The doctors are preparing the turning point"
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 8 – 11 February 2008)
The 2008 Budget law validated the State-Regions agreement on the subject of continuing medical education with the aim of giving space to all the subjects involved: Regions, Orders and professional associations in primis. Among the novelties: the Ecm National Commission will continue to dictate rules valid at national level and will be located at the National Agency for Health Services; the transition from accreditation of events to that of providers; the equalization of acquired credits; the assignment of the credit registration and certification function to the non-profit consortium Cogeaps. In the three-year period 2008-2010, 150 compulsory credits are envisaged for medical and non-medical health professionals.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15660
The French branch of Schering-Plough has been fined
(Les Echos online – February 11, 2008)
The Paris Court of Appeal upheld the French Competition Council's decision by taking interim measures against Schering-Plough. The French branch of the company has been fined for obstructing the marketing of a generic of the Australian company Arrow.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15667
New light for Cardinal Health
(The Wall Street Journal online - February 11, 2008)
After three years of instability, Cardinal Health seems to be back on the right track. George Barrett took office as Deputy Director and CEO of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Distribution division in January, a contract with a major customer was renewed, and a generic version of a heart drug is ready to go on sale. Wall Street appreciated as the shares rose 4.6%.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15666
AstraZeneca: sheltered from the threat of a generic Teva
(The Wall Street Journal online - February 11, 2008)
AstraZeneca has sought to expedite the judicial process of the lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceutical relating to the production of the generic form of its antipsychotic drug Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) by the Israeli company. The generic could be sold by the end of March in the US at a lower price than the originator drug.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15664
Sanofi-Aventis invests in Germany
(Les Echos online – February 11, 2008)
According to the German newspaper Rhein-Main-Zeitung, Sanofi-Aventis will invest 180 million euros in the Frankfurt plant this year, around 220 million euros less than in 2007.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15663
"Unlimited care abroad in emergencies"
(Il Sole 24 Ore: page 1 – 11 February 2008)
With the interim order 1563/2008, the Court of Cassation questions the legitimacy of the rules governing indirect assistance for treatment received by Italians in other countries. A woman who had to undergo an emergency tracheotomy in a Mexican hospital had in fact been refused reimbursement of the medical expenses incurred by her ASL, on the basis of art. 3 of law 585/1985. The Cassation then ordered the evaluation of the case by the Constitutional Court
