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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: I’m a physician who has looked at hundreds of studies of vaccine safety, and here’s some of what RFK Jr. gets wrong

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jake Scott, Clinical Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University

    Public health experts worry that factually inaccurate statements by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threaten the public’s confidence in vaccines. Andrew HarnikGetty Images

    In the four months since he began serving as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made many public statements about vaccines that have cast doubt on their safety and on the objectivity of long-standing processes established to evaluate them.

    Many of these statements are factually incorrect. For example, in a newscast aired on June 12, 2025, Kennedy told Fox News viewers that 97% of federal vaccine advisers are on the take. In the same interview, he also claimed that children receive 92 mandatory shots. He has also widely claimed that only COVID-19 vaccines, not other vaccines in use by both children and adults, were ever tested against placebos and that “nobody has any idea” how safe routine immunizations are.

    As an infectious disease physician who curates an open database of hundreds of controlled vaccine trials involving over 6 million participants, I am intimately familiar with the decades of research on vaccine safety. I believe it is important to correct the record – especially because these statements come from the official who now oversees the agencies charged with protecting Americans’ health.

    Do children really receive 92 mandatory shots?

    In 1986, the childhood vaccine schedule contained about 11 doses protecting against seven diseases. Today, it includes roughly 50 injections covering 16 diseases. State school entry laws typically require 30 to 32 shots across 10 to 12 diseases. No state mandates COVID-19 vaccination. Where Kennedy’s “92 mandatory shots” figure comes from is unclear, but the actual number is significantly lower.

    From a safety standpoint, the more important question is whether today’s schedule with additional vaccines might be too taxing for children’s immune systems. It isn’t, because as vaccine technology improved over the past several decades, the number of antigens in each vaccine dose is much lower than before.

    Antigens are the molecules in vaccines that trigger a response from the immune system, training it to identify the specific pathogen. Some vaccines contain a minute amount of aluminum salt that serves as an adjuvant – a helper ingredient that improves the quality and staying power of the immune response, so each dose can protect with less antigen.

    Those 11 doses in 1986 delivered more than 3,000 antigens and 1.5 milligrams of aluminum over 18 years. Today’s complete schedule delivers roughly 165 antigens – which is a 95% reduction – and 5-6 milligrams of aluminum in the same time frame. A single smallpox inoculation in 1900 exposed a child to more antigens than today’s complete series.

    Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine, administers a dose to a boy in 1954.
    Underwood Archives via Getty Images

    Since 1986, the United States has introduced vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis A and B, chickenpox, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus and human papillomavirus. Each addition represents a life-saving advance.

    The incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterial infection that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other severe diseases, has dropped by 99% in infants. Pediatric hepatitis infections are down more than 90%, and chickenpox hospitalizations are down about 90%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that vaccinating children born from 1994 to 2023 will avert 508 million illnesses and 1,129,000 premature deaths.

    Placebo testing for vaccines

    Kennedy has asserted that only COVID-19 vaccines have undergone rigorous safety trials in which they were tested against placebos. This is categorically wrong.

    Of the 378 controlled trials in our database, 195 compared volunteers’ response to a vaccine with their response to a placebo. Of those, 159 gave volunteers only a salt water solution or another inert substance. Another 36 gave them just the adjuvant without any viral or bacterial material, as a way to see whether there were side effects from the antigen itself or the injection. Every routine childhood vaccine antigen appears in at least one such study.

    The 1954 Salk polio trial, one of the largest clinical trials in medical history, enrolled more than 600,000 children and tested the vaccine by comparing it with a salt water control. Similar trials, which used a substance that has no biological effect as a control, were used to test Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal, rotavirus, influenza and HPV vaccines.

    Once an effective vaccine exists, ethics boards require new versions be compared against that licensed standard because withholding proven protection from children would be unethical.

    How unknown is the safety of widely used vaccines?

    Kennedy has insisted on multiple occasions that “nobody has any idea” about vaccine safety profiles. Of the 378 trials in our database, the vast majority published detailed safety outcomes.

    Beyond trials, the U.S. operates the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, the Vaccine Safety Datalink and the PRISM network to monitor hundreds of millions of doses for rare problems. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System works like an open mailbox where anyone – patients, parents, clinicians – can report a post-shot problem; the Vaccine Safety Datalink analyzes anonymized electronic health records from large health care systems to spot patterns; and PRISM scans billions of insurance claims in near-real time to confirm or rule out rare safety signals.

    These systems led health officials to pull the first rotavirus vaccine in 1999 after it was linked to bowel obstruction, and to restrict the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 after rare clotting events. Few drug classes undergo such continuous surveillance and are subject to such swift corrective action when genuine risks emerge.

    The conflicts of interest claim

    On June 9, Kennedy took the unprecedented step of dissolving vetted members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the expert body that advises the CDC on national vaccine policy. He has claimed repeatedly that the vast majority of serving members of the committee – 97% – had extensive conflicts of interest because of their entanglements with the pharmaceutical industry. Kennedy bases that number on a 2009 federal audit of conflict-of-interest paperwork, but that report looked at 17 CDC advisory committees, not specifically this vaccine committee. And it found no pervasive wrongdoing – 97% of disclosure forms only contained routine paperwork mistakes, such as information in the wrong box or a missing initial, and not hidden financial ties.

    Reuters examined data from Open Payments, a government website that discloses health care providers’ relationships with industry, for all 17 voting members of the committee who were dismissed. Six received no more than US$80 from drugmakers over seven years, and four had no payments at all.

    The remaining seven members accepted between $4,000 and $55,000 over seven years, mostly for modest consulting or travel. In other words, just 41% of the committee received anything more than pocket change from drugmakers. Committee members must divest vaccine company stock and recuse themselves from votes involving conflicts.

    A term without a meaning

    Kennedy has warned that vaccines cause “immune deregulation,” a term that has no basis in immunology. Vaccines train the immune system, and the diseases they prevent are the real threats to immune function.

    Measles can wipe immune memory, leaving children vulnerable to other infections for years. COVID-19 can trigger multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Chronic hepatitis B can cause immune-mediated organ damage. Preventing these conditions protects people from immune system damage.

    Today’s vaccine panel doesn’t just prevent infections; it deters doctor visits and thereby reduces unnecessary prescriptions for “just-in-case” antibiotics. It’s one of the rare places in medicine where physicians like me now do more good with less biological burden than we did 40 years ago.

    The evidence is clear and publicly available: Vaccines have dramatically reduced childhood illness, disability and death on a historic scale.

    Jake Scott does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. I’m a physician who has looked at hundreds of studies of vaccine safety, and here’s some of what RFK Jr. gets wrong – https://theconversation.com/im-a-physician-who-has-looked-at-hundreds-of-studies-of-vaccine-safety-and-heres-some-of-what-rfk-jr-gets-wrong-259659

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Uranium enrichment: A chemist explains how the surprisingly common element is processed to power reactors and weapons

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By André O. Hudson, Dean of the College of Science, Professor of Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology

    Yellowcake is a concentrated form of mined and processed uranium. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, CC BY

    When most people hear the word uranium, they think of mushroom clouds, Cold War standoffs or the glowing green rods from science fiction. But uranium isn’t just fuel for apocalyptic fears. It’s also a surprisingly common element that plays a crucial role in modern energy, medicine and geopolitics.

    Uranium reentered the global spotlight in June 2025, when the U.S. launched military strikes on sites in Iran believed to be housing highly enriched uranium, a move that reignited urgent conversations around nuclear proliferation. Many headlines have mentioned Iran’s 60% enrichment of uranium, but what does that really mean?

    As a biochemist, I’m interested in demystifying this often misunderstood element.

    What is uranium?

    Uranium holds the 92nd position on the periodic table, and it is a radioactive, metallic element. Radioactivity is a natural process where some atoms – like uranium, thorium and radium – break down on their own, releasing energy.

    The German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth initially identified uranium in 1789, and he named it after the newly discovered planet Uranus. However, its power was not unlocked until the 20th century, when scientists discovered that uranium atoms could split via a process known as nuclear fission. In fission, the nucleus of the atom splits into two or more nuclei, which releases large amounts of energy.

    Uranium is found almost everywhere. It is in rocks, soil and water. There are even traces of uranium in plants and animals – albeit tiny amounts. Most of it is found in the Earth’s crust, where it is mined and concentrated to increase the amount of its most useful radioactive form, uranium-235.

    The enrichment dilemma

    Uranium-235 is an isotope of uranium, which is a version of an element that has the same basic identity but weighs a little more or less. Think about apples from the same tree. Some are big and some are small, but they are all apples – even though they have slightly different weights. Basically, an isotope is the same element but with a different mass.

    Unprocessed uranium is mostly uranium-238. It only contains approximately 0.7% uranium-235, the isotope that allows the most nuclear fission to occur. So, the enrichment process concentrates uranium-235.

    Enrichment can make uranium more useful for the development of nuclear weapons, since natural uranium doesn’t have enough uranium-235 to work well in reactors or weapons. The process usually contains three steps.

    Centrifuges spin the uranium to separate out its isotopes.

    The first step is to convert the uranium into a gas, called uranium hexafluoride. In the second step, the gas gets funneled into a machine called a centrifuge that spins very fast. Because uranium-235 is a little lighter than uranium-238, it moves outward more slowly when spun, and the two isotopes separate.

    It’s sort of like how a salad spinner separates water from lettuce. One spin doesn’t make much of a difference, so the gas is spun through many centrifuges in a row until the uranium-235 is concentrated.

    Uranium can typically power nuclear plants and generate electricity when it is 3%-5% enriched, meaning 3%-5% of the uranium is uranium-235. At 20% enriched, uranium-235 is considered highly enriched uranium, and 90% or higher is known as weapons-grade uranium.

    The enrichment level depends on the proportion of uranium-235 to uranium-238.
    Wikimedia Commons

    This high grade works in nuclear weapons because it can sustain a fast, uncontrolled chain reaction, which releases a large amount of energy compared with the other isotopes.

    Uranium’s varied powers

    While many headlines focus on uranium’s military potential, this element also plays a vital role in modern life. At low enrichment levels, uranium powers nearly 10% of the world’s electricity.

    In the U.S., many nuclear power plants run on uranium fuel, producing carbon-free energy. In addition, some cancer therapies and diagnostic imaging technologies harness uranium to treat diseases.

    Enriched uranium is used for nuclear power.
    Raimond Spekking/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    In naval technology, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers rely on enriched uranium to operate silently and efficiently for years.

