A team from Ellis Pharma has completed a gruelling physical challenge to raise money for a global charity.

Gary Campbell, Ellis Pharma’s Business Development Director, and Andy Leaver, company Chairman, took part in the London 2 Brighton 100 Kilometre Challenge on 12^th May, to raise funds for The Hunger Project.

The challenge saw Gary and Andy walk the 100 kilometre distance (62.6 miles) from London to Brighton in twenty-three hours and twenty-eight minutes, well within their original target of twenty-four hours.

The Hunger Project describes the challenge as a “definitive test of endurance, determination and teamwork”. After completing the challenge Gary said; “Believe me, this was probably the most mentally and physically tough challenge I have ever undertaken for charity in my life.”

The Hunger Project is a global, non-profit, strategic organisation committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. In Africa, South Asia and Latin America, The Hunger Project seeks to end hunger and poverty by empowering people to lead lives of self-reliance, meet their own basic needs and build better futures for their children.

Initiatives run by The Hunger Project include raising awareness on key health issues, providing finance to women food farmers, and funding community centres in rural areas. The funds raised by Gary and Andy will go towards supporting more projects like these.

The London 2 Brighton 100 Kilometre Challenge is the latest charity fundraising event for Ellis Pharma. The company regularly organises charity fundraising events; previous challenges include a trek along the Great Wall of China.

You can find out more about Ellis Pharma by visiting our About Us page.

Across the UAE, health authorities are on a major drive to improve healthcare facilities and outcomes.

Abu Dhabi offers free vaccines

In Abu Dhabi free vaccinations are being offered to children, the elderly and the chronically ill to protect them from communicable diseases such as pneumonia, influenza and meningitis. The vaccines are being offered by Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD); the authority has pledged to continue offering the most recent vaccinations as soon as they become available.

Sharjah to restrict sale of tobacco

The Sharjah Government has drafted legislation to ban the sale of tobacco at supermarkets and convenience stores near residential areas. The legislation is part of an initiative to reduce smoking within the emirate, by reducing access to tobacco and raising awareness of the health risks it carries.

Baby-friendly healthcare facilities for Sharjah

In another healthcare initiative, Sharjah has taken a step forward with its ‘Baby-Friendly Emirate’ campaign, as it looks to develop and promote baby-friendly health facilities throughout the emirate. A key part of the initiative is the promotion of breastfeeding; Sharjah healthcare experts hope that the initiative will help the emirate to meet the standards set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Dubai Health Authority offers airport diabetes screening

Dubai Health Authority has come up with a novel way to raise diabetes awareness – by offering diabetes screening at Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport. Over 300 airport employees were screened for diabetes, which affects 19.2% of the adult population across the UAE.

Dubai Health Authority raises awareness of women’s heart health

Dubai Health Authority has also been tackling another prevalent health issue; women’s heart health. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide; however in the UAE it has often been characterised as a ‘man’s disease’. Dubai Health Authority partnered with Deira City Centre to run the third annual Go Red for Women campaign; over 685 women participated in the event which involved assessing their risk of heart disease by testing BMI, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Improved paediatric facilities for Dubai Hospital

Latifa Hospital in Dubai has made significant improvements to its paediatric care facilities. The new developments have been implemented as part of Dubai Health Authority’s commitment to provide integrated care facilities to children who need specialised support.

New services offered by the hospital include developmental screening for children under the age of three, a play therapy room and an updated sensory integration room.

April’s Middle East Healthcare News Round-up includes the latest on the Hospital Build Awards 2012, anti-smoking initiatives in Dubai, and vaccination success in Kuwait.

New m-health award for Hospital Build Awards Middle East

A new m-health category is to be judged for the first time at the 4^th annual Hospital Build Awards. The M+Health Award will be awarded to the telecom provider which has run the best healthcare initiative, using m-health technology to improve health outcomes. Already more than 25 nominations have been made for the category. The winner will be announced in Dubai on 4^th June.

Dubai Medical City on mission to become global health hub

Dubai Medical City has pledged to position itself as an international medical hub. This repositioning is needed in order to attract more medical tourism to the city, as well as to encourage Dubai residents to seek treatment at home, rather than travelling abroad.

