Latest news with #HealthMinister
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
New medical norms made mandatory for workplaces in Bahrain
Bahrain - Workplaces across Bahrain are now legally required to implement enhanced medical aid and emergency treatment protocols and optional use of defibrillators effective yesterday. It follows a new ministerial resolution (3822) issued by Health Minister Dr Jalila Al Sayyed in the latest edition of the Official Gazette. The resolution introduces comprehensive regulations to strengthen occupational safety, focusing on first-aid availability, medical preparedness and rapid response to health emergencies, especially in high-risk industries. It also coincides with recent moves by the General Sports Authority (GSA) to mandate the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in gyms and fitness centres. This dual approach highlights a growing national focus on preventative and life-saving measures in both professional and recreational environments. The resolution is based on several key Bahraini laws such as the 1976 Social Insurance Law, 2012 Private Sector Employment Law, the 2018 Public Health Law and its 2021 executive bylaws and the 2013 Occupational Safety Regulations Resolution. Employers found in violation of the new rules could face penalties under Article 192 of the 2012 Private Sector Employment Law or Article 129 of the Public Health Law, depending on the nature of the infraction. Under the new resolution, employers must provide adequate first-aid arrangements at each workplace, first-aid kits (one per 100 workers or fewer) and emergency plans with maps and contact details of nearby health facilities. At least one qualified and trained first-aider must be provided for every 20 employees, with their names recorded in a special register and an employee must be designated to monitor kit availability and information reporting. The first-aid kits must include supplied based on workplace risk which are classified as Class A (low/medium risk) and Class B (high risk). Periodic inspection of contents is mandatory, and records must be maintained. Employers are obligated to immediately summon medical help and ensure timely transportation of injured workers to healthcare facilities. A detailed plan for responding to emergencies is required, including evacuation routes, health facility contact details and first-aid kit locations. The resolution officially repeals the outdated 1976 decision on first-aid kits and updates standards in line with modern medical practice. It came into effect on Friday, but since it was an off day for the private sector, its official implementation date was yesterday. Following are the detailed first-aid kit requirements: n Class A Kits (low to medium risk environments such as offices or retail stores) must include 16 adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointments and antiseptics, burns dressings, CPR masks, eye wash, a foil blanket, scissors, medical gloves and a first-aid guide; AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is optional. n Class B Kits (high-risk sites such as factories or construction zones) require larger quantities of all Class A items, additional trauma pads, splints, tourniquets, minimum eight medical gloves, extended adhesive tapes, and double cold packs, eye and skin wash in larger volumes and an AED (optional, but strongly encouraged). Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
New Brunswick funds pharmacists to treat more common ailments
Pharmacists in New Brunswick received public funding to treat three more common ailments, said a news release Friday. Patients can visit participating pharmacies for seasonal allergies, thrush and fungal infections – including athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm – with no service fee, said the province in the release. 'These types of health concerns are within the scope of practice of pharmacists in New Brunswick, and we continue to value the role pharmacists can play in helping New Brunswickers receive the right care at the right time from the right health professional,' said Health Minister John Dornan. Pharmacists in New Brunswick can now assess and treat 15 common ailments with prescriptions, administer vaccines and provide other services. This helps reduce traffic at emergency rooms, walk-in clinics and other care providers, said the province. Patients are advised to contact their pharmacist in advance to find out what services are available since they are not mandatory. The cost of certain consultations is covered but patients are still responsible for the cost of medication. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
National Post
5 days ago
- Health
- National Post
B.C. Health Ministry restores drug funding for girl with rare disease
British Columbia's Health Minister Josie Osborne says she has reinstated funding for a nine-year-old girl who has an extremely rare disease. Article content Charleigh Pollock has Batten disease, and the drug Brineura costs around $1 million a year. Article content Article content Osborne says she spoke with the girl's family tonight and told them that the funding would be available 'for as long as the treating physician and the family deem it appropriate.' Article content Article content Osborne says she believes health professionals should make decisions about care, and a letter she received from Batten disease experts in the United States detailed a 'significant disagreement.' Article content Article content The minister says the Vancouver Island girl and her family should not suffer because of the disagreement over the drug. Article content
ABC News
6 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
‘Get vaccinated': Hospitals under pressure as elective surgeries remain on hold
