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show first aired August 9, 2007
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1010
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine has raised questions about Avandia, a fairly new diabetes drug that is taken by thousands. But is Avandia any more effective than older, and cheaper medications? On this week’s Health Show, a look at Diabetes drugs from a consumer’s point of view. We’ll also introduce an organization trying to green up the health care industry. Take a look at the severe lack of health insurance in India. And meet a woman who was left at the altar...by her doctor.
listen to this story in RealAudio 25:00
DIABETES DRUGS - NEW AND NOT SO IMPROVED
New and heavily promoted prescription medications for type 2 diabetes like Avandia and Actos are no more effective or safe than older drugs and cost significantly more. That’s according to a report from Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, a public information project of Consumers Union. The report is based primarily on an in-depth analysis of the scientific evidence on oral diabetes drugs by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The Health Show’s Jim Horne spoke with Steven Findley, managing editor for Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.
The Johns Hopkins study is available on line at the web site of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine at www.annals.org.
New Drugs Vs. New Drugs - Who Decides?
Co-hosts Bob Barrett & Dr. Nina Sax discuss the pressures on doctors to prescribe newer and more expensive drugs to patients.
Health Care Without Harm
When we think of medical products, drugs are the first things that usually come to mind. But the medical industry produces thousands of products and devices...and waste. A Boston based organization called Health Care Without Harm is trying to get the industry to clean up and green up it’s practices for dealing with that waste. Radio Netherlands’ Laura Dernford spoke with Gary Cohen, executive director of Health Care Without Harm.
You can find more information about Health Care Without Harm at www.noharm.org.
Health Insurance In India
If you think we have problems with health insurance in the U.S. - check out India. Only 10 percent of its population has health coverage. The Indian government requires insurance companies to offer 20 percent of its plans to rural and low-income residents. Companies comply with that mandate by offering the poor micro-insurance, scaled down versions of full-coverage policies at a discounted price. Miranda Kennedy reports on one woman who buys insurance to cover her entire family for about $7 a year. It only covers emergency care, but that’s better than the other 90 percent of India's 1.1 billion residents who have nothing.
Dumped At The Medical Altar
Anyone who’s moved to a new community and has tried to find a new primary care doctor is very familiar with the phrase “Sorry, we’re not accepting new patients”. But now, some doctors are paring down their practices by saying goodbye to some old patients. That’s what happened to Susan Reverby and frankly, she’s feeling a little jilted.
Susan M. Reverby is the Marion Butler McLean professor in the history of ideas and professor of women's studies at Wellesley College. This commentary first appeared in the Boston Globe.
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