Archives: Morning Breakouts

A Florida judge agreed to let Republicans critical of the health overhaul, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Rep. John Boehner, and 35 economists supporting the changes in health care submit arguments in the suit brought by 20 states seeking to overturn the law.

Senate Finance Committee chairman says he will seek to get rid of part of the law that was highly criticized by small businesses. It requires them to report any purchases over $600 to the IRS as part of an effort to collect taxes owed the government and help raise money for health overhaul.

In advance of World Pneumonia Day, the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) on Thursday released a report card (.pdf) showing that pneumonia prevention and intervention targets are not being met in the 15 countries where three-quarters of deaths in children under age 5 from the disease occur each year, IRIN reports (11/11).

The WHO, UNICEF and Rotary International on Thursday announced they will kick off a "mass polio immunization campaign in three Central African nations" on Friday "in response to a polio outbreak suspected in more than 100 deaths and deemed 'unusual' because it targets adults more than children," that was first confirmed in the Republic of Congo on Nov. 4, the Associated Press reports.

"Drugmakers are now working on over 100 R&D projects designed to tackle diseases of the developing world and almost 80% of them are being carried out with non-industry partners," according to a report (.pdf) released on Wednesday by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), Pharma Times reports.

The New York Times examines the international aid response to the recent floods in Pakistan and takes a closer look at aid challenges that arise for what the article calls "slow-moving disasters."

The G20 summit in Seoul, South Korea, ended Friday with leaders issuing a communique (.pdf) that endorsed the multi-year Seoul Development Consensus for Shared Growth, Xinhua reports (11/12). The plan seeks to boost development by taking a "business-focused approach" in the developing world, the Globe and Mail reports (Curry et al., 11/12). According to the Korea Herald, "[t]he Seoul Consensus identifies nine key pillars where we believe actions are necessary to resolve the most significant bottlenecks to inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth in developing countries, low income countries in particular," the leaders said (11/12).

The issue of unsafe abortion and its role in women's health was the focus of a four-day conference this week in Accra, Ghana, involving health experts, policymakers and health workers from across Africa, Ghana News Agency reports. According to the news service, the conference agenda was to include: "a review of regional and national progress in addressing unsafe abortion, lessons from research and experience that could improve safe abortion care, post abortion care and related reproductive health care, such as preventing unwanted pregnancy, discussion of an agenda for action for the African region and ways to improve collaboration among governments, NGOs and other stakeholders" (11/9).

Republicans aren't softening their tough criticism of the health law even as they seek Democratic allies to join them in their bid to repeal the overhaul.

Sitting and newly-elected governors are increasing opposition to the health overhaul law.

Patent losses are forcing drug companies to cut costs and look to other markets.