Dubai Ministry of Health to introduce new smoking risks message

Dubai Ministry of Health has confirmed its plans to tackle the health risks of smoking, primarily by discouraging people from taking up the habit. Smoking will become more expensive as tax on tobacco products is doubled. Cigarette packets will also be required to carry graphic images depicting the dangers of smoking.

First PET-CT diagnostic centre opens in Qatar

On 29^th April His Excellency Abdullah Bin Khaled AL Qahtani, the Minister of Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health, inaugurated the first PET-CT diagnostic centre in Qatar.

The new two-storey facility, which is one of the most technologically advanced in the region, will be used to diagnose conditions such as cancer and also to provide research into the disease.

98% of children vaccinated in Kuwait

Kuwait has exceeded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 80% vaccination target and has succeeded in vaccinating 98% of children. As part of the preventative health programme, children were vaccinated against communicable diseases including diphtheria, influenza, polio and meningitis.

Oman hospital receives highest honour

Starcare Hospital in Oman has been awarded the JCI Accreditation from Joint Committee International, Chicago. The hospital, which opened less than a year ago, received the accreditation on the strength of its commitment to providing high quality healthcare to the people of Oman, demonstrated by its dedication to meeting and exceeding international standards in healthcare. Among its achievements, the hospital has introduced new technologies and surgical facilities to Oman, including complex joint replacements and keyhole surgery for the bowel.

SR800 million upgrade to critical care facilities in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Health has pledged to spend SR800million on upgrading critical care facilities throughout the Kingdom. The money will be spent on facilities run by the Ministry of Health and will be allocated primarily to buying the latest technology and equipment. The aim of the improvements is to enable Ministry of Health facilities to meet the international standards in critical care.

April was a busy month for military healthcare news, from  progress on a new rehabilitation centre to developments in treatment.

Sharing military medical knowledge

Sharing medical knowledge, experience and lessons learned from delivering military medicine are central to improving military healthcare in the future. 16th April saw King’s Centre for Military Health Research host a seminar which brought together participants from the MOD, MPs, academics and charity representatives to discuss research on mental health within the military and to explore effective ways of lessening the impact of military service on mental health.

In the US the Institute for Defense and Government Advancement announced the line-up for the Military Healthcare Convention and Conference which will take place between 21^st and 24^th May. Key speakers will include Major General Robert Kasulke, USA, Commanding General of AR-MEDCOM, and Brigadier General Paul S Dwan, USAF, Deputy Joint Staff Surgeon, MC.

Recovery and rehabilitation developments

Commitment to helping wounded military personnel continues as strongly as ever, with a raft of new developments this month including work on the new home for injured troops, which began on 24^th April. Fisher House will be a short journey from Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and will provide a space where injured military personnel can enjoy a short break away from the hospital with their families.

Other developments this month include work by a former US combat medic to develop a treatment which aids the regeneration process in skeletal muscle, speeding up the healing process and helping wounded soldiers recover faster.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan US marines have been testing the latest in concussion care, in a programme which looks at both physical and mental wellbeing following involvement in IED explosions.

Training for better military healthcare

In the UK, Navy medics have been training for rapid reaction operations. The Commando Forward Surgical Group is a mobile advanced field hospital which can be put up within an hour, enabling Navy medics to respond quickly to unexpected events where lifesaving care is needed urgently. The field hospital includes a surgical room, an intensive care unit and blood transfusion equipment. Navy medics took part in a training session which saw them test their capabilities to respond by treating mock casualties.

In other training news this month, the British Army blog looks at the training involved in being a TA team medic, as members of 6^th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland took part in medical training led by 205 Field Hospital.

Operational Service Medals for 1 Medical Regiment

Military medics from 1 Medical Regiment received recognition for their work in Afghanistan when they were presented with their Operational Service Medals for their contribution to Op HERRICK 15, from October 2011 to March 2012.

The latest news on bioequivalence, from the World Congress on Bioavailability & Bioequivalence to recent publications.

World Congress on Bioavailability & Bioequivalence – BABE 2012

The 3^rd World Congress on Bioavailability & Bioequivalence (BABE 2012) took place at Hyderabad, India from 26^th to 28^th March. 600 delegates from 30 different countries worldwide attended the conference where they were able to choose from 48 different sessions designed to address current issues in bioavailability and bioequivalence.

Honourable guests included R.P. Thakur IPS, Director General, Drugs Control Administration, Andhra Pradesh, India; Dr Luigi Silvestro, Co-founder 3S-Pharmacological Consultation & Research GmbH, Germany; and Dr A.T. Bapuji, Senior Vice President, Aurobindo Pharma, India.

