Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterised by poor long-term airflow, which carries a high symptom burden, particularly increasing breathlessness. COPD is progressive, accounting for one death every 20 minutes in England and Wales. National strategy documents from the UK state that quality end-of-life care should be available to […]
Jeffrey Aronson: When I use a word . . .Tariffs
The news that certain companies have been charging over the odds for non-branded pharmaceutical products is not surprising, given activities in this market elsewhere. Last year the US rights to Daraprim, which contains pyrimethamine, used to treat toxoplasmosis and malaria, were acquired by Turing Pharmaceuticals, who raised the price of a tablet from $13.50 to […]
Neville Goodman’s Metaphor Watch: Stepping stones and stumbling blocks
A stepping stone is an action that helps one to make progress towards a goal. This definition, from the COD, includes the metaphorical goal. Although the etymology of goal (according to the OED) is “difficult,” it is indisputably a sporting term, first recorded in 1531. Its literal synonyms are aim or objective. In 2014, nearly […]
Priyanka Shah: Antimicrobial Resistance—a ticking time bomb
It is estimated that by 2050 infections that have become drug resistant will result in a global loss of 10 million lives annually. This chilling revelation was the crux of a report released last month, titled “Tackling Drug-Resistant Infections Globally: Final Report and Recommendations,” commissioned by the UK government, and led by renowned economist Jim O’Neill. […]
David Payne: “Bed blocking” is an offensive term
Simon Stevens, head of the NHS in England, has warned MPs that delays in releasing older patients from hospital could continue for up to five years because of social care pressures. His comments were immediately reported as a “bed blocking” crisis. The term bed blocking certainly trips off the tongue more easily than “delayed transfers […]
Evidence Live 2016: Whither evidence in the social media world?
In the run up to Evidence Live 2016, we are running a series of blogs by the conference speakers discussing what they will be talking about at the conference. The tired old trope of “my evidence” vs “your evidence” is endlessly rehearsed on the social media discussions and comments sections. Powerful groups—both corporate and voluntary—deploy […]
Neel Sharma: The dark side of medical education
As a trainee and keen medical educationalist I have witnessed the rapid rise of movement in medical education. At a time where there was minimal change it seems now that we are in constant flux with new headlines appearing frequently on how best we should teach and assess doctors in training. […]
Bernard Merkel: Brexit and health
In 1991 I was seconded from the Department of Health to the European Commission, and during my subsequent years there, the prevailing view in the UK, with a few limited exceptions, has been that the EU had little to do with health and virtually nothing to do with the NHS. So I never thought that […]
Alice Munro: The National Emissions Ceilings Directive—a critical week for the health of Europeans
Today EU leaders will attempt to come to an agreement on air pollution reduction targets that will determine the quality of our air for the next 15 years. The National Emissions Ceiling (NEC) Directive is a key piece of EU emissions legislation that is central to efforts to reduce air pollution. [1] The success of […]
Madhukar Pai and Barry R Bloom: TB elimination—India can lead the way
As the Prime Minister of India speaks to the US Congress today, a neglected epidemic threatens India’s progress. It’s not Ebola or Zika, but rather tuberculosis—an ancient disease that silently kills one Indian every 90 seconds. In one year’s time TB will sicken over 2.2 million Indians and kill 300 000. Between 2006 and 2014, […]