    Uranium is a story of duality. It is a mineral pulled from ancient rocks that can light up a city or wipe one off the map. It’s not just a relic of the Cold War or science fiction. It’s real, it’s powerful, and it’s shaping our world – from global conflicts to cancer clinics, from the energy grid to international diplomacy.

    In the end, the real power is not just in the energy released from the element. It is in how people choose to use it.

    André O. Hudson receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. Uranium enrichment: A chemist explains how the surprisingly common element is processed to power reactors and weapons – https://theconversation.com/uranium-enrichment-a-chemist-explains-how-the-surprisingly-common-element-is-processed-to-power-reactors-and-weapons-259646

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Uranium enrichment: A chemist explains how the surprisingly common element is processed to power reactors and weapons

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By André O. Hudson, Dean of the College of Science, Professor of Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology

    Yellowcake is a concentrated form of mined and processed uranium. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, CC BY

    When most people hear the word uranium, they think of mushroom clouds, Cold War standoffs or the glowing green rods from science fiction. But uranium isn’t just fuel for apocalyptic fears. It’s also a surprisingly common element that plays a crucial role in modern energy, medicine and geopolitics.

    Uranium reentered the global spotlight in June 2025, when the U.S. launched military strikes on sites in Iran believed to be housing highly enriched uranium, a move that reignited urgent conversations around nuclear proliferation. Many headlines have mentioned Iran’s 60% enrichment of uranium, but what does that really mean?

    As a biochemist, I’m interested in demystifying this often misunderstood element.

    What is uranium?

    Uranium holds the 92nd position on the periodic table, and it is a radioactive, metallic element. Radioactivity is a natural process where some atoms – like uranium, thorium and radium – break down on their own, releasing energy.

    The German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth initially identified uranium in 1789, and he named it after the newly discovered planet Uranus. However, its power was not unlocked until the 20th century, when scientists discovered that uranium atoms could split via a process known as nuclear fission. In fission, the nucleus of the atom splits into two or more nuclei, which releases large amounts of energy.

    Uranium is found almost everywhere. It is in rocks, soil and water. There are even traces of uranium in plants and animals – albeit tiny amounts. Most of it is found in the Earth’s crust, where it is mined and concentrated to increase the amount of its most useful radioactive form, uranium-235.

    The enrichment dilemma

    Uranium-235 is an isotope of uranium, which is a version of an element that has the same basic identity but weighs a little more or less. Think about apples from the same tree. Some are big and some are small, but they are all apples – even though they have slightly different weights. Basically, an isotope is the same element but with a different mass.

    Unprocessed uranium is mostly uranium-238. It only contains approximately 0.7% uranium-235, the isotope that allows the most nuclear fission to occur. So, the enrichment process concentrates uranium-235.

    Enrichment can make uranium more useful for the development of nuclear weapons, since natural uranium doesn’t have enough uranium-235 to work well in reactors or weapons. The process usually contains three steps.

    Centrifuges spin the uranium to separate out its isotopes.

    The first step is to convert the uranium into a gas, called uranium hexafluoride. In the second step, the gas gets funneled into a machine called a centrifuge that spins very fast. Because uranium-235 is a little lighter than uranium-238, it moves outward more slowly when spun, and the two isotopes separate.

    It’s sort of like how a salad spinner separates water from lettuce. One spin doesn’t make much of a difference, so the gas is spun through many centrifuges in a row until the uranium-235 is concentrated.

    Uranium can typically power nuclear plants and generate electricity when it is 3%-5% enriched, meaning 3%-5% of the uranium is uranium-235. At 20% enriched, uranium-235 is considered highly enriched uranium, and 90% or higher is known as weapons-grade uranium.

    The enrichment level depends on the proportion of uranium-235 to uranium-238.
    Wikimedia Commons

    This high grade works in nuclear weapons because it can sustain a fast, uncontrolled chain reaction, which releases a large amount of energy compared with the other isotopes.

    Uranium’s varied powers

    While many headlines focus on uranium’s military potential, this element also plays a vital role in modern life. At low enrichment levels, uranium powers nearly 10% of the world’s electricity.

    In the U.S., many nuclear power plants run on uranium fuel, producing carbon-free energy. In addition, some cancer therapies and diagnostic imaging technologies harness uranium to treat diseases.

    Enriched uranium is used for nuclear power.
    Raimond Spekking/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    In naval technology, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers rely on enriched uranium to operate silently and efficiently for years.

    Uranium is a story of duality. It is a mineral pulled from ancient rocks that can light up a city or wipe one off the map. It’s not just a relic of the Cold War or science fiction. It’s real, it’s powerful, and it’s shaping our world – from global conflicts to cancer clinics, from the energy grid to international diplomacy.

    In the end, the real power is not just in the energy released from the element. It is in how people choose to use it.

    André O. Hudson receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. Uranium enrichment: A chemist explains how the surprisingly common element is processed to power reactors and weapons – https://theconversation.com/uranium-enrichment-a-chemist-explains-how-the-surprisingly-common-element-is-processed-to-power-reactors-and-weapons-259646

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Urgent warning to pet owners as toxic chemicals found in fake flea treatments

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Urgent warning to pet owners as toxic chemicals found in fake flea treatments

    Pet owners urged to be wary of dangerous fake treatments discovered on e-commerce sites.

    Main developments are:

    • urgent government warning issued after toxic insecticide discovered in counterfeit flea treatments – one cat required emergency surgery after severe poisoning

    • fake pet medicines lack essential ingredients while containing dangerous chemicals that trigger vomiting, seizures and potential death

    • warning signs include poor packaging, spelling mistakes, unusual smells and suspiciously low prices

    • new figures show three quarters of consumers wrongly believe fake goods are of similar quality to genuine products

    • pet owners should only buy from trusted sources and immediately report suspicious products

    The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) are urging pet owners to take caution when purchasing common medicines, including common flea treatments and wormers. 
     
    The alert comes after toxic pesticide traces were found in a fake flea treatment that caused a pet cat to become seriously ill, prompting the owner to have the product tested. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Pirimiphos-methyl, a dangerous insecticide toxic to cats. 
     
    Officials are urging pet owners to recognise signs of counterfeit products, avoid using suspicious items, and know how to report concerns.  

    Counterfeit animal medicines deliberately copy the appearance, packaging and branding of genuine veterinary products to deceive pet owners. Like all counterfeits, they are illegal to sell in the UK.   

    These fakes typically lack proper active ingredients, making them ineffective. Worse still, they may also contain harmful substances, causing severe reactions including vomiting, muscle tremors, breathing difficulties, seizures and potentially death.

    Pet owners seeking bargains, or a quick purchase online may unknowingly purchase these dangerous counterfeits.  
     
    The VMD and IPO are urging owners to check for warning signs including poor packaging, spelling errors, missing information, and unusual smells. 

    Last year alone, the VMD issued 122 seizure notices for the selling of unauthorised animal medicines and supplements, preventing around 18,000 illegal items from reaching consumers. 

    After purchasing what appeared to be genuine FRONTLINE ® flea treatment online for his cat, Smokey, Alan Wall from Preston was devastated when Smokey became very unwell. The condition was so severe that Smokey required emergency intestinal surgery to survive. This was followed by a week-long stay at the veterinary surgery and significant bills to support his recovery.

    Alan Wall said:

    Smokey is more than just a pet, he’s a member of our family. When he became ill after using what we believed was a genuine flea treatment, we were terrified. Watching him suffer, not knowing whether he would pull through, was heartbreaking. It’s taken a huge emotional toll on all of us. Without the support of our vets and the extensive surgery they performed we know Smokey wouldn’t be with us today. We want to warn other pet owners about these fake products so that no one else has to endure what we’ve been through.

    Images of Smokey the cat – receiving treatment, and when healthier

    A Veterinary Medicines Directorate Veterinary Surgeon and Efficacy Assessor, Dr Heilin-Anne Leonard-Pugh, explains:

    Pirimiphos-methyl is toxic to cats. Exposure to this insecticide can prevent the cat’s body from breaking down a substance called acetylcholine, leading to an overstimulation of the cat’s nervous system. This can cause symptoms such as vomiting, uncoordinated gait, muscle tremors, weakness, paralysis, increased sensitivity to touch, difficulty breathing, restlessness, urinary incontinence, low heart rate and seizures. In some cases, even death can sadly occur. If you suspect your pet has been exposed to a counterfeit medicine, seek veterinary advice immediately.  

    Sue Horseman from Bristol also purchased what appeared to be FRONTLINE® flea treatment online for her cat, but quickly became suspicious that the product wasn’t genuine.  
     
    Sue explained that the product was difficult to open and had a distinct smell of white spirit and paraffin, whereas the genuine flea treatment has no smell.  When she reported this to Trading Standards, experts confirmed that the treatment was a counterfeit. 

    While the online platform has removed the seller, they had already managed to sell 211 batches of suspected counterfeit pet medicines and supplements, including fake FRONTLINE Flea and Tick Treatment and PRO PLAN FortiFlora Probiotic Sachets for dogs and cats. 
     
    New counterfeit goods research (Wave 4) shows that counterfeit goods of all types are frequently purchased via global e-commerce websites. The figures also show that in 2024, nearly-one-in-five (17%) consumers unknowingly purchased goods later found to be fake, with 60% of purchasers also saying that ‘ease of purchasing’ influenced their decision.  Saving money is a strong motivator for buying fakes, with around three quarters (72%) of purchasers saying price was an important factor in their decision. Worryingly, around three-quarters (72%) wrongly believed the products would be of a similar quality to the genuine item.

    The IPO’s Deputy Director of Enforcement Helen Barnham, said:

    We are a nation of animal lovers, and criminals dealing in counterfeits are targeting pet owners with complete disregard for the animal’s wellbeing.  This can have some distressing consequences, as they may contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to our pets. We are urging pet owners to be vigilant when purchasing any type of animal treatment, and beware of any offers that ‘look too good to be true’.   

    Counterfeiting is anything but a victimless crime and this latest discovery confirms this. If you suspect that any goods offered for sale may be counterfeit, you should always report this to your local Trading Standards or Crimestoppers Online.

    Caroline Allen, RSPCA Chief Veterinary Officer said: 

    We are very concerned about counterfeit vet treatments on sale which can be highly toxic to pets and we would always urge pet owners to seek professional veterinary advice if they have any health concerns.  

