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Antibiotics out of stock in Male'!

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:44:56 +0500

Antibiotics out of stock in Male'!: Pharmacies around Male’ have run out of three commonly used injectible antibiotics! Ampiclox (a combination of Ampicillin and Cloxacillin) has not been available for a few days and today caretakers…

Another Health Insurance Scheme to be launched soon!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:55:32 +0500

Another Health Insurance Scheme to be launched soon!: It is probably a bit too early to start celebrating the proposed launching of another health insurance scheme in the Maldives. The last time this happened, the scheme did not survive long enough….

Apologies

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:53:00 +0500

Several times over the past one month I have had to take unscheduled time off from work, both at IGMH and Heartline Medicals. I apologise to my patients and their relatives for cancelled appointments over this period of time.

This past month has seen my kids, both of them, fall ill more frequently than they have before. Being there for your own kid is as important as giving them medications. As working parents, my wife and I have had to alternatively take time off from work to care for our boys.

I’d like to thank everyone for their best wishes and understanding. In particular, I’d like to thank my colleagues at IGMH and Heartline Medicals for making the necessary adjustments.

A social security scheme being launched in Maldives.

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:04:00 +0500

It is probably a bit too early to start celebrating the proposed launching of another health insurance scheme in the Maldives. The last time this happened, the scheme did not survive long enough. Nevertheless, in these times of desperation, as the proverbial saying goes, we are indeed willing to make an effort to clutch at even a straw.

Some information on the new NSPA (National Social Protection Agency) insurance scheme is available on their website: www.nspa.gov.mv

I was aware of the new scheme being drawn up but have not had any formal information on the scheme provided to. As a practicing Pediatrician, I believe that all medical practitioners must be provided with sufficient information regarding how the scheme works and what medical care are covered under the scheme. It is my belief, not based on any official information, but an expectation based on common sense, that the administrators of the scheme would ensure that detailed information is provided to health-care providers on their role within the program.

Out of curiosity, I browsed through the “covered” medicine list provided on the agency website. I expected it and was not surprised to find that the list did not include some commonly prescribed medicines. I hope the agency, like other such agencies across the world, would form a scientific body that would evaluate additional medicines (and treatments) for suitability and eligibility in being included in the covered list.

The list of treatments currently not covered by the scheme is also very long. Some of these treatments, after further evaluation of need, cost-effectiveness and effectiveness (among other things), may need to be included in the scheme in the future.

Lets hope, for the sake of the many thousand needy Maldivians, that the scheme lives long enough itself and helps Maldivians live healthier and longer.

[Original articles] Spinal subdural hematomas in children with non accidental head injury

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:47:47 +0500

[Original articles] Spinal subdural hematomas in children with non accidental head injury:

Background and purpose: To examine the incidence of spinal pathology in infants with non accidental head injury.

Methods: 18 infants with non-accidental injury (NAI) were investigated in our…

[Original articles] Spray bacteriotherapy decreases middle ear fluid in children with secretory otitis media

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:47:47 +0500

[Original articles] Spray bacteriotherapy decreases middle ear fluid in children with secretory otitis media: Objective: Secretory otitis media (SOM) is characterized by persistent fluid in the middle ear cavity, but the cause is unknown. We investigated clinical, bacteriological and immunological…

[Original articles] Currently recommended treatments of childhood constipation are not evidence based. A systematic literature review on the effect of laxative treatment and dietary measures

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:47:47 +0500

[Original articles] Currently recommended treatments of childhood constipation are not evidence based. A systematic literature review on the effect of laxative treatment and dietary measures: Introduction: Constipation is a common complaint in children and early intervention with oral laxatives may improve complete resolution of functional constipation. However, most treatment…

[Review] The management of cystic adenomatoid malformations of the lung

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:25:22 +0500

[Review] The management of cystic adenomatoid malformations of the lung: Congenital cystic adenomatous malformation of the lung (CCAM) is a rare lung lesion easily diagnosed on prenatal scan. The pathology of fetal lesions differs from postnatal lesion, hence the need…

