Portugal has EU's highest HIV rate
Portugal has the highest rate of HIV infection in the European Union
and is the only nation among the 15 countries where the rates of infection
are rising. The National Statistics Institute in Lisbon says there were
104.2 HIV cases per one million Portugese residents in 2000, compared
with 88.3 cases in 1999. The EU average is just under 25 HIV cases per
million residents. Health officials say drug injection is the main source
of HIV infection in Portugal.
Irish haemophiliacs win deal
The Irish government has made a compensation deal with relatives of haemophiliacs
who died after receiving HIV-tainted blood products. The agreement, estimated
at over £60 million, came after more than a decade of campaigning
by haemophiliacs and their families. Health minister Michael Martin said:
"The government recognises the uniquely tragic story of what happened
to haemophiliacs in this country."
Pos Spaniard gets new liver
The Bellvitge Hospital in Barcelona has performed Spain's first successful
liver transplant on a 36-year-old HIV positive patient with cirrhosis.
Michael Meulbroeck said: "The next step is to design inclusion criteria
for HIV positive applicants for kidney transplants." Spain is one
of the countries with the highest numbers of donors and transplants, as
well as the highest rates of HIV and HCV co-infection.
Pharmacos made 'astounding' profits last year
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are again ranked as the most profitable business
sector in the USA, according to Fortune magazine. The top 10 US drug makers'
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profits increased last year by 32 per cent (from $20 billion to $28 billion).