    We appreciate financial pressures can lead to some owners to look for cheaper treatments online but they could be unwittingly putting their beloved pets in serious danger by inadvertently buying these counterfeit goods and would urge them to take on board this government advice.

    Nina Downing, Vet Nurse from PDSA, a vet charity and a leading authority on pet health in the UK, said:

    Counterfeit veterinary medicines can pose a serious threat to our pets ‘ health and wellbeing. While legitimate medications play a vital role in keeping our pets healthy, counterfeit products can cause severe harm or even be fatal. These fake medicines may contain incorrect ingredients or dangerous substances that can make pets extremely ill – leading to symptoms like twitching, swelling, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapse, coma and even death.

    We always recommend that you only give your pet medication which has been prescribed by your vet. When fulfilling a prescription online, source them from reputable companies that are on the Register of online retailers, brought to you by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. If you suspect your pet is reacting badly to any medication, contact your vet immediately.

    When examining the counterfeit FRONTLINE® flea treatment, experts from the University of Bath also identified telling packaging flaws. Most notably, the label used ‘GATTI’ (Italian for cats) instead of the English ‘CAT’, alongside multiple spelling errors – common indicators of counterfeit products.

    Image: Packaging featuring spelling mistakes and mixed languages

    Pet owners should check the packaging and always be cautious of third-party sellers when shopping on e-commerce sites for any type of pet medication. 

    The IPO and VMD are offering advice for consumers to help spot fake animal medicines, and what to do if they believe they may have purchased them or seen them offered for sale.

    How to identify fake animal medicines online:

    1. Warning signs of fake medicines. Look out for: 

    • poor quality or damaged packaging
    • spelling or grammar errors
    • missing leaflets or expiry dates
    • instructions not provided in English
    • suspicious smell, colour or texture
    • poor quality tablets, capsules, vials or pipettes – homemade appearance

    Be wary of any retailer selling prescription only products without asking for your prescription. This is illegal. 

    All online sellers of prescription only animal medicines must be registered with the VMD. If in any doubt, you can check retailers on the VMD’s Register of Online Retailers.

    2. Always shop safely online. Be cautious of:

    • heavily discounted goods and flash sales. Question the price if much cheaper than elsewhere. Whether buying online or in person, always think about the price
    • a seller asking for sensitive information or requesting payment by bank transfer
    • fake websites and social media profiles. These can contain original brand names – confirm the website is authentic and check seller details and reviews before purchasing
    • any deal or offer that looks ‘too good to be true’ 

    What you can do

    If you have you been personally affected by a poisoning case, you should report through the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) questionnaire. 

    If you see these goods being offered for sale, whether on a website, social media post or on the high street, contact your local Trading Standards or Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111. 

    If you encounter suspicious veterinary medicines or retailers, please also report them to the VMD Enforcement Team. (You can do so anonymously if preferred): 

    Additional information

    1. All veterinary medicines sold in the UK must be authorised. If the brand looks unfamiliar, ensure its authorised before purchasing. To know if the medicine is UK- approved, you should look for English labelling and a valid Marketing Authorisation number (e.g. Vm 12345/4001). You can check if the medicine you are buying is authorised in the UK by searching the VMD’s Product Information Database.

      Using ant unauthorised medicine poses a serious risk to the welfare of your pet. These medicines have not been assessed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and their safety, quality and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.  

    2. Online retailers of low-risk, general sale veterinary medicines that can be sold by anyone without a prescription (known as AVM-GSL medications) don’t need to register. When buying these medicines always shop from a trusted source. 

    3. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the UK government body responsible for responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. IPO is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.  

    4. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the UK Competent Authority for veterinary medicines regulation. The VMD protects public health, animal health, and the environment and promotes animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of veterinary medicines.  

    5. The IPO regularly conducts research to understand consumer behaviour in relation to the purchasing of and attitudes toward counterfeit goods. The most recent Counterfeit Goods Research report (published Tuesday 17 May 2025) show the main motivations for those who purchase counterfeits: 

    • similar/ the same quality – 72.3%
    • wanting to reduce spending/outgoings - 72%
    • the real product was out of your budget/ price range - 70.9%
    • the fake product was cheaper  – 72%
    • hearing from family or friends that the ‘fake’ products were good - 64.8%
    • similar/the same design – 64.6%
    • being able to purchase ‘fake’ or counterfeit products easily – 60.5%

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Recognized for Responsible Antibiotic Use

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A commitment to responsible use of antibiotics earns UConn Health’s John Dempsey Hospital the designation of “Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence” from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

    Certificate from the Infectious Diseases Society of America

    With this designation, the IDSA recognizes institutions that have established stewardship programs, led by infectious diseases physicians and pharmacists, to advance science in antimicrobial resistance, and that have surpassed high standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines.

    “Evolving antimicrobial resistance patterns and the introduction of new therapeutics have made antibiotic prescribing more challenging than ever,” says Kevin Chamberlin, UConn Health’s chief pharmacy officer. “This Center of Excellence designation is a testament to the sound antimicrobial stewardship we practice that protects our limited options for our most vulnerable patients.”

    John Dempsey Hospital is one of four hospitals in Connecticut designated as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence, and among fewer than 200 hospitals in the world that have earned the distinction since the ISDA started this program in 2017.

    Core criteria include implementation of stewardship protocols by integrating best practices to slow the emergency of resistance, optimize the treatment of infections, reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use, and address other challenging areas of antimicrobial stewardship.

    “This shows that we are using multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure that we’re using antibiotics in the most quality way and optimizing those antibiotics across care, both on the inpatient and outpatient side,” says Gillian Kuszewski ’03 (PHARM), ’05 Pharm.D., university director of UConn Health’s pharmacy residency programs.

    Kuszewski co-leads UConn Health’s antibiotic stewardship program with Dr. David Banach ’06 MD, MPH, infectious diseases physician and UConn Health’s hospital epidemiologist, and Jeffrey Aeschlimann ’93 (PHARM), a UConn School of Pharmacy faculty member and clinician in UConn Health’s pharmacy practice.

    From left: Dr. David Banach, Gillian Kuszewski, and Jeffrey Aeschlimann lead UConn Health’s antibiotic stewardship program. (Photo by Chris DeFrancesco, UConn Health)

    “Antibiotic stewardship is a global health priority,” Banach says. “The goal of using the right antibiotic for the right patient at the right time for the right duration is really becoming recognized as a key public health measure, both for reducing resistance and also reducing antibiotic-associated side effects and adverse events like C. diff.”

    C. diff, or Clostridioides difficile infection, is one of the most common health care-associated infections. It is highly contagious and difficult to treat.

    “One of the important things the stewardship program does is minimize unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which has been shown to also decrease C. diff rates in hospitals and health care settings,” Aeschlimann says.

    While this is the first time UConn Health has applied for this ISDA designation, antimicrobial stewardship has been a priority going back more than a decade, predating regulatory requirements. Aeschlimann and Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus, who today is chief of UConn Health’s Division of Infectious Diseases, started the antibiotic stewardship committee in 2013. Since then, it has grown to include representation from throughout the institution, including microbiology lab professionals, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, informatics specialists, infection preventionists, and students, residents and fellows.

    “We’ve always been doing these things along the way, and we felt now was the right time to sit down and formally submit an application,” Kuszewski says. “We’ve always done extremely well with our program when regulatory bodies like the Joint Commission come to visit. From a regulatory perspective, we’ve consistently received really good feedback from them on our antimicrobial stewardship activities.”

    She says the committee has established protocols, policies, and workflows to guide and support front-line providers in making the best choices.

    “We’ve supported, for example, processes to make sure that even after the patient leaves the emergency department, they’re on the right antibiotic based on follow-up information that we get from cultures,” Kuszewski says.

    “We have the collaborations between those who prescribe antibiotics and those who have expertise to offer and help support optimal prescribing,” Banach says.

    And the committee’s guidance has made its way into the electronic health record system to provide an additional resource for prescribers.

    “We try to develop either order sets or clinical pathways or popups, whatever we think might work best, to guide clinicians to pick the right antibiotic choice,” Aeschlimann says.

    Another strategy is to prioritize documentation of allergies to help inform prescribing decisions.

    “They can choose an antibiotic with the least risk of a negative outcome,” Kuszewski says. “Penicillin allergy documentation often leads to unnecessary use of certain antibiotics that come with greater risks. Perhaps a penicillin might cause some temporary stomach upset for a patient and is not really a true allergy. Clarifying this documentation in a patient’s medical record can help providers determine which antibiotic carries the least risk in treating an infection.”

    Kuszewski notes that UConn Health leadership has been supportive of the antimicrobial stewardship efforts since the beginning.

    “Not only are we following standards, but we’re also seeing better outcomes,” she says. “We also have results that show that we’re using less broad-spectrum antibiotics than what we’re expected to use, and our C. diff rates are down. The outcomes are actually tangible. It’s not just what we say we’re doing, but we’re seeing good results.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Science in Seconds: Eating Away at Disease

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Groups of cells called phagocytes are like the clean-up crews of our body – eating and clearing away debris or foreign particles. UConn Health immunologist Kai Li has developed a unique system called PhagoPL to capture and study how phagocytes feel, taste, digest and respond to their “meal.” Understanding this process is relevant to developing treatments for many diseases, such as lupus, sepsis or cancer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Half of Enterprise Windows Endpoints Have Not Yet Migrated to Windows 11, According to ControlUp Study

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ControlUp, a global leader in Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management tools, today announced new findings from its Windows 11 Readiness report, revealing that 50% of enterprise Windows endpoints have yet to complete their migration to Windows 11. This marks a significant improvement from last year’s data, when over 82% of enterprise devices were not running Windows 11. With just under four months remaining until Microsoft officially ends support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, the data highlights both encouraging progress and critical gaps in enterprise readiness across industries, geographies, and organization sizes.

    “While the 50% completion mark is a major milestone, it’s not time to relax,” said Marcel Calef, Americas Field CTO, ControlUp. “With Windows 10 end of support just months away, organizations need to act now to avoid being caught off guard. Our data shows that the rate of migration is uneven, and many enterprises still face significant hardware and planning challenges.”

    Industry Disparities Highlight Readiness Gaps

    ControlUp’s analysis of over one million enterprise endpoints shows that Education and Technology sectors are leading the migration, with 77% and 73% of their devices already running Windows 11, respectively. In contrast, Healthcare (41%) and Finance (45%) are falling behind. A deeper look reveals that 19% of Healthcare endpoints need to be replaced entirely before they can support Windows 11, compared to just 3% in Finance.