Elective surgeries remain on hold at several major Queensland hospitals, with state leaders calling the influx of flu and COVID-19 patients taking up valuable beds "overwhelming" and "startling". The State Government announced on Wednesday that non-urgent surgeries were postponed for two days at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Prince Charles Hospital, Redcliffe Hospital, and Caboolture Hospital. The delay affects around 185 patients. While urgent category one procedures will go ahead, category two and three surgeries, like knee or hip surgeries, have been paused to free up resources. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said elective surgeries were expected to resume Monday, depending on whether case numbers remained steady. "When our beds get full, that restricts the amount of people who can come through emergency departments so we've had to free up beds by pausing elective surgery so we've got capacity in the system," he said. "I've got an overnight report that the situation has steadied, and we haven't had a huge surge. The night before we had 106 people at Redcliffe Hospital and 102 at Caboolture at 9.30pm — there was a big surge Wednesday evening that led to that decision. "Anyone in an emergency should call Triple 0 and our emergency departments will provide quality care." Mr Nicholls said the department was keeping a "watching brief" on numbers, which would determine whether further elective surgery cancellations occurred this flu season. "We're seeing similar presentations in Rockhampton, Gladstone and Ipswich where we're seeing big surges of winter flu and that's why the vaccination is so important," he said. "Last week, more than 250 people were hospitalised with flu and on average, 169 patients are currently in hospital with flu and about 150 with COVID." Staff shortages are also adding to the strain, as more frontline workers fall ill. "Our nurses and doctors are being exposed and our rosters are getting affected by clinicians coming down with the flu, so that's adding to the challenge and our hospitals are doing a mighty job," Mr Nicholls said. He warned this year's winter surge had been one of the most challenging in recent times. "This year it's been worse, there's been a 16 per cent increase in the number of people presenting and 90 per cent presenting with flu are unvaccinated," he said. Patients and health workers have voiced concerns over the system's capacity during flu season. Lou, a patient at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, said she believed the surgery suspension should be extended because "it's crowded and ramping is up to six, seven hours. "It's choc-a-block," she said. "I was in the Emergency [Department] for seven hours. It should be extended for a lot more than 48 hours. There's not enough staff and the nurses just work and get no recognition." Nursing students, Sarah and Gina, currently on placement at RBWH, said they feared the delays would impact their training. "We're just a bit sad we might not get to experience some learning opportunities in some areas," Sarah said. "We've selected this placement for surgical at RBWH as one of the biggest hospitals in South East Queensland, so we're hopeful we can care for people in surgery as well as those with cold and flu. "For us, it means it makes it difficult from a learning perspective. Everyone should get vaccinated, it really does help. It's preventable," Gina added. Since the end of 2021, there has been a pattern for COVID-19 where there are two peaks of deaths - one between November and January and the other between May and August. Nationally, there were 581 deaths due to COVID-19 and 180 deaths due to influenza in the first four months of 2025. Mr Nicholls said low vaccination rates were contributing to hospital pressure and strongly urged Queenslanders to get the flu shot. "The government put $25 million into free flu vaccines so my real call to Queenslanders is to make sure you get the vaccine - it's safe, it's tested and it may prevent you from coming to hospital," he said. "Queensland Health have been pushing people to get the flu vaccine that's been available since May 1 for free, but unfortunately sometimes it does take these sorts of circumstances to bring it to people's minds. "It's not too late, don't think the season is half way through. Get the vaccination. There's no good reason not to get it. It's the best thing you can do for yourself, your family and your community." Queensland Health is contacting patients whose surgeries have been delayed.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Health minister 'heartened' by rising child immunisation rates
The biggest increase was in South Canterbury, which delivered a 12.1 percentage point gain this quarter. Photo: AFP Health Minister Simeon Brown is "heartened" by rising childhood immunisation rates, with national coverage climbing to just under 80 percent in the first three months of the year. National coverage at 24 months climbed to 79.3 percent in the third quarter of 2024/25 - up 2.4 percentage points compared to the same quarter last year. "Protecting children from preventable illnesses like measles and whooping cough is a priority, so it's heartening to see more children across the country now fully immunised," Brown said. "These results show that our clear focus on health targets, combined with the efforts of our frontline workforce, is delivering real improvements for children." The biggest increase was in South Canterbury, which delivered a "remarkable" 12.1 point gain this quarter. That region had the third-highest coverage rate in the country - 87.5 percent - just behind Canterbury (89.9 percent) and Capital and Coast (88.9 percent). "Auckland lifted its coverage by 5.7 percentage points, Counties Manukau by 5.5, and Lakes by 5.2. Capital and Coast rose by 4.4 points, while Whanganui achieved a 5.8-point gain," Brown said. The rise in immunisation coverage was especially important following the recent measles cases in Wairarapa, he continued . "Measles is highly infectious, and vaccination remains the most effective way to protect our children and communities. Simeon Brown. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro "Every additional child immunised lowers the chance of outbreaks, helping to keep our families, schools, and communities safe and healthy." Wairarapa was one of five districts where immunisation coverage dipped compared with the same quarter last year. One (Southern) remained the same, while 14 others recorded increases. Brown said childhood immunisations were a key priority for the government. "That's why this government has introduced performance payments for GP clinics that lift childhood immunisation rates by up to 10 percentage points, or reach 95 percent of their enrolled population - with partial payments for partial achievement." The interim target was to have 84 percent of two-year-olds fully vaccinated by June. Operational data released by the minister in May (yet to be verified) showed vaccination rates continued to rise after March, exceeding 80 percent (80.2 percent) for the first time since early 2022. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
