Ketaki Gokhale
Published: January 3, 2016 – 12:27PM

Outsiders don’t want their daughters to marry any local boys, according to the village elders swapping stories in a tailor’s shop behind the Sikh temple, because most residents are infected with “black jaundice”.

That’s what they call hepatitis C, which is so common in parts of India’s Punjab state that the tailor-shop gossips might not be off base in their estimate. But prevalence could be something of an advantage these days.

Drugmakers have made the village of Lande Rode one of the theatres in a battle to grab market share for sofosbuvir, a miracle cure that Gilead Sciences sells in the US as Sovaldi at a retail price of $US1000 ($1200) a pill. Gilead licensed 11 Indian companies to make generic versions, and they sealed marketing deals with others. Competition has been so fierce it’s driven down the cost and spurred thousands to be tested.

Manufacturers “want more and more patients” and are willing to wheel and deal on price, said Nirmaljeet Malhi, a gastroenterologist at Apollo Hospitals in Ludhiana, about 200km from Lande Rode. “If one agrees to it, the others will also have to. It’s a race where one cannot say no – because then they’re going to lose the business.”

The companies sponsor screening drives, hand out free test kits to hospitals and offer bulk discounts to entire villages. Sofosbuvir was cheap by almost any standard when it hit the market in Punjab at $US10 ($12) in March. Then the cost kept dropping, to as low as $US4.29, and doctors predict it will continue to fall.

That’s in contrast to the situation in the US, where Gilead set off a firestorm in December 2013 by listing Sovaldi at $US84,000 ($116,200) for a 12-week course regimen.

It’s a game-changing drug, often wiping out an infection in three months, and without the debilitating side effects of earlier treatments that took longer. Still, the cost started the latest backlash over high medicine prices. Dozens of state Medicaid plans limited access to the drug, and a US Senate report chastised the company. Gilead, which has said it priced Sovaldi responsibly and thoughtfully, is giving insurers and bulk purchasers discounts.

The same drug is available on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme in Australia, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

Like others in the industry, Gilead arranges to make life-saving cures available in some parts of the world for far less; laws and pressure introduced so-called tiered pricing after expensive anti-HIV treatments became available in the 90s and reduced deaths in rich countries and not poor ones. In exchange for a 7 per cent cut of sales, Gilead gave companies including Mylan, Cipla and Natco Pharma rights to make generics for distribution in 101 developing nations where hepatitis C is often untreated and $US1000 is more than people might earn in a year. The company wants to “foster competition in the marketplace” in low-income areas, according to spokesman Nathan Kaiser.

Now there are more than a dozen sofosbuvir versions for sale in India. “The market has become highly competitive in the last six months with close to 20 companies launching their own,” said MV Ramana, executive vice president and head of branded markets at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.

The sofosbuvir rivals are aggressive about expanding the customer base by making the pills affordable and diagnosis easier. Dr Reddy’s, for example, set up a venture with lender Arogya Finance to offer no-interest loans for patients, and Abbott Laboratories worked with French medical equipment company Echosens SAS to supply Indian hospitals with 13 ultrasound machines that determine the level of fibrosis, or hardening, without a liver biopsy.

A main benefit of the competition, according to doctors, is that so many are being tested for hepatitis C, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. As many as 150 million people have the disease, according to the World Health Organisation, including at least 12 million in India. Common modes of transmission are tainted medical equipment and reuse of syringes.

Some of the highest infection rates are in Lande Rode and other villages of Punjab’s cotton-growing Malwa belt, where 30 per cent to 50 per cent of the population might have the virus, said Gagandeep Goyal, a gastroenterologist at Global Healthcare, a hospital sandwiched between an Adidas store and a Vodafone outlet in Bathinda, the fifth-largest city in Punjab.

There are expenses beyond the drug itself. Villagers are encouraged to go to hospitals in cities for exams to determine the amount of virus in the blood and the exact strain, and scans to see the amount of scarring on the liver. At Malhi’s hospital the charge for a liver scan is 3500 rupees ($72.40).

