Press review from 11/14/08 to 11/17/08
Italians spend one day a year in the hospital
(la Repubblica: page 17 – 17 November 2008)
Every Italian spends an average of one day a year in the hospital. In the Centre-South the risk of being hospitalized is greater than in the North. The data comes from a study prepared by the Era 2008 working group (Epidemiology and Applied Research), which includes Istat, the University of Tor Vergata, ISS, the Ministry of Welfare and Nebo research PA. In the study, 12 million hospital discharge forms for acute pathologies were examined, divided by the 166 ASLs present in the area.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=18259
New biotech project
(la Repubblica Affari & Finanza: page 23 – 17 November 2008)
The Merck Serono Biotech Center in Geneva, a plant specialized in biotechnology for the production of active ingredients, is destined to become one of the most advanced centers thanks to an investment of 300 million euros. This project will allow the creation of 200 jobs which will be added to the 250 already present. The funding will serve to increase the production of innovative biological active ingredients for the treatment of still incurable disabling pathologies.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=18258
"Doctors and patients online with e-Health"
(la Repubblica Affari & Finanza: page 26 – 17 November 2008)
It is the boom of eHealth, internet sites specialized in health information. If in 2006 European eHealth moved 21 billion euros, values of 23.3 billion euros are estimated in 2010 and 30 billion in 2020, with an increase of 42% in 14 years. According to the European Union, for the period 2005-2007, 54% of the population used the web for medical purposes. thanks to eHealth, substantial savings can also be achieved for health systems thanks to online prescriptions.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=18261
Sicilian maxi scam: reimbursements to doctors for 51,000 deceased patients
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 1/13, Il Messaggero: page 7, la Repubblica: page 20, Corriere della Sera: page 24, Il Mattino: page 12 – 16 November 2008)
The Guardia di Finanza has brought to light a 14 million euro maxi scam against the state treasury. In fact, over 51,000 patients, who are actually deceased, are still registered in the Sicilian ASLs, for each of which general practitioners receive a fee of around 273 euros. The doctors will now have to pay back the money. But the Deputy Secretary of Fimmg, Saverio La Bruzzo, specifies: "It is not our fault if a deceased patient continues to be among the assisted. When a patient passes away, our report to the ASL is often lost in the void".
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=18257
"Medical error will no longer be a crime"
(Corriere della Sera: page 1 – 16 November 2008)
A recently filed law proposal provides for the decriminalization of medical errors that do not arise from inexperience and negligence, which will continue to be criminally punished. For the other errors we will proceed civilly. The signatories of the provision are Iole Santelli, Vice President of the Constitutional Affairs Commission and Giuseppe Palumbo, President of Social Affairs of the Chamber
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