Czech ministry bans psychiatric cages: The Czech Health Ministry has ordered an immediate ban on caged beds in psychiatric hospitals after J K Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter children's books, wrote to the Czech president and prime minister calling for an end to the “horrible” practice. “Ms Rowling's protest was one reason for the ban,” a ministry spokeswoman, Aneta Kupkova, said.
Parliament consults on assisted dying bill: A House of Lords select committee is seeking written evidence on the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill. It follows a private member's bill from Lord Joffe that wanted to enable a terminally ill competent adult to request medical assistance to die in specific circumstances. See www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lordsassisted.cfm
Wales recruits more doctors and nurses: The number of people employed by the NHS in Wales increased from 60144 in September 2002 to 62644 in September 2003; the Welsh Assembly health minister, Jane Hutt, says the figures show that Wales is on track to reach a target of 700 more consultants and GPs and 6000 more nurses by 2010.
BAT to open factory in China: British American Tobacco (BAT) has gained approval from the Chinese government to build a factory there, although the Chinese government signed up to the World Health Organization convention on tobacco control, which sets international standards on tobacco prices and advertising and sponsorship.
Malaria treatment for children under examination: A consortium has been given funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to evaluate the effectiveness of an antimalarial programme known as the intermittent preventive treatment in infants programme. Infants receive an antimalarial drug three times during their first year alongside routine immunisation, whether or not they have malaria. See www.ipti-malaria.org