[Original articles] No Change in Developmental Outcome with Incubator Covers and Nesting for Very Preterm Infants in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:23:23 +0500

[Original articles] No Change in Developmental Outcome with Incubator Covers and Nesting for Very Preterm Infants in a Randomized Controlled Trial: Objective: Randomized controlled trial investigating effect of basic elements of developmental care (DC) (incubator covers and positioning aids) on growth and neurodevelopment in infants born <32…

[Original articles] Oxygen saturation and heart rate during delivery room resuscitation of infants

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:23:23 +0500

[Original articles] Oxygen saturation and heart rate during delivery room resuscitation of infants :

Following concerns about harmful effects of 100% oxygen on newly born infants, we started resuscitation in the delivery room (DR) with air.

Objective: To describe preductal oxygen saturation…

[Original articles] The Apgar Cycle: A New View of a Familiar Scoring System

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:23:22 +0500

[Original articles] The Apgar Cycle: A New View of a Familiar Scoring System: Apgar scores are universally recorded, but they should no longer be used to guide resuscitation; thus, some authorities have suggested that the scores should be abandoned. However, the…

[Original articles] Parent-based language intervention for two-year-old children with specific expressive language delay: a randomised controlled trial

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:20:58 +0500

[Original articles] Parent-based language intervention for two-year-old children with specific expressive language delay: a randomised controlled trial: Objective: The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a short, highly structured parent-based language intervention group programme for two-year-old children…

[Original articles] Environmental Exposures and Respiratory Morbidity among Very Low Birth Weight Infants at One Year of Life

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:20:58 +0500

[Original articles] Environmental Exposures and Respiratory Morbidity among Very Low Birth Weight Infants at One Year of Life: Introduction: Preterm infants have a substantially increased risk of developing respiratory illnesses. The goal of this study was to consider the impact of modifiable postnatal exposures on…

[Original articles] Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Children and Adolescents: Presentation and Long-term Follow-up

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:20:58 +0500

[Original articles] Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Children and Adolescents: Presentation and Long-term Follow-up:

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) leading to referral in children and adolescents, in addition to disease course and long-term outcome.

…

[Review] Evidence-based Child Health - SIGN and NICE

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:20:58 +0500

[Review] Evidence-based Child Health - SIGN and NICE: Clinical medicine is a holistic attempt to provide the best care for patients. What are the relevance of Evidence-based Child Health (EBCH) and of guidelines in informing clinical practice? In…

[Original articles] Volume Guarantee Ventilation: Pressure May Reduce During Obstructed Flow

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:38:50 +0500

[Original articles] Volume Guarantee Ventilation: Pressure May Reduce During Obstructed Flow: We report two unexpected observations during ventilation with the Dräger Babylog 8000+ in volume guarantee mode. Firstly, during complete obstruction to gas flow down the endotracheal tube the…

[Original articles] Prescribing trends in asthma: a longitudinal observational study

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:38:18 +0500

[Original articles] Prescribing trends in asthma: a longitudinal observational study: Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are effective treatment for childhood asthma. Cross sectional studies indicate that some asthmatic children are treated with excessively high dose ICS…

[Review] Prevention and treatment of renal disease in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura: a systematic review

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:38:18 +0500

[Review] Prevention and treatment of renal disease in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura: a systematic review:

Objective: To determine the benefits and harms of therapies used to prevent or treat renal involvement in Henoch-Schönlein Purpura.

Design: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

…

Traveling to Raa Atoll

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:57:57 +0500

I am in Raa Atoll to conduct WHO Essential Newborn Care training for healthcare providers of the atoll. I am scheduled to return to Male’ on the 15th of August.

I will also be seeing patients at Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital during my time in Ungoofaaru.

[Original articles] How Common Are Rib Fractures In Extremely Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:10:17 +0500

[Original articles] How Common Are Rib Fractures In Extremely Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants?: Background: This study was prompted by incidental finding of healing rib fractures on chest radiographs of ex-preterm born infants, who were admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illnesses…