    Americas Trail Behind Europe and Other Regions

    By region, the Americas are furthest behind, with only 43% of enterprise endpoints upgraded to Windows 11, even though 87% of those devices are Windows 11 ready. Europe leads all regions at 70% completion, followed by other global regions at 66%. These regional differences could impact multinational organizations’ ability to maintain consistency and security across their environments.

    Larger Enterprises Facing the Greatest Hurdles

    ControlUp’s data also reveals that very large organizations (with over 10K Windows devices) are the least prepared for the end of Windows 10 support, with just 42% of migrations completed. These organizations often have complex IT environments and a higher volume of legacy hardware, making early assessments and planning essential.

    “ControlUp’s Windows 11 readiness assessment tool helps IT teams instantly evaluate endpoint compatibility, identify upgrade opportunities, and flag devices needing replacement, all from a single dashboard,” Calef added.

    The Windows 11 Readiness report, available through ControlUp’s Windows 11 Readiness Assessment tool, is built into the ControlUp for Desktops solution—designed to improve the digital employee experience across physical and cloud-based endpoint devices.

    ControlUp’s findings are based on a sample set of more than one million enterprise Windows endpoint devices under management as of June 2025. Additional insights can be found here.

    About ControlUp

    ControlUp is a leader in DEX, unifying Digital Employee Experience and IT operations in one powerful platform built for modern workplace management. By combining real-time monitoring, intelligent insights, and proactive remediation, ControlUp accelerates the shift toward Autonomous Endpoint Management (AEM)—empowering IT teams to resolve issues before they affect employees, simplify operations, and manage complexity without the clutter of multiple tools. Nearly 2,000 organizations, including more than one-third of the Fortune 100, trust ControlUp to keep their technology running smoothly. With ControlUp, IT works smarter, employees stay productive, and the workplace runs itself. To learn more, visit www.controlup.com.

    Press Contacts:
    ControlUp PR
    media@controlup.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc9c1eae-0f16-4e4a-8c00-52d156fb5d1c.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow introduces artificial intelligence to detect hip osteoarthritis on X-rays.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Moscow has introduced a new artificial intelligence service to its healthcare system to detect signs of hip osteoarthritis in medical images, making it the 41st modality in which neural networks are helping radiologists, said Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    The artificial intelligence algorithm developed by specialists at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine has undergone thorough testing and is now integrated into the Unified Radiological Information Service (ERIS). “The algorithm automatically identifies potential signs of osteoarthritis – narrowing of the joint space, thickening of the bone, bone spurs, highlighting the affected areas and taking precise measurements,” she said.

    “Currently, artificial intelligence is used in 40 clinical modalities in Moscow. These innovations speed up diagnostics, increase accuracy and reduce the workload of radiologists.”

    Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and bone remodeling. It is common among older people, but can occur at any age. A new artificial intelligence service deployed in Moscow helps radiologists identify key signs of hip OA, including joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis (bone thickening), and osteophyte formation. Such automation reduces the time it takes to interpret images, improves diagnostic accuracy, and allows for earlier therapeutic intervention.

    “The AI service improves the efficiency of early detection of hip arthrosis, which allows for timely initiation of treatment and improved patient outcomes.”

    Yuri Vasiliev, chief consultant in radiology at the Moscow Department of Health, emphasized the clinical effect: “Accurate imaging assessment of hip osteoarthritis allows us to accurately determine the stage of hip OA and justify treatment strategies, such as recommendations for activity and pharmacotherapy. The main clinical signs of osteoarthritis include pain when moving and decreased range of motion in the affected joints.”

    The introduction of AI is the result of Moscow’s five-year efforts to introduce computer vision into healthcare. More than 200 AI services have been tested, and about 100 algorithms have been included in the URIS UMIAS system. Currently, about 50 AI tools analyze medical images in real time, increasing the speed and quality of diagnostics in 40 clinical areas.

    The project is a joint effort between the Moscow Social Development Complex, the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, and the city’s Department of Information Technology, highlighting Moscow’s commitment to using artificial intelligence to improve healthcare.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow introduces artificial intelligence to detect hip arthrosis on X-rays.

    Moscow has integrated a new artificial intelligence service into its healthcare system to identify signs of hip osteoarthritis in medical images, marking the 41st modality where neural networks assist radiologists. This advancement was announced by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    Developed and tested by specialists at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, the AI algorithm has completed rigorous testing and is now integrated into the Unified Radiological Information Service (URIS). “The algorithm automatically identifies potential osteoarthritis indicators – such as joint space narrowing, bone thickening, and bone spur highlighting affected areas and performing precise measurements”, she stated.

    “Moscow now utilizes AI across 40 clinical modalities. These innovations accelerate diagnosis, improve accuracy, and reduce the workload for radiologists”.

    Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and bone remodeling. While prevalent among older adults, it can occur at any age. A new AI service deployed in Moscow assists radiologists in identifying key indicators of hip OA, including joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis (bone thickening), and osteophyte formation. This automation reduces image interpretation time, enhances diagnostic accuracy, and enables earlier therapeutic intervention.

    “The AI service enhances early detection of hip arthrosis, enabling timely treatment and better patient outcomes.”

    Yuri Vasilev, Moscow’s Chief Consultant for Radiology of the Moscow Healthcare Department, emphasized the clinical impact: “Accurate imaging assessment of hip osteoarthritis allows precise staging of hip OA, informing treatment strategies such as activity recommendations and pharmacotherapy. Key clinical signs of osteoarthritis include pain during ambulation and reduced range of motion in affected joints.”

    This AI deployment builds on five years of Moscow’s pioneering efforts to integrate computer vision in healthcare. Over 200 AI services have been tested, with approximately 100 algorithms incorporated into the URIS UMIAS system. Currently, around 50 AI tools analyze medical images in real-time, improving diagnostic speed and quality across 40 clinical modalities.

    The project is a collaboration between the Moscow Social Development Complex, the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, and the city Department of Information Technology, underscoring Moscow’s commitment to leveraging AI for enhanced medical care.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH holds first briefing session for industry on regulatory regime for clinics and small practice clinics (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The provisions of the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) regulating clinics and small practice clinics (SPCs), where registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists practise, will come into effect on October 13. Operators of clinics and SPCs must obtain a clinic licence or a letter of exemption to continue their operations. Starting from that day, the Department of Health (DH) will begin accepting applications for clinic licences as well as requests for letters of exemption for SPCs. To help the industry fully understand the legal requirements, the DH today (June 26) held the first in-person briefing session, which was well attended by nearly 200 participants.
     
    The Ordinance provides for transitional arrangements for clinics that were already in operation on or before November 30, 2018. Operators of such clinics must submit applications for clinic licences to the Director of Health (DoH) between October 13, 2025, and April 13, 2026. Depending on the circumstances, the DH may issue a provisional licence to allow these clinics to continue their operation before a full licence is issued. This allows operators to make the necessary modifications to their clinics for complying with licensing requirements. The provisional licence will expire on any of the following: the date specified by the Secretary for Health for the expiry of provisions pertaining to provisional licences; the issuance of a full licence to the licensee; or the withdrawal or rejection of the full licence application.
     
    For clinics that commenced operation after November 30, 2018 (including new establishments or those relocated to new premises), operators may apply directly to the DoH for a full licence from October 13 onwards.
     
    For SPCs (i.e. clinics with no more than five registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists that meet specific conditions under the Ordinance), operators may submit request for a letter of exemption to the DoH starting from October 13 for continued operation without obtaining a licence. The DH will issue letters of exemption to those meeting the requirements of the Ordinance.
     
    To help the industry fully understand the regulations, the DH has launched a publicity campaign on its website since the first quarter of this year and will progressively step up these efforts through various channels, including professional organisations, press releases, television announcements, and radio broadcasts. The DH will also arrange multiple briefing sessions for stakeholders from July to September to explain the application details and points to note. Please visit the website of the Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities (www.orphf.gov.hk) for details.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese military praised for contributions to global health 2025-06-26 18:54:33 China’s military has made significant contributions to global health undertakings, said a senior official of an international organization Thursday at the ongoing sixth Pan-Asia Pacific Regional Congress on Military Medicine in Beijing.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) — China’s military has made significant contributions to global health undertakings, said a senior official of an international organization Thursday at the ongoing sixth Pan-Asia Pacific Regional Congress on Military Medicine in Beijing.

      China undoubtedly plays a very important role in regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, said Pierre Neirinckx, secretary-general of the International Committee of Military Medicine.

      He highlighted the conference’s role as a vital platform for dialogue and experience sharing, and emphasized the Chinese military’s sustained influence as a major player advancing global health amid complex security challenges.

      Chinese armed forces have deployed multiple medical teams for peacekeeping missions in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and South Sudan, and have participated in international disaster relief missions, including earthquake relief missions in Nepal and Myanmar.

      China’s naval hospital ship “Peace Ark” has toured to 49 countries and regions, providing health services to more than 370,000 people.

      Being a peace-loving and peace-preserving force, the Chinese military is a steadfast supporter of international humanitarianism and military medicine development, according to Chinese delegates to the conference.

      They pledged to cooperate with global counterparts in sharing medical experiences, technologies and resources to promote the development of military medicine.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farmers backed to tackle endemic diseases with more funded vet visits

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Farmers backed to tackle endemic diseases with more funded vet visits

    Government funded vet visits to now include health assessments for multiple herds on the same farm helping to support better health and profitability within the sector. 

    Credit: Peter O’Connor

    Livestock farmers can now access funded vet visits for multiple herds or flocks belonging to the same farming business from today (26th June), helping to support better health and profitability within the sector. 

    The expansion to the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway provides farmers a more comprehensive understanding of livestock health on farms with many groups of animals, whether mixed holdings or larger farms with many groups of a single species.  

    Since funded vet visits began in 2023 there have been more than 8,000 visits benefiting hundreds of thousands of animals, with over 95% of farmers saying that they have or will take action based on the advice of their vet. The strong uptake and implementation of the advice supports increased disease resilience meaning healthier animals and greater food security which in turn will boost farmers profits. In simple terms healthier, happier cows produce more milk. 

    The application is quick taking less than 90 seconds to apply and less than 3 minutes to claim for the funding. 

