or the "validity of Somers" book"s s, many of whom are neither experts in women"s health or endocrinology, nor board-certified physicians, nor experienced researchers," Parikh states. He adds, "It"s not that Winfrey doesn"t try to maintain medical credibility in her shows," but "her efforts seem subpar," noting that her show "reaches millions of people, while each doctor can reach only one patient at a time." Parikh concludes, "That could easily be corrected by Winfrey providing more thought and balance in her medical advice" (Parikh, Salon, 5/15).
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Secretary Sebelius Releases Inaugural Health Care "Success Story" Report
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released the first in a series of health care "success story" reports that document innovative programs and initiatives that can serve as models for a reformed American health care system. The inaugural report highlights the Michigan Keystone ICU Project. A joint partnership between the Michigan Health & Hospital Association and the Johns Hopkins University, the Michigan Keystone ICU Project helped dramatically reduce the number of health care associated infections in Michigan, saving over 1,500 lives and $200 million.
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Melbourne Researchers Break Through On Schizophrenia
In a world first, Melbourne scientists have made a critical breakthrough in understanding the differences in the brains of people with schizophrenia.
Diagnostics

Indian Authorities Asked To Stop Licensing Artemisinin-Only Malaria Drugs

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) asked state drug licensing authorities to avoid authorizing new licenses for single drug formulations of artemisinin and withdraw existing licences for these types of drugs by the end of this month, livemint.com reports. To prevent drug resistance, the WHO has advised against the use of drugs that only contain artemisinin to treat malaria and recommends using artemsinin in combination with other drugs. "India"s drug advisory body, the drug consultative committee, had in December approved the phasing out of the [artemisinin only] drug[s] from the market," livemint.com writes. H.G. Koshia, the commissioner of the food and drug control administration for the state of Gujarat, said, "The state department has received the last directive in this regard a couple of weeks ago, and we have already informed all existing licence holders to stop manufacturing. The brand recalls from the market is also in progress, though there aren"t many at present." According to livemint.com: "Ipca Laboratories Ltd., Themis Medicare Ltd., Plethico Pharmaceuticals Ltd., GVS Laboratories Ltd., Cipla and Lupin Ltd. are some of the top firms in the domestic anti-malaria market. These are also key suppliers to overseas markets through [the] WHO or direct channels, and most have already stopped making the product following [the] WHO"s warning on single oral therapy using artemisinin and its derivatives." R.B. Smartha, the managing director of Mumbai-based Interlink Marketing Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., said, "The impact of the DCGI order would not be big for the industry as the market for oral single formulation of artemisinin derivatives has already shrunk" (Pandeya/Unnikrishnan, 7/22). This information was reprinted from globalhealth.kff.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at globalhealth.kff.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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