Analysis of espresso coffee from 20 shops found that one was six times stronger than others. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says too much caffeine can result in miscarriage or a low birth weight. Researchers from Glasgow University tested caffeine levels in espressos bought from High Street coffee

t is an uncomfortable question that, in today’s world, is often asked by expectant mothers who had more than one male partner at the time they became pregnant. Who is the father?With more than half of births to women under 30 now out of wedlock, it is a question that may arise more often.Now blood t

More than 200 researchers investigating colon cancer tumors have found genetic vulnerabilities that could lead to powerful new treatments. The hope is that drugs designed to strike these weak spots will eventually stop a cancer that is now almost inevitably fatal once it has spread.Scientists increa

This is a post by Amanda Glassman reproduced with permission from the Center for Global DevelopmentCost-effectiveness studies compare the costs and benefits of different interventions with the aim of improving decisions on the allocation of scarce resources for health.  Or, put simply, they allow po

NICE International launches the Gates Reference Case, a principle-based standardised methodology for good practice in the planning, conduct and reporting of economic evaluation for informing priority setting in health. The Methods for Economic Evaluation Project (MEEP) was establ

This is a guest post by Moriah Pollock-Hawthorne, Haverford University.I was an intern at NICE International and an American university student with aspirations to become a doctor. In an effort to learn about universal health coverage and experience a single-payer healthcare system in action, I came

What definition of HTA do you subscribe to?Mark: HTA is a term that is used quite loosely. It seems that the formal definition is to provide an assessment of medical technologies using different perspectives including clinical, economic, ethical and technical. But I think the meaning that it has dev

S scientists have released the world’s largest collection of genetic data on childhood cancers in a bid to speed up treatment discoveries.The US Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has mapped the entire genome – all the DNA – of 260 young cancer patients.By finding differences between each youngster’s n

In the global scheme of medicines provision, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face difficulties in ensuring medicine access. Aside from the improvements still needed to healthcare infrastructure, financing, and service delivery, these countries also face issues in prioritizing their health s

Universal Health Compassion for Universal Health CoverageThai efforts to help Indonesia take efficient steps towards UHCJakarta: As we fly over the clear blue Java Sea, I notice the sand from a few scattered islands sloping into the clear waters. I glance again towards my right shoulder at the trave