In a significant move by the Ministry of Health, the pharmacists of BC have been given power to renew a doctor’s prescription, alter the drug dosage and substitute the drugs with new ones. According to, B.C. Health Minister George Abbott, the legalities were formalized in the spring with the cooperation of the B.C. Pharmacy Association and the B.C. College of Pharmacists. He also denied earlier media reports saying that customers would be forced to pay for each renewal.

Previously conducted studies and research had indicated, people with aortic valve disorder have higher mortality rate. But with the advancement in medicinal technology, these patients have a similar life span as those with a normal heart. 

These patients have a bicuspid aortic valve which means their valve has only two flaps (cusps) that open and close, instead of the normal three. It is also the most common disease that inflicts the adult population. 

The 2008 guidelines, which is the latest of a new set of guidelines issued every five years, lays stress on pinpointing prediabetes. It recommends to both, the doctors and patients, to take aggressive steps to prevent Type 2 diabetes. In the prediabetes condition, the patient’s blood sugar levels go up and the patient has less tolerance to blood sugar. According to Ellen Macolmson, President and CEO of Canadian Diabetes Association, "Research has shown that long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring before a diabetes diagnosis." 

According to Prof Graham Taylor, head of genomic services at Cancer Research UK's, the new test for hereditary breast cancer developed, basically focuses on smaller area of the gene code, reducing costs up to 99 per cent. Test will now, cost just £10 from early next year, besides slashing the waiting time for the results to one week.

A study carried out by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), on breast augmentation procedures, found that advertisements promoting unfeasibly large breasts among women have greatly increased four-fold in the past five years to more than 26,000 in 2007.

The recent case of a native of Bihar, suffering from Aids, has highlighted one aspect of the discrimination faced by people suffering from Aids in India. Earlier this year, this man suffering from Aids was told that he needs “second line of ARV drugs” as “first line of ARV drugs” was not working for him.