    Daniel Zeichner, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, said:     

    Increased disease resilience means healthier animals and greater food security, boosting farmers profits.  

    The vet visit roll-out gives eligible farmers access to tailored support to each herd or flock. It is one step in the Government’s plan to protect rural livelihoods, tackle disease and safeguard high welfare standards across our food chain.   

    Bryan and Liz Griffiths, Livestock farmers in North Devon, said:  

    We have received government supported vet visits since the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway began. These have allowed us to focus on issues specific to our farm as well as the set program. 

    Going forward the new multi-flock and herd option along with the multi-species option will allow funding for a review and follow up for each flock and species on the farm, all through one agreement, which is great.

    Keepers of beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep or pigs, can all apply for a vet of their choice to assess all their herds and flocks along with an optional, funded, follow-up assessment.   

    Visits will be able to support monitoring and treatment of diseases including conditions Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in cattle, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in pigs, and worming resistance in sheep. 

    Applications take just 90 seconds and can be applied for here: Apply for funding to improve animal health and welfare – GOV.UK)

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cases of Salmonella and Campylobacter highest in a decade

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Cases of Salmonella and Campylobacter highest in a decade

    Both Campylobacter and Salmonella cases show a 17.1% increase from 2023 to 2024.

    The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) annual data shows a significant rise in Campylobacter and Salmonella infections in England compared to the previous year. UKHSA is reminding people to take precautionary measures against catching these bacteria, which are common causes of food poisoning. Young children, elderly adults and those with weakened immune systems should take extra care as they are at higher risk of developing severe illness.  

    Campylobacter cases have increased by 17.1% from 60,055 in 2023 to 70,352 in 2024, reaching 121.9 reports per 100,000 population. This represents the highest number of cases recorded in the past decade. Adults aged 50 to 79 years account for 44% of all reports. Similarly, Salmonella infections reached a decade high, with a 17.1% increase from 2023, rising from 8,872 cases in 2023 to 10,388 cases in 2024. Children under 10 years old were particularly affected, accounting for 21.5% of cases.  

    Campylobacter and Salmonella infections are usually caught by eating contaminated food, including poultry, meat, eggs, raw fruit or vegetables, and unpasteurised milk products. Infection may also occur through close contact with people with the infection – particularly in household settings – and by cross-contamination in the kitchen, for example when utensils are used for both cooked and uncooked foods.  

    UKHSA and Food Standard Agency (FSA) experts are investigating further with partner agencies to understand the reasons behind this increase in Salmonella and Campylobacter cases. 

    Cases of the parasite Cryptosporidium decreased by 16.4% compared to 2023, with 5,708 cases reported in 2024, although this was the second highest number of cases reported in the past decade. The number of infections in April 2024 were unusually high, associated with large outbreaks linked to lambing events and petting farm venues, and an outbreak in South Devon associated with mains water.

    The 2023 data for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) shows a slight decrease of 2.2% compared to 2022 overall. The higher rate in 2022 was likely explained by a large STEC O157 outbreak. In 2023, even if the overall number of STEC cases decreased slightly, the number of STEC non-O157 cases increased by 14% (from 1,988 cases in 2022 to 2,260 cases in 2023). This was likely attributable to an increase in the number of diagnostic laboratories using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in recent years, which lead to a significant increase in the detection of non-O157 STEC in England. 

    Both Cryptosporidium and STEC can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with animals or their environments, contact with faeces (such as, during nappy changing), consumption or handling of contaminated food or water, and person-to-person contact.  

    All these gastrointestinal infections can cause similar symptoms, including diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), stomach pains and cramps, vomiting and mild fever. Whilst most people recover within one to two weeks of infection, young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems face higher risks of developing serious illness or complications. In severe cases, STEC can cause haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a serious and potentially life-threatening condition primarily affecting the kidneys.   

    Dr Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director, Gastrointestinal infections at UKHSA said:  

    Our extensive surveillance is showing high levels of gastrointestinal infections in England. We continue to work closely with partners to detect, investigate and halt the spread of infections.

    These infections spread in many ways, including through contaminated food or water, contact with an infected person as well as contact with an infected animal or their environment. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet or handling raw meat, before meals and after contact with animals or farms can prevent infections. Additionally, anyone experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting should avoid handling or preparing food for others. Do not return to work, and children should not attend school or nursery, until at least 48 hours after symptoms have subsided.

    Dr James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the FSA, said:  

    Public safety is our highest priority. The FSA works closely with UKHSA and other partners to monitor and assess the latest foodborne disease data. We are working together to understand the reasons behind the rise in Campylobacter and Salmonella cases, as well as trends in other pathogens. This analysis will help us take the necessary action to protect public health.   

    We’ve launched a new campaign to help people stay safe – find out more on food.gov.uk. We’re also working with industry and local authorities to support businesses to meet their legal responsibility to make sure food is safe. Consumers can further protect themselves by checking Food Hygiene Ratings on food.gov.uk.   

    When preparing food at home, people can reduce their risk of food poisoning by following good hygiene practices and by following advice on the 4Cs of food hygiene: chilling, cleaning, cooking, and avoiding cross-contamination.

    Following good food hygiene and the 4Cs when preparing food can help protect you and others from food poisoning: 

    • cook food correctly by following the guidance on time and temperature on product labels 

    • chill your food below 5 degrees, this will stop or significantly slow the growth of bacteria 

    • clean food equipment and surfaces thoroughly, this helps to stop harmful bacteria and viruses from spreading onto food 

    • avoid cross-contamination which might lead to bacteria passing from raw foods to ready-to-eat foods via things like re-usable shopping bags, knives and chopping boards, cloths and work surfaces 

    • use food and drink by the ‘use by’ date on the label, even if it looks and smells fine – eating food after this date could put your health at risk as you can not smell or taste bacteria which make you ill 

    • good personal hygiene is essential when you’re preparing food, this will help ensure that bacteria you may have come into contact with isn’t passed to your friends, family and neighbours in their food 

     For more details, please visit: Food Standards Agency: Food safety and hygiene at home .

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leia swaps scrubs for sails to support Tall Ships Locum Emergency Medicine consultant Dr Leia Kane will be part of a crack team of medics on stand-by to deal with any mishaps involving the 400,000 plus visitors attending this summer’s Tall Ships Races Aberdeen.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    On top of her day job with NHS Grampian and undertaking a PhD at the University looking at stress and recovery in doctors, Leia (right) works with Enhanced Care Services, a leading provider of event medical services at events across the UK

    Locum Emergency Medicine consultant Dr Leia Kane will be part of a crack team of medics on stand-by to deal with any mishaps involving the 400,000 plus visitors attending this summer’s Tall Ships Races Aberdeen.
    On top of her day job with NHS Grampian and undertaking a PhD at the University looking at stress and recovery in doctors, Leia works with Enhanced Care Services, a leading provider of event medical services which provides medical and first aid staff at a wide range of events across the UK.
    She will be part of the team manning a quayside field hospital during the Tall Ships, offering on-site medical assistance for everything from cuts and blisters through to resuscitation and critical care.
    “We’ve provided support at all sorts of events, from Wimbledon to the Hackney Half Marathon,” explained Leia. “The team includes senior doctors, emergency medicine nurses, paramedics and many other health care professionals from all over the country – people who offer the skills they have in their day jobs to help at big public events.
    “We only work together like this for maybe half a dozen days across the year but everyone is a specialist in what they do and, once we’re on an event site together, the professional bonds kick in and we’re absolutely ready for anything.”

    We only work together like this for maybe half a dozen days across the year but everyone is a specialist in what they do and, once we’re on an event site together, the professional bonds kick in and we’re absolutely ready for anything.” Locum emergency medicine consultant Dr Leia Kane

    With more than 400,000 visitors expected to attend the events across its duration, organisers are expecting an additional requirement for medical care across the local population and are prepped to deal with all eventualities.
    “Different events come with different requirements but we are equipped to deal with almost anything,” added Leia. “The Half Marathon saw us dealing with a lot of people who were struggling with the warm weather, they were over-heating and collapsing.
    “Ironman Wales in comparison was totally different, with lots of people in the water or experiencing bike crashes. From a professional perspective, it’s an opportunity to test out different skills while remaining on alert to deal with the unexpected.
    “Should we need to, we also have dedicated pathways to get people to the right place within the NHS Grampian system without delay.”
    While technically on duty, Leia and her teammates still hope to be able to enjoy being part of the once in a generation event for the city: “The Tall Ships is an incredible event and I can’t wait to be part of it. The buzz of all these people coming to Aberdeen just to have a really good time is fantastic. There’ll be so much going on and we’ll be there for the full four days so I’m looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council awarded share of €7.5m PEACEPLUS funding to deliver community cross border walking programme

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is proud to announce it has been awarded funding from PEACEPLUS to help deliver ‘Walking for All’, a participation-based walking programme which will engage over 14,000 people in walking in rural areas in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

    The funding announcement of €7,536,957 from PEACEPLUS is a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

    Walking for All aims to create healthier rural communities by encouraging participation in walking through organised, volunteer-led walks. These short walks, guided by trained volunteers, will be held in local community spaces and will also aim to bring diverse communities together, fostering acceptance and respect for differences.

    Key outcomes of this cross-border cross-community project include the appointment of dedicated Walking for All Officers, who will oversee the recruitment and training of Volunteer Walk Leaders. These leaders will support the creation of nearly 600 walking groups across rural communities, with the aim of engaging thousands of individuals in regular, social walks.

    The project involves 19 partners. Outscape, a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, will co-ordinate and lead the project. Delivery on the ground across Northern Ireland will be undertaken by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, 7 other Northern Ireland Local Authorities and Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust. There will be 6 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) in Republic of Ireland who will also be responsible for project delivery including Louth, Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan, Donegal and Sligo. Sport Ireland, Mountaineering Ireland and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland are support partners and were instrumental in the development of the programme.

    Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray said: “We are delighted to be one of the delivery partners for Walking for All and receive this funding from the Special EU Programmes Body to implement Walking for All. Being part of this programme under the mentorship of Outscape, we can take significant steps towards improving the health and wellbeing of rural communities in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon.

    “We look forward to being part of this collaborative approach which will use walking to address issues associated with people’s health, social exclusion and isolation.”