Malhi said pharmaceutical companies might be persuaded to help defray these costs too. “If bulk treatment is required – say, in a village where 200 people are positive – they might give more favourable pricing to that village for complete treatment,” he said. As for the drug itself, he said, if he tests 20,000 people and finds 2000 infected, he might be able to negotiate to get the cost of a 12-week course reduced by a third to $US1000.

“Where in the US, you get one pill, here you get an entire treatment,” he said. “People in these villages can afford this – possibly everybody can.”

The disease is a topic of conversation for the elders at the tailor’s shop in Lande Rode, a cluster of concrete houses dotting dirt roads and surrounded by rice and wheat fields. Baldev Singh, a farmer and official of the Sikh temple, said he reckoned 80 per cent of the village is infected.

Singh’s family is like many. He was successfully treated with interferon injections last year, before the antiviral pill was available. He looks older than his 45 years, his beard fully gray and his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, even inside the tailor’s dimly lit shop.

His wife, brother and 16-year-old nephew have hepatitis C; the nephew is taking sofosbuvir financed by a loan. But Singh hasn’t had his teenage sons tested yet – and his wife takes an Ayurvedic medicine made whose ingredients include capers and wild chicory. Singh said he thinks her viral count is too low to warrant the expense of generic Sovaldi.

“And anyway,” he said, “the price is supposed to come down a little more, right?”

The Washington Post

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-drug-that-costs-more-than-1200-and-sells-for-5-in-india-20160103-glya8a.html

Scary to think that this is going on. We know many families that go through the pain of paying for medical supplies. Hopefully the Australian Government helps with these issues in Australia. Learn about blood born virus such as hepatitis in our first aid course in Canberra and how to minimise the chance of infection whilst helping people.

The private paramedic company hired by Stereosonic has reportedly banned its staff from speaking to NSW Police after a young woman died of a suspected drug overdose at the Sydney dance festival.

An email sent to Event Medical Services staff hours after the death of 25-year-old pharmacist Sylvia Choi on Saturday night told them not to “make any comment” if approached by police, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The company, founded by paramedic and registered nurse Mike Hammond, describes itself as Australia’s “leading specialist” in rave events.

Sylvia Choi died on Saturday evening.

Yesterday Mr Hammond defended the email and added he was “really pissed off” Fairfax Media had obtained an internal company document.

“They [NSW Police] come to me, I own the company, they don’t talk to anybody at the end of the queue, they call the head of the company,” Mr Hammond said.

On Sunday NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli said there had been no delays in providing medical attention to festivalgoers.

November 29, 2015: A Sydney family is in mourning following the death of a 25-year-old woman due to a drug overdose at the Stereosonic dance festival.

Five lives have been lost due to drugs at New South Wales music festivals over the past 12 months.

In the wake of the latest tragedy Dr Alex Wodak, president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, has proposed drug testing facilities be installed at music festivals so revellers can know exactly what they are taking.

“How many more deaths are we going to have to have before we start doing what we should be doing all along and talking about better ways of preventing this?” Dr Wodak told A Current Affair.

November 30, 2015: The young Australians risking their lives at drug parties.

“By that, I mean testing the drugs, on-site or off-site, testing to see whether the drugs are what the seller claimed they were, testing to see whether they have toxic adulterants in them, testing to see what the dose of the drug is per tablet.”

© ninemsn 2015

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/12/01/01/33/stereosonic-paramedics-told-not-to-talk-to-police#o9VZiDH8CpCRtKbW.99

Another excellent effort by paramedics. They have to deal with many first aid situations and drug overdoses must be some of the worst. The first aid training these guys have is always up to date and of the highest quality. Make sure you attend some first aid training in Canberra in the near future so you are ready for all emergencies.

Life hacks can look exciting, and leave us wanting to try to make our lives a little bit easier by following them.