10^th EGA International Symposium on Biosimilar Medicines

The 10th EGA International Symposium on Biosimilar Medicines took place in London between 19^th and 20^th April. The conference raised discussion on a number of key issues, including EU policy, mergers and acquisitions, and global market opportunities.

Addressing the need for global development of biosimilars, Gudbjorg Edda Eggertsdottir, president of the European Generic Medicines Association (EGA), stressed the need for a global framework to enable governments worldwide to get maximum benefit from biosimilar developments.

Insight: How one drug manufacturer avoids generic competition

This month’s Archives of Internal Medicine features an article by Downing et al. entitled ‘Avoidance of Generic Competition by Abbott Laboratories’ Fenofibrate Franchise’. The article looks at the ways in which Abbott Laboratories has used strategies such as sequential launch of branded reformulations to remain dominant in the fenofibrate market. A review of the article can be found here.

The military is increasingly tapping into the potential of social media to enhance the health and wellbeing of service personnel.

Social media and healthcare engagement

In the US, the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) has been using social media to encourage military patients to get actively involved in their own healthcare. A key part of the initiative is to provide patients with information, including news, about health and fitness, as well as vital medical information.

In particular, AFMS has used Facebook to provide support groups in a bid to promote discussion of health issues and to improve ‘health literacy’. It has also launched social media campaigns designed to raise awareness and understanding of specific medical conditions such as diabetes.

AFMS has found that social media provides a natural channel for reaching patients and promoting engagement with healthcare issues. This in turn encourages patients to take an active part in healthcare decisions and management of medical conditions, significantly increasing the success rate of healthcare outcomes. 

Using social media to promote mental health

In the UK, the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health are currently funding a pilot scheme for a wellbeing network designed to provide support for people suffering with mental health issues.

The platform, known as the Big White Wall, is described by the MOD as “an online social network for serving personnel, their families, veterans and the general public that allows people with mental health problems from every walk of life to engage with others who have similar problems.”

The site, which is staffed by professional counsellors, allows users to remain anonymous, enabling them to discuss their feelings and concerns more openly. Currently 40% of its 2,019 users are serving service personnel.

Big White Wall has been established since 2009; the MOD’s involvement with the project is part of a twelve-month pilot.

A medical journal focused on healthcare and medicine in the UAE has relaunched.

Hamdan Medical Journal, formerly known as the Journal of Medical Sciences, relaunched with its March 2012 edition. It aims to appeal to Middle East medical practitioners and researchers from a variety of medical backgrounds by providing articles on a broad range of health and medicine topics.

While the journal will focus on publishing medical research which is relevant to healthcare issues in the Middle East, it will also publish articles on important medical research and developments worldwide, allowing its readership to benefit from medical discoveries wherever they occur around the globe.

The first edition of the relaunched journal features keynote reviews about the management of breast cancer, including a comparison of present standards and future concepts in breast surgery and a review of mammography screening. Other articles featured in this first edition include an examination of the increasing incidence of allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma in the Gulf Arabic population, and a report on research into a new oral anticoagulant to treat atrial fibrillation.

Focus topics for future editions of Hamdan Medical Journal include diabetes mellitus (a condition with high prevalence across the Middle East), and pre- and postnatal medicine, another significant Middle East health topic.

Future editions of the journal will also include case reports to inform practice, original scientific papers, and expert commentary about relevant recent medical publications and conferences; all with the aim of furthering medical understanding and improving healthcare practices across the Middle East.

As its overarching goal, the journal aims to disseminate as much healthcare information as possible to a wide community of healthcare professionals and researchers. With this aim in mind the journal has been made freely available without payment or subscription; even members of the general public are able to access the publication.

From the Economist’s Healthcare in the Gulf Summit to e-health developments in Saudi Arabia, here is a round-up of Middle East healthcare news for March 2012.

Conferences continue Middle East healthcare drive

March has been a month of healthcare conferences in the Middle East. The first was Medhealth 2012 which took place on 14^th and 15^th March in Amman. Organised by the Arab Hospitals Federation, the conference gave healthcare providers the opportunity to showcase developments, share ideas and participate in education programmes.