    Gina McIntyre, CEO Special EU Programmes Body commented: “Significant developments have been made in the provision of collaborative cross-border services in recent years, providing equality of access for citizens in rural areas. The EU INTERREG programme enabled much of this work and PEACEPLUS funding now builds – and further expands – these collaborative initiatives into areas of increasing wellbeing and reducing social isolation in rural areas.”

    Speaking on the project’s potential impact, Caro-Lynne Ferris, Executive Director at Outscape commented: “This is the most ambitious project Outscape has undertaken to date, and it marks a major milestone for both Northern Ireland and the border counties. We are excited to work with communities across NI and ROI, helping them embrace walking as a means to better health and strengthen social connections. This project will be a powerful catalyst for increased social cohesion and community wellbeing, with impacts that extend far beyond its duration.”

    Spanning the next three years, the project represents a significant step towards Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council achieving its vision of ‘A happy, healthy and connected community, a vibrant and sustainable economy and appealing places for living, working and learning’ by delivering on one of its strategic goals of providing opportunities which improve quality of life and wellbeing for our communities in outdoor activities.  Walking For All also aligns with key government priorities, including the draft Obesity Strategy ‘Healthy Futures’ in Northern Ireland.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Amid alarm over a US ‘autism registry’, people are using these tactics to avoid disability surveillance – podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. caused controversy in April by promising to find the cause for autism by September. Claims by the new US secretary for health and human services that autism is a “preventable disease” with an environmental cause,  contradict a body of research that suggests autism is caused by a combination of genetic and external factors.

    The US government announced that to support the research effort into autism, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), would partner with Medicare and Medicaid to build a “data platform” involving data on claims, medical records and consumer wearables.

    When first announced this plan was dubbed an autism registry, though the government later denied that’s what it was creating, instead calling it a “ real-world platform” to allow researchers to study comprehensive data on people with autism.

    While the NIH defended the decision as “fully compliant with privacy and security laws”, autistic people and disability advocates are alarmed at the potential violations such a data platform could enable.

     In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to Amy Gaeta, a  research associate at the University of Cambridge in the UK who studies disability surveillance.

    Gaeta, who is American, explains that for over a century, disabled people have often been denied the right to privacy and been subjected to a sinister history of forced medical testing, forced sterilisation and various laws that criminalise mental illness. She says:

     I think this is why a lot of these everyday actions that disabled people do to resist surveillance don’t even come across as anti-surveillance. To them it just comes across as this is how I exist in the world.

    Gaeta talks us through some of the strategies people are using to avoid potential surveillance, from self-diagnosis, to withholding information or being careful with the language they use to describe themselves. Listen to our conversation with Gaeta on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.

    Newsclips in this episode from ABC News.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

    Amy Gaeta receives research funding from UKRI, a grant that is hosted at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence.

    – ref. Amid alarm over a US ‘autism registry’, people are using these tactics to avoid disability surveillance – podcast – https://theconversation.com/amid-alarm-over-a-us-autism-registry-people-are-using-these-tactics-to-avoid-disability-surveillance-podcast-259818

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Advice accepted on autumn 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Government response

    Advice accepted on autumn 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme

    The government has accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for the autumn 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme

    A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

    This decision is based on expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which continuously monitor and evaluate emerging scientific evidence on COVID-19 vaccines.  

    The autumn 2025 vaccination programme will target people who are at the highest risk of serious illness to protect the most vulnerable.

    We encourage anyone who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination to come forward for vaccination this autumn.”   

    Background information

    On the 13th November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for spring 2025, autumn 2025 and spring 2026. On 26th June 2025, the Government decided, in line with JCVI advice, that a COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to those in the population most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination.

    Vaccination will be offered in England in autumn 2025 to:

    • Adults aged 75 years and over
    • Residents in a care home for older adults
    • Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Green Book on immunisation against infectious disease.

    In line with JCVI advice, frontline health and social care workers (HSCWs) and staff working in care homes for older adults will not be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination under the national programme for autumn 2025.

    This is following an extensive review by JCVI of the scientific evidence surrounding the impact of vaccination on transmission of the virus from HSCWs to patients, protection of HSCWs against symptoms of the disease, and staff sickness absences.

    In the current era of high population immunity to COVID-19, additional COVID-19 doses provide very limited, if any, protection against infection and any subsequent onward transmission of infection.

    For HSCWs, this means that COVID-19 vaccination likely now has only a very limited impact on reducing staff sickness absence. Therefore, the focus of the programme is now on those at greatest risk of serious disease and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi at Aspen Ideas Festival to Celebrate 15 Years of the Affordable Care Act: “This was the challenge of our generation.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Aspen, CO – Yesterday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretaries Kathleen Sebelius and Sylvia Burwell at the Aspen Ideas Festival for a behind-the-scenes look at the passage of the Affordable Care Act, moderated by former Congressman Charlie Dent.

    The conversation, hosted by the Aspen Institute, offered an inside look into one of the most consequential legislative efforts in American history, focusing on the intense political landscape in 2010, the stakes for working families and the coalition it took to get the ACA across the finish line.

    “For a hundred years they’d been trying to pass a [health care] bill,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said. “This was the challenge of our generation—to do something very special for the American people that made a difference in their lives.”

    The panel recounted both the triumphs and trials of the legislative fight, including the instrumental leadership of Secretaries Sebelius and Burwell in its passage and implementation, efforts to prevent Republicans from repealing the ACA, and the ongoing fight to protect Medicaid from Republican attacks.

    Watch the full event HERE.

    Read coverage of the event below:

    The Aspen Daily News: Pelosi talks Affordable Care Act in Aspen

    [Rick Carroll, 6/23/25]

    Rep. Nancy Pelosi stuck to the script at Paepcke Auditorium on Sunday night. In Aspen for a panel discussion, Pelosi joined the stage with three others to discuss their roles in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which became law in 2010.

    The conversation was titled “Behind the Vote: How the ACA Became Law.” Likely due to its irrelevancy to the discussion, there was no mention of the United States’ strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran a day earlier.

    Pelosi was critical of President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb the facilities on Saturday night. On X, she posted: “Tonight, the President ignored the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without Congressional authorization. I join my colleagues in demanding answers from the Administration on this operation which endangers American lives and risks further escalation and dangerous destabilization of the region.”

    On Sunday, however, the discussion of the landmark legislation — also known as Obamacare and considered the largest piece of health-care legislation in the U.S. since the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 — took center stage. 

    Noting that it took a century of wrangling, Pelosi said it was President Bill Clinton’s administration that gave a serious push to start health care reform in his first term starting in 1993. Facing strong opposition from conservatives and the insurance lobby, Clinton couldn’t pass it through. 

    “For over 100 years, presidents had been trying to pass, to provide … some kind of health care for all Americans,” Pelosi said. “The Clintons had attempted and it may have not succeeded in terms of passing the bill, but it certainly succeeded in raising the awareness and making it possible for us to pass a bill later. So I just give them credit for that.”

    Pelosi, a House member since 1987, was speaker from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023.

    As speaker of the House, she played a key role in shepherding the ACA bill through a divided Congress and a Republican party fiercely opposed to the legislation. She also had to negotiate with those in her party, from the progressives to the moderates, over concessions in the bill. Even without a single vote from a Republican in either chamber of Congress, the ACA became law in March 2010. 

    The legislation made health coverage more accessible to people with low to moderate incomes or pre-existing conditions by giving them income-based subsidies. Its supporters also say the ACA stabilized the health-care market by making it more equitable and accessible.

    The ACA’s backlash, however, has included insurers leaving marketplaces in rural areas, fewer choices for doctors because of insurers tightening their provider networks, increased premiums for middle-class consumers, as well as public confusion over navigating a system rife with complexities. 

    Pelosi was joined on the panel by Kathleen Sebelius and Sylvia Burwell, the respective 21st and 22nd U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services, and former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: S for Housing attends Asia Pacific Network for Housing Research 2025 Conference at Tsinghua University (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    S for Housing attends Asia Pacific Network for Housing Research 2025 Conference at Tsinghua University  
         The APNHR is an international organisation focusing on housing issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The conference was held at Tsinghua University this year with the theme “Towards Resilience and Inclusivity: Adapting to Multifaceted Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region”. The conference convened experts and scholars in the fields of architecture, urban planning, sociology, environmental studies, and others from the Asia-Pacific region to have in-depth exchanges on the housing development and challenges in the region, and to jointly explore ways to promote innovative housing construction and development directions. Participants included professors and students from Tsinghua University and relevant trade representatives.
    ???
         Ms Ho attended the roundtable session of the conference in the morning. She shared the opportunities and challenges in housing development faced by the Housing Bureau (HB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA). She said that the current-term HKSAR Government has actively addressed Hong Kong’s housing problems since taking office, overcoming livelihood issues and addressing people’s concerns by identifying sites and enhancing the quantity, speed, efficiency and quality of public housing construction. The HB is working full steam ahead on implementing groundbreaking innovative policy initiatives, such as Light Public Housing (LPH) and Basic Housing Units, to tackle the “long-standing, big and difficult” issue that has plagued Hong Kong for many years and to provide the grassroots with options to improve their living environment and quality of life. The HKHA, established over 50 years ago, has long been providing affordable rental housing to low-income families with housing needs. It continuously enhances the housing ladder to help low- to middle-income families gain access to subsidised home ownership, encouraging them to move up the housing ladder and thus enhance people’s sense of contentment and happiness.
     
         Ms Ho said that Hong Kong, with its distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world, has leveraged the strengths of the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in smart construction. The HB and the HKHA have been making use of various innovative construction technologies, such as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), construction robots and smart project management platforms, to enhance construction efficiency and build LPH expeditiously, so as to improve the living conditions of those who are inadequately housed as soon as possible.
     
         She also introduced at the conference the “Well-being design” guide launched by the HB and the HKHA last year. It covers eight well-being concepts, namely “Health & Vitality”, “Green Living and Sustainability”, “Age-Friendliness”, “Intergenerational & Inclusive Living”, “Family & Community Connection”, “Urban Integration”, “Upward Mobility” and “Perception & Image”. The guide serves as a reference for the future design of new public housing and the improvement works of existing public rental housing estates, with a view to creating a more comfortable and vibrant living environment for public housing tenants. Apart from housing construction, the HKHA has also continued to enhance management efficiency and service quality of its nearly 200 public rental housing estates by actively promoting smart estate management and introducing new technologies to optimise estate management and building maintenance services, to provide a better living environment for its residents.
     
