Archives: Morning Breakouts

In a largely symbolic and generally party-line vote, the House clears a measure to repeal the signature legislative achievement of the Obama administration.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) "aid to some of the poorest countries [is] not being used to supplement existing spending on public health projects, but instead it often substitutes state spending," according to a study published in the International Journal of Health Services, Press Trust India/MSN reports. "The study comes at a time when there is serious concern about whether developing countries will meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on global health by 2015," the news service writes (Sonwalker, 1/19).

During the WHO's executive board meeting Monday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan expressed concerns over what she called a "'worrisome' public mistrust of vaccines, following signs of a tail-off in flu vaccination," Agence France-Presse reports (1/18).

"Africa's economy expanded by 4.7 percent in 2010 and is expected to maintain similar growth over the next two years," according to the U.N.'s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011 report, which was released Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Deutsche Presse-Agentur/M&C reports. But the economic growth and indicators of economic recovery are not strong enough to meet Millennium Development Goal (MDG) poverty targets, according to the report (1/18).

The World Bank on Tuesday "announced a $15 million grant to Haiti to fight a persistent cholera epidemic," SAPA/Health24 reports. In a press release, the bank said it approved an additional $5 million to be added to a previously announced $10 million grant. "The funds, said the organisation in [the] statement, will go towards public campaigns to prevent infection and increase the capacity of Haiti's health ministry to deal with the emergency," the news service writes (1/19).

In the GOP-led effort to repeal the health overhaul, the dynamics of the health reform debate return to center stage. This time, in what is viewed as a symbolic effort in the lower chamber, many reports indicate the tone was collegial.

News outlets offer insights - and fact-checking - about the arguments surrounding the GOP effort to undo the health overhaul.

The new tally in the lawsuit, led by the state of Florida, is 26.

News outlets report on the big-picture health policy goals of both parties. Republicans see the repeal effort as stretching far beyond today's House vote while the stretch of time may help Democrats.

Varying polls offer slightly different takes on where the American public stands regarding the health overhaul, its impact on the economy and whether it should be undone. Democrats are stepping up to try to sway these opinions. Meanwhile, a vocal physician organization has stepped into the fray in opposition of the overhaul.

In a battle that has near- and long-term implications, party leaders flex their muscles. Meanwhile, centrists launch a new program to advance the development of state exchanges.