When Suzanne Dale, from Sale, Greater Manchester, saw an opportunity to make a quick and easy cheese on toast snack, she seized it.

The Facebook post advised readers to turn their toasters onto one side, and slot their cheese-topped bread in sideways.

As she tried this, her toaster burst into flames, and she had to quickly cast it out of the window so as not to start a fire in the house.

It took around 20 minutes until the fire was out and hours for the smoke to clear from Suzanne’s home.

She snapped a photograph of the damage and shared it on Facebook with the message “Don’t try this at home!”

The unfortunate woman told the Manchester Evening News: “I just thought ‘oh I’ll try that’. I don’t know why, I have griddles and everything to make cheese on toast.

“I thought it might be a faster way of making cheese on toast.

“There has since been 2,000 shares and so many comments. It is probably a good thing, if I was stupid enough to do it someone else will be.

“Lots of people said ‘I was going to try this I thought it was a good idea.”

She added: “Luckily I live in a house and have a garden, but if it was anyone living in a flat or somebody who was less agile who couldn’t get out as quick, they were real flames, it could be dangerous.

“I don’t want anybody to be doing that in a flat or anyone who could not get out quick.

“I didn’t want to throw water on it, there was so much smoke going off. Hopefully it will save somebody doing it.”

The Greater Manchester Fire Service warned people not to follow her example.

A spokesman said: “We recommend people always take care and pay attention to anything they are cooking in the kitchen.

“Only use kitchen appliances in accordance of manufacturers instructions.

“Trying to make cheese and toast in a toaster is an extremely bad idea and can cause a devastating fire in the kitchen.

“Make sure any toaster is clear of cupboard doors and other appliances in the kitchen.”

The London Fire Brigade has spoken out about this issue before.

After Jamie Oliver recommended in a Guardian column to make cheese on toast by turning a toaster on its side, they were quick to warn people not to do this.

“Toasters are not designed to be put on their side and used to grill cheese on toast,” crew manager Nick Morley told the BBC.

“Not only does it generate heat onto the work surface as we saw at this incident but the dry leftover crumbs from the bottom of the toaster can get onto the hot elements and ignite.

“I never thought I’d have to give this advice as it’s painfully obvious but if you want cheese on toast use a grill not a toaster.”

Life hacks, which are meant to help make everyday tasks more smooth and efficient, can often be revelatory. Like this method for peeling an orange.

The Telegraph

Oh my goodness, please don’t try any of these crazy ideas at home.  Not only is it dangerous for starting fires but you could easily electrocute yourself. Make sure you get trained in a first aid course in Canberra so that you can help in a fire situation or even an electrocution. Make a booking now so that you are prepared and can save a life.

Sydney weather: Beaches to offer best place to beat a return of heat

Peter Hannam
Published: November 25, 2015 – 4:31PM

The beaches will be the place to head to as Sydney’s last major burst of heat for spring moves through the city, sending temperatures into the high 30s and triggering a total fire ban.

Cooling sea breezes have kept a lid on Wednesday’s temperatures in eastern Sydney while the mercury has again climbed into the mid-30s in the western suburbs.

The city’s top so far on Wednesday is 29 degrees and may not be exceeded now that coastal winds have taken hold, Ben McBurney, a meteorologist with Weatherzone, said.

Thursday, though, will most likely have the westerlies more dominant, pushing temperatures higher again.

“There is a risk it could get to 37-38 degrees,” Mr McBurney said, adding that “beaches may see sea breezes most of the day.”

The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed that forecast, lifting its prediction for Sydney to 38 degrees, with similar temperatures expected across the Sydney Basin.

The bureau also issued a fire weather warming for Thursday for the Sydney metropolitan, Hunter, northern slopes, north-western, and Riverina. Total fire bans will also be in place for Sydney, the Hunter, the north-western and northern slopes regions, the Rural Fire Service said.

Central regions of the country are again copping scorching conditions, with little relief in sight for places such as Alice Springs. The town is already running about 3 degrees above average for November with daily maximums of 36.5 degrees. (See chart below for Wednesday’s heat.)