         In the afternoon, Ms Ho visited the Qingtangwan public rental housing project in Beijing. This project is a green residential area that adopted the use of prefabricated components and environmental monitoring platforms, among others, that facilitate energy saving and decarbonisation and promote a low-carbon lifestyle. It also implements smart community management through community apps. This is in line with the HKHA’s direction of promoting smart estate management through innovative technologies, which is of reference value to Hong Kong.
     
         Afterwards, Ms Ho met with the Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, Mr Xie Hui, to exchange views on housing design and planning. She also shared the adoption of advanced construction technologies from the Mainland in Hong Kong and the outcomes. She mentioned that this year, under the Housing•I&T initiative, the HB will organise a series of activities and visits, including an international symposium to be held in Hong Kong in November, to showcase to the world the latest developments of construction technologies in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The HB will fully capitalise on Hong Kong’s unique advantages of connecting with both the Mainland and the rest of the world and play the role of a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”. She expressed hope that friends from around the world could attend the symposium to be hosted by Hong Kong at the end of this year.
     
         Yesterday (June 25), Ms Ho visited the Better House Living Tech Lab and was briefed on the practice of combining housing design concepts of quality homes and technologies on the Mainland. Some examples are the installation of age-friendly facilities such as handrails and sensor lights, and the External Wall Three-Axis Surveillance System for monitoring the old exterior walls’ stability, to create a safe and eco-friendly smart living environment.
     
         Ms Ho will continue her visit to Beijing tomorrow (June 27) before returning to Hong Kong.
    Issued at HKT 18:09

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH further optimises online registration system for dental general public session

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DH further optimises online registration system for dental general public session 
    (1) Add “iAM Smart” and “eHealth” as channels for registering for GP sessions
     
         Members of the public who wish to register for dental GP sessions may perform real-time identity authentication by logging on to the “iAM Smart” or “eHealth” apps. Their personal particulars (including name, identity document number, gender and date of birth) will be automatically filled into the registration system, reducing registration time and minimising the possibility of manual errors.
     
    (2) Optimise the waiting list mechanism
     
         The registration system is added with a “Cancel Appointment” function. People who are successfully allocated a service quota but wish to cancel the appointment may use the “Enquiry of Ballot Result or Cancel Appointment” function to select “Cancel Appointment” and confirm. The ORDGP will automatically allocate the vacated quota to candidates on the waiting list. Successful waitlisted applicants will receive an SMS notification by 9pm on the day of registration. For easy authentication, SMS messages issued by the DH bear the identification “#DH-DENT GP” with the prefix “#”. Relevant SMS messages will not contain hyperlinks.
     
    (3) Enhance the enquiry function of the ballot results
     
         Those who registered via the website only need to provide their Hong Kong identity card (ID) number and date of birth to enquire about their registration records or ballot results. They do not need to enter the date of issuance of their ID cards. Those accessing the registration system through the “iAM Smart” or “eHealth” apps do not need to re-enter their personal details to enquire about their registration records or ballot results.
     
    (4) Add the enquiry service of successful appointment record in “eHealth”
     
         Members of the public who registered for the dental GP sessions and are successfully allocated service quotas through the “iAM Smart” or “eHealth” apps, the person, along with their family members or carers registered with “eHealth”, can check their relevant appointment records of service quota through the “eHealth” app.

         The ORDGP has been operating smoothly since its launch on December 30, 2024. Members of the public, especially the elderly, no longer need to go to dental clinics to queue in the early morning to compete for a service quota. Since the launch of the ORDGP, the average utilisation rate of the GP sessions is as high as 99 per cent. To optimise the use of public resources, the DH reminds members of the public who have been successfully allocated service quotas to utilise the new “Cancel Appointment” function if they are unable to attend the dental GP sessions, so that the service quotas could be reallocated in time to those with emergency needs.

         The scope of services provided by the dental GP sessions includes prescription for pain relief, tooth extraction and management of other urgent conditions (such as oral abscesses). The DH will continuously review the operation and effectiveness of the enhanced ORDGP, with a commitment to improving service accessibility for the public.
    Issued at HKT 13:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hospital Authority announces senior appointment

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

    The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced the following senior appointment today (June 26):

    Dr Cheng Koi-man will be appointed as Hospital Chief Executive of Kwai Chung Hospital with effect from July 1, succeeding Dr Desmond Nguyen upon his retirement.

    Dr Cheng is a specialist in psychiatry with solid experience in both clinical service and hospital management. Dr Cheng is the Chief of Service and a consultant in the Department of General Adult Psychiatry of Castle Peak Hospital (CPH). He has dedicated himself to psychiatry since graduation, and has taken up the role of Deputy Service Director (Quality & Safety) for New Territories West Cluster from 2017 to 2024. As the chairman of various committees, working groups and task groups under the Coordinating Committee in Psychiatry, Dr Cheng contributed to a wide range of aspects related to psychiatry from talent acquisition, standardisation of patient care pathways, and resources utilisation. He led the development of the enhanced common mental disorder clinics, spearheaded the revision of the psychiatric specialist outpatient clinic defaulter tracing workflow, and established a three-tier psychiatric day hospital service model to enhance patient care, in addition to facilitated ward conversions to meet evolving demands. He also led the implementation of telehealth services.

    The Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan, and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko, congratulate Dr Cheng on his new appointment and wish him every success in taking up the new role. Mr Fan and Dr Ko also expressed their appreciation to Dr Nguyen for his dedicated service over the years and wish him a happy retirement.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: GCIS hosts activation against drugs, illicit trafficking

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, June 26, 2025

    The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in partnership with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, will host a community activation on Thursday in the North West province to raise awareness on drugs and illicit trafficking.

    This activation is part of Youth Month activities and held under the sub-theme: “Promoting Physical and Mental Health by Reducing Risky Behaviours”. 

    The event coincides with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed annually on 26 June to strengthen global action and cooperation towards a world free from drug abuse. 

    The activation will showcase services provided by the JCPS cluster. Key focus areas will include providing evidence-based, voluntary services for all; offering alternatives to punishment; prioritising prevention and leading with compassion. 

    “The world drug problem and response continue to present challenges to the health, safety, and well-being of people in South Africa. A drastic change in approach to drug policy recognises that the punitive approach has not been successful in tackling drug-related problems. 

    “Instead, emphasis should be placed on evidence-based public health and social justice principles that focus on individuals, families, communities, society as a whole, and must underscore social protection and health care instead of conviction and punishment,” this is according to the National Drug Masterplan of 2019 to 2024. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Health and Social Care Secretary speech on health inequalities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Health and Social Care Secretary speech on health inequalities

    Wes Streeting spoke at Blackpool Football club on reducing health inequalities.

    Thank you very much, Simon. And thanks to all of you for coming to join us this morning here at Bloomfield Road. 

    I just want to echo, first of all, what Simon said about the club and about the impact it has through the trust of people in the community, particularly in terms of the work it does with young people, giving people opportunities or better life chances. 

    It’s a reminder that it’s something that government has to do, and I believe very strongly we can’t do without a good and active government. 

    But it’s also a reminder that whether we’re talking about creating health or education and life chances, the government can’t do it on our own. 

    And if we try to, we won’t have as much impact as if we work with partners. 

    So I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone here at the club for the work that you do as a proper community-rooted club. 

    This is a town that occupies a special place in my heart through a lot of happy memories from visits to Pleasure Beach as a kid. 

    I’ve got family up the road in Preston, too. And National Union of Students conferences in Winter Gardens during my student years, some of which I can still remember. 

    But as Health and Social Care Secretary, Blackpool is on my mind for less happy reasons: its health outcomes, which are not only poor, but unjust.   

    England is not an especially large nation. Yet the inequalities between us are huge.  

    Travel 30 miles down the road to Ribble Valley and men live for 8 years longer. 

    A baby girl born here in Blackpool will live 7 years less than one born in Wokingham.

    She will fall into ill health 18 years earlier in life. 

    As the report by the Chief Medical Officer on health in coastal communities puts it, in many working-class towns like this one, people are growing old before their time.  

    [Political content removed] 

    And the gap between the health of the poorest and wealthiest parts of our country have widened. 

    These stark health inequalities are not just down to the health service alone.  

    They are also caused by poverty, a lack of good work, damp housing, dirty air, and the sporting, travel and cultural opportunities which are afforded to the privileged few being denied to the many. 

    It is why I have been driving the NHS so hard to reform, improve productivity and cut waste.  

    Because every pound spent on diagnosing and treating illness is a pound that can’t be spent on tackling the causes of ill health.  

    In the coming days, we will be publishing our 10 year plan, which will set out how this mission-driven government will tackle illness, keep disease at bay, and reduce the health inequalities that shame our society.  

    Our 10 year plan will not just be a plan for the NHS, but a plan for health.  

    It will tackle illness at source through a whole-society approach, with a shift in focus from treating sickness to preventing it in the first place. 

    Already this government is taking action. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is rolling out primary school breakfast clubs and free school lunches to millions of children, so they walk into the classroom with hungry minds not hungry bellies.  

    Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister, is building a new generation of homes, and along with our Business Secretary, Jonny Reynolds, introducing sick pay from day one in the job. 

    The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has given workers on the minimum wage a £1,400 pay rise this year. 

    The Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, is giving disabled people the right to work, so they can take up a job opportunity, knowing if things go wrong they can go back to the support they had before without the jeopardy or fear of missing out or being back to square one.   

    Our Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, is extending the Warm Home Discount, helping keep millions more households warm this winter. 

    And our Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, is cleaning up our rivers and seas from sewage. 

    So, you can see that just those steps we’ve already taken less than a year in office that Keir Starmer’s government is determined to lift people out of poverty, tackle inequality and improve the health of our society. 

    [political content removed] 

    Today, I want to set out how our reforms to the NHS will fundamentally improve the health of working-class communities. 

    NHS founded on principle of equity 

    The National Health Service was founded to end grotesque inequality in access to healthcare.  

    Before 1948, working people avoided the doctor unless they absolutely needed to see one, because of the costs being so prohibitive.  

    Diseases such as rickets, scurvy and diphtheria were common amongst children. 

    The solution was revolutionary – universal healthcare, publicly funded, free at the point of need.  

    And as the NHS’s founder, my predecessor, Nye Bevan, promised, the NHS lifted the shadow from millions of homes and eradicated the fear of illness from people’s hearts.  

    It has been one of the great levellers of our society. The greatest institution this country has ever built. 