Following Medhealth, the Economist’s Healthcare in the Gulf summit took place in Dubai on 28^th March. The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), developing financially sustainable healthcare systems and quality of care improvements were key topics on the agenda.

The end of the month also saw Amman host another health conference, this time the International Committee of the Red Cross’s talks on healthcare in Middle East prisons. The event was attended by delegates from eleven Middle East countries and inaugurated by Jordan’s health minister, Dr Abdul Latif Wreikat.

Hospital developments for Bahrain and Jordan

Other news this month included the announcement of plans to build an eight-storey hospital in Bahrain and the opening ceremony for newly renovated and upgraded neonatal, obstetrics and outpatient departments at Al Hussein Hospital in Jordan.

e-healthcare system for Saudi Arabia

Patients in Saudi Arabia can expect improved healthcare services, as the health ministry has announced it has nearly completed its new e-health system which will allow all government hospitals to access and share information about patient care and medical history.

New standards for midwifery in UAE; diabetes training in Saudi Arabia

Other healthcare improvements across the region include the standardisation of midwifery practices across the UAE and in-depth training on diabetes support for Saudi medical personnel.

From rehabilitation to medical developments and operational honours, here is the round-up of military healthcare news for March.

Royal Society of Medicine hosts conference on military medicine

March started with a conference on military medicine at the Royal Society of Medicine. The event brought together military healthcare professionals to look at progress in rehabilitation over the last decade and discuss optimising the road to recovery for injured military personnel. 

March: The month of military rehabilitation

In fact, rehabilitation was a prominent topic in March, with several other military rehabilitation projects making the news. A topping out ceremony took place in Lympstone, Devon to mark progress on the new Royal Marine recruit rehabilitation centre.

Meanwhile, charity Help for Heroes announced that £2m has been granted to help fund building and running costs of a new centre designed to support patient rehabilitation. The centre will provide a place for military patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) to spend time away from the hospital with their families. 

This month also saw Soldier magazine visit the Tedworth House Personnel Recovery and Assessment Centre (PRAC) to see some of the ways in which technology is being used to aid patient rehabilitation. The centre already has a zero-gravity treadmill among its facilities and later this year will become home to one of the UK’s most advanced gym complexes, which will include a £120,000 simulated ski slope.

US medics develop specialist battlefield tourniquet

Technology and innovation also play their part in improving battlefield healthcare, and this month saw news that US medics have developed a specialist tourniquet designed to stem bleeding of abdominal injuries on the battlefield. 

Major trauma centre goes live at QEHB

Civilian patients at QEHB will be able to benefit from the lessons of military medicine thanks to the hospital’s designation as a major trauma centre. Sir Keith Porter, Professor of Clinical Traumatology at University Hospitals Birmingham, is the project’s clinical lead. Sir Porter and his team have extensive experience of treating trauma in military patients at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) which is also based at the QEHB.

Military medical personnel recognised in Operational Honours

Today (23^rd March) saw the announcement of the latest Operational Honours List. Among the 131 members of the Armed Forces mentioned, the list featured a number of military medical personnel including Commander Carol Ann Betteridge, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, who has been awarded the OBE and Medical Assistant Liam Mathew O’Grady of the Royal Navy who has been awarded the Military Cross.

Other medics to be mentioned include Lieutenant Victorian Susan Long and Lieutenant Commander Peter John Selwood, both of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, and Commander William David O’Brian Dutton of the US Navy Medical Corps, all of whom received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service.

Read more military healthcare news

Military healthcare round-up: February 2012

Military healthcare round-up: January 2012

US medics have developed a specialist tourniquet to treat abdominal injury on the battlefield.

The device, known as the Abdominal Aortic Tourniquet (AAT), has been developed by a former military surgeon and an emergency medicine specialist. The duo recognised the need for a device that stopped bleeding in certain forms of inguinal, groin and leg injury that could not be treated with the tourniquets already available to military medics.

The AAT device is specifically designed to stop severe bleeding resulting from injury to the inguinal region. The device is attached to the lower abdomen and inflated to apply pressure to the area, helping to prevent blood flow for up to one hour. This allows military medical personnel valuable time in which to transport the patient to a military facility for surgical treatment of the wound.

The AAT™ device received FDA approval on 22^nd October 2011. It is one of a number of products developed by healthcare companies to address the need for medical devices which stop severe bleeding and which support the life-saving work of the military medic on the battlefield.