The heat has been long-lasting through the spring, and records in some regions “will be smashed”, Mr McBurney said.

Australia set record heat in the spring of 2013 and then again last year, and will most likely come close again.

“This spring will definitely be up there [among the country’s hottest],” Mr McBurney said.

Buster on the way

Sydney’s temperatures will most likely fall sharply when a cool change arrives on Thursday afternoon.

“This change will be a [southerly] buster at it flies up the coast,” Mr Burney said, adding that it may arrive between 2 and 4pm.

Before it arrives, areas to Sydney’s north may exceed 40 degrees, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s temperature chart:

Fire authorities are likely to be alert as the change moves in, with wind gusts of 90km/h possible in exposed areas such as Wattamolla to Sydney’s south.

“It’s looking like a pretty dry change,” Mr McBurney said.

Friday’s temperatures will cool off markedly, with the bureau currently forecasting a top of 23 degrees. Saturday may again have a mild day, with a top of 24.

Temperatures will start to climb again from Tuesday, as December and summer get going, although widespread rainfall may also arrive by midweek, Mr McBurney said.

Weatherzone is owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of this website.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-weather-beaches-to-offer-best-place-to-beat-a-return-of-heat-20151125-gl7cib.html

Its getting hotter and hotter out there Canberra, make sure you slip slop slap and look after yourself by staying hydrated.

If you would like to learn more about dealing with the heat then book in to one of our first aid courses in Canberra. You will also learn many other important first aid skills including CPR, bandaging, the use of epipens and asthma puffers and much more. So bok in to one of our first aid courses in Canberra.

Sweatiquette? It’s not a word, I hear you say.

Actually, it is a word. I just made it a word. Maybe even a new #hasthtag. And it’s definitely a THING. In fact, I plan to submit it to the next Oxford Dictionary call for new words. Sweatiquette: The basic good manners one needs to adopt whilst in a shared exercise class to ensure a good experience for all.

Bug-bears. We’ve all got them. And the teeming mass of humanity that is the suburban gym is a great place for them to breed. For me, it isn’t the sweaty equipment and grunting guys gawking as you try to work out, or the overly perky PT who just won’t be quiet after a long day — when you’d rather be feet-up with a Mojito than crunching with a medicine ball. For me, it’s oblivious classmates in group exercise.
I’m a busy woman. Much as I’d love it, I don’t have time to attend multiple classes a day. It’s a struggle to fit one class in amidst the administrivia of life. When I hit the gym, I have carved out that precious hour and I want to work HARD. I understand for some people the gym is less about fitness and more about the social experience. And don’t get me wrong. I like the catch-ups and shared laughs with people who have nothing to do with my work day. But the reason you come to the gym may not be why everyone is there. So for the benefit of all, The Four Rules of Sweattiquette follow:

Proximity. I understand you might want to stand in a cluster with your friends or near me because… well, actually, I have no idea why. But I do dance-based classes because I like to lose myself in the music, be free and express myself. That is impossible when you are standing on top of me and I have to restrict every step, arm-sweep and spin. I respect that some people like to take things at their own pace. Conversely, some of us like to cut loose. All I ask is you do your thing in your own space, not mine. That way the instructors won’t have to make us stand like pre-schoolers before the start of class, reaching out our arms and ‘making ourselves big’ so we have enough room. We are adults. I think we can master this visually.
The word ‘visual’ provides a great segue to the mirror. For years it’s been used by dancers to check posture and form. Also handy to check you are not going to run into anyone, and that your sports-bra has remained in the appropriate locale after a particularly vigorous shimmy. So please, use the mirror for those reasons. Don’t use it to gaze raptly at yourself, check out your various sexy faces, or do your hair and makeup. It’s dance class. You’re going to be a sweaty, wet-haired mess if you’re doing it right. While you are checking yourself out? Ten people just about crashed into you, twisted their ankles trying to avoid you, or almost hit you in the back of the head with an extended arm. Maybe not accidentally.
Then there’s the controversy of ‘the spot’. We all know THAT person. The person who has to stand in the exact same place every class. Or at the very least has to be up the front NO MATTER WHAT. I have some exciting news for you. Dance is about fluidity and movement. No-one has an immovable spot really. This is especially true if you are late for class. Seriously, if you aren’t on time, show some manners. Slip into the back of the room. I don’t care how well you think you dance or how funky your outfit is, you are late! Don’t strut up the front and get in the way of people who’ve already claimed some space. Maybe a couple of times I have become a ‘spot person’ just to see how you’ll react. It’s amusing for a bit, but it makes no sense. Nobody can move. I tried standing in a different spot a few times and, great news — nothing bad happened. In fact I had to work my brain a bit harder to adjust to copying the instructor’s moves from a different angle. But no-one actually died. PS: I go up the front because I’m short!
The mow-down. We’ve all heard of the ‘sprinkler’. Well the mow-down is another classic garden-related dance move and it takes the paleo-friendly cake for poor sweatiquette. You know that person behind you in class? Sometimes several rows behind you. And you know that moment when the instructor says ‘everyone come forward’ and they take it as the green-light to push through the middle of everyone so they can be AT THE FRONT regardless of how many people they trample in the process? I’ve had limbs bruised by such enthusiastic souls. The ‘mowers’ are usually off-beat, doing the wrong step, or doing a self-designed bonus-move that is so distracting it puts the rest of the class off.
I love that people of all ages and abilities come along and have a go at something new. I’m not advocating that classes are only for those ‘that can’. Otherwise, why are they called classes? I just want a little courtesy.

The instructors peering from the stage must notice even more near-carnage than me as the spatially-unaware wreak havoc. Those gentle urgings to not cluster together and reminders that there’s an empty space’ have their place amongst the pirouettes, lest poor sweatiquette lead to murder on the dance floor.

Disclaimer: Since being grounded from dance class with a foot injury, I have found the same rules apply to aqua-aerobics. But that’s another story. Probably called ‘Things You Shouldn’t Do With A Pool Noodle’..

An interesting article for a laugh. Make sure you attend one of our first aid courses in Canberra so that you can obtain your first aid certificate that is nationally recognised. We will make sure you understand the main techniques for hyperthermia which can occur in the summer months in Australia. This will help you with your sweatique. So come and join a fone of our first aid courses in Canberra soon.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of 10 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime. Do you know what to do if a co-worker has a seizure? It is important to be prepared so you can provide first aid.

CDC states that when most people think of seizures, they think of a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, also known as a grand mal seizure. Someone experiencing this type of seizure may cry out, fall or shake. If you see someone having a grand mal seizure:

• Gently place the person on the floor and onto one side to ease breathing.
• Ensure no sharp objects are near the victim.
• Place something soft, such as a pillow or towel, under the victim’s head. If he or she has eyeglasses on, remove them.
• Loosen tight clothing around the neck that may make it harder to breathe.

If a seizure lasts for more than five minutes, CDC recommends calling 000. Other reasons to contact 000 include the victim having a second seizure soon after the first one stopped, the person sustained an injury during the seizure, the seizure occurred in water, or the victim has an underlying health condition such as heart disease or is pregnant.

Knowing what not to do when someone experiences a seizure is important, CDC notes. Do not:

• Attempt to hold a seizure victim down on the ground or restrict his or her movements
• Place anything in the victim’s mouth – doing so can cause injury to the teeth and jaw
• Give mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths
• Provide the victim with food or water until he or she is completely alert

Learn more about dealing with seizures at a first aid course in Canberra. First aid courses are a great way to gain skills and also CPD or PL points in your selected field. At a first aid course in Canberra we will provide you with a free first aid manual and a cpr key ring facemask. So book in soon and get on down to a first aid course in Canberra.