    But as the NHS was neglected and left to decline after 2010, it contributed toward the widening gap between rich and poor. 

    Two-tier healthcare 

    Waiting times soared, and a 2-tier healthcare system emerged, where those who can afford it pay to go private, and everyone else was being left behind. 

    [political content removed] 

    The NHS was never intended to just be a safety net for those who cannot afford to pay.  

    Such a system would be doomed to ever-declining quality care. 

    Taxpayers would question why they continue to pay for a service they don’t use.  

    Inevitably, the NHS would become a poor service for poor people. 

    Since its foundation, we have always aspired to an NHS that is universal in provision so that everyone receives high-quality care.  

    [Political content removed] 

    With our Plan for Change, the NHS is on the road to recovery. Since the general election, we have: 

    • recruited an extra 1,700 GPs to the frontline 

    • delivered an extra 3.6 million appointments for planned care and delivered on our promised 2 million in our first year 

    • diagnosed an extra 187,000 suspected cancer patients on time 

    • cut waiting lists in the month of April for the first time in 17 years 

    • cut waiting lists to their lowest level in 2 years 

    • cut waiting lists by almost a quarter of a million patients

    Each one of those patients we have taken off the waiting list is free from pain and in some cases disability, because of the decisions this government has taken. 

    I’m not here to do victory laps. I know that for the almost a quarter of a million people who have received faster treatment, there are more than 7 million cases still waiting.  

    We’ve done a lot but there’s so much more to do. Especially for towns like Blackpool. 

    Tackling inequalities 

    While there are so many social determinants of ill-health that need to be addressed, the fact is that the NHS doesn’t do enough to address the unjust, unequal way in which illness presents itself in our country.  

    In fact, it sometimes entrenches it. 

    General practice was neglected and declined across the board for more than a decade [political content removed].  

    But that doesn’t explain why there are 300 more patients per GP in the poorest communities, compared with the richest. 

    As I spoke about on Monday, far too many parents and their babies have been failed by maternity services.  

    But failing services don’t explain why Black women are almost 3 times more likely to die from childbirth than White women. 

    Black men are twice as likely to get prostate cancer than White men.  

    But given we know the risk is greater, and given we know how to catch cancer early, that doesn’t explain these sorts of inequalities given the evidence is there. 

    For those in greatest need often receive the worst-quality healthcare.  

    This fact flies in the face of the values upon which the NHS was founded.  

    A core ambition of our 10 year plan is to restore the promise of the NHS, to provide first class healthcare for everyone in our country. 

    Whoever you are, whatever your background, wherever you live. 

    NHS solutions 

    [Political content removed] 

    It has fallen to this government to rebuild the NHS for all of us.  

    We are starting where the need is greatest. 

    [Political content removed] 

    We’ve sent crack teams of top clinicians to hospitals around the country, where the highest numbers of people are off work, off sick, to help them cut waiting lists faster. Therefore, getting people not just back to health but back to work. 

    We are delivering on our manifesto commitment to fill in dental deserts, by paying dentists extra to come to work in underserved areas. 

    And today I can announce that we will go further. 

    In recent years, billions of pounds have been put aside for NHS trusts who let their spending get out of control and run up deficits.  

    It’s essentially a bailout fund for poor financial management.  

    I am working with Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of the NHS, to end that culture of rewards for failure. 

    Thanks to the reforms we’ve made to bear down on wasteful spending, the fund will not go to trusts which run deficits this year. 

    We can reinvest that money in the frontline, so it isn’t spent on rewarding poor performance but to improving poor health. 

    The £2.2 billion will fund more effective care – such as innovative medicines, modern technology and services that keep people out of hospital – all going to the places where they are most needed. 

    GP practices serving more deprived areas receive 10% less funding per needs-adjusted patient than poorer parts of our country and have 300 more patients per GP as a result.  

    So, working with the British Medical Association, we will review how health need is reflected in funding for general practice (known to the wonks in the room as the Carr-Hill formula), with a sharp focus on money following need. 

    Where health needs are greatest and GPs fewest, we will prioritise investment to rebuild your NHS and rebuild the health of your community. 

    NHS as anchor institution 

    I said in my first week in this job, the NHS has a part to play in dragging our country out of the sluggish growth and low productivity the government inherited. 

    It is the biggest employer in many towns in England.  

    In coastal towns like Blackpool, where far more people are off work due to long-term sickness, the NHS has a dual role to play.  

    Not just getting patients off waiting lists and back to work, although we are doing that. 

    The health service should also act as an engine of local economic growth, giving opportunities in training and work to local people. 

    Working in the NHS is rightly seen as a high status, secure job.  

    But many people see it as unachievable and out of their reach. 

    On a visit to King George Hospital in my own neck of the woods, I saw first-hand a brilliant programme, Project SEARCH, that supports 17 to 19 year olds who are learning disabled and/or autistic, with internships that give them experience of a wide range of paying jobs, as well as coaching on things like preparing a CV and interview skills.  

    One of them, Muhammed Patel, shared with me how much he had loved the experience and hoped for a career in the NHS.  

    Months later, he messaged me on Instagram to tell me he’s got a job.  

    He’s not the only one.  

    Project SEARCH aims to get every young person on their programme a job in the NHS or with another employer and is succeeding.  

    So today we are launching a new pilot, backed by £5 million, to help recruit an additional 1,000 people to the NHS from areas worst hit by unemployment. 

    The programme will offer a ladder into the world of work for people who find it hardest to break out of unemployment, including over 50s, unpaid carers and disabled people. 

    They will gain the skills needed in health and care, alongside support with job applications and work placements, kickstarting what will hopefully be a long-term and rewarding career in our health and care sectors, where they will more than repay the investment we’re making in them today. 

    Patient power revolution 

    Finally, our 10 year plan will address one of the starkest health inequalities, which is often written out of this conversation. 

    It is the unequal access in our society to information, choice and control over our own healthcare. 

    When I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, colleagues in Parliament asked where I was being treated and who my surgeon was.  

    They just wanted to make sure I was receiving the best possible care.  

    Luckily, the NHS had already assigned me a world-class surgeon who saved my life.  

    But those are questions that my mum, a cleaner here in Lancashire, would never think to ask and would certainly never ask. 

    When the wealthy receive a diagnosis, they already know the best surgeons and can push to get the best care.  

    But working-class people can’t.  

    If the wealthy are told to wait months for treatment, they can shop around. But working-class people can’t.  

    And if the wealthy want instant information about their own health, they can pay for an app that allows them to speak to a doctor over the phone, 24/7.  

    But working-class people can’t. 

    This is not just grossly unfair. It presents an existential risk to the health service. 

    More than any other age group, this generation of young people are prepared to opt-out of the NHS.  

    Last year the biggest increase in private hospital admissions was for people under the age of 40.  

    Almost half of young people say they would consider going private if they needed care.  

    The NHS feels increasingly slow and outdated to the generation that organises their lives at the touch of a button.  

    If you get annoyed at Deliveroo not getting your dinner to you in less than an hour, how will you feel being told to wait a year for a knee operation? 

    A failure to modernise risks this generation walking away from the NHS, first for their healthcare and then with their taxes.  

    People won’t accept paying higher and higher taxes to fund a health service that no longer meets their needs. 

    And the lack of control people feel over their own lives is made worse by an analogue, ‘computer says no’, NHS. 

    We can only close this inequality and shut down this risk to the NHS’s future through a revolution in patient power.  

    The ambition of our 10 year plan is nothing less than to provide NHS patients with the same ease, convenience, power, choice and control that’s afforded to private patients. 

    The good news is that technology gives us the opportunity to democratise healthcare in a way never before possible.  

    It can empower patients with choice and control and make managing our healthcare as convenient as doing our shopping or banking online.  

    Technology can be the great leveller. 

    Look at what Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, has done for personal finances.  

    For ordinary people who sign up to his newsletter – and I’m one of them – who could never afford their own financial adviser, it is simple and easy to make your hard-earned money go further – if you’ve got access to the right advice.  

    Our 10 year plan for health will do the same for NHS patients, giving them easy access to information to help them improve their health. 

    We will introduce a tool on the NHS App called My Companion.  

    It will provide all patients with information about their health condition, if they have one, or their procedure, if they need one.  

    It will get patients answers to questions they forgot or felt too embarrassed to ask in a face-to-face appointment.  

    So, the next time you’re at an appointment and you’re told something that doesn’t sound right, you will have at your fingertips the information you need to speak up confidently. 

    And we will give every patient meaningful choice, through a new tool called My Choices.  

    It will show patients everything from their nearest pharmacy to the best hospital for heart surgery across the country, with patients able to choose based on their preference.  

    If NHS providers know that their waiting times, health outcomes of their patients, and patient satisfaction ratings will all be publicly available, they will be inspired to respond to patient choice, raise their game and deliver services that patients value. 

    Not everyone will want a choice.  

    Many just want their local hospital.  

    That’s fine and will always be a default option.  

    But we know that at the root of many inequalities in health outcomes is a failure to listen to patients.  

    A ‘one size fits all’ approach often misses the distinct needs of women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds or people living in rural communities.  

    And we will only deal with the grotesque health inequalities in our society by empowering all patients. 

    Conclusion 

    In the months leading up to the founding of the NHS, Nye Bevan said: 

    For a while it may appear that everything is going wrong.  

    As a matter of fact, everything will be going right because people will be able to complain.  

    They complain now, but no one hears about it. 

    He promised that a National Health Service would put a “megaphone to the mouth of every complainant, so that it can be heard all over the country.”

    [political content removed] 

    We have always believed that public services exist to serve the interests of the pupil, the passenger, the patient above all else.    

    And the driving force behind the work this government does every day is the principle that whatever class you come from, everyone deserves world-class services. 

    We expect nothing less from what we expect for ourselves, and that is why we’re determined to get our NHS back on its feet, to make sure it’s fit for the future and put power in the hands of every patient. Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: World leaders recommit to immunisation amid global funding shortfall

    Source: Council of the European Union

    At the Global Summit: Health and Prosperity through Immunisation in Brussels, world leaders pledged support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, leading to a total of more than $9 billion secured against a targeted $11.9 billion budget for its next five-year strategic period from 2026 to 2030 (Gavi 6.0). Additional donor commitments are expected in the coming months. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: World leaders recommit to immunisation amid global funding shortfall

    Source: Council of the European Union

    At the Global Summit: Health and Prosperity through Immunisation in Brussels, world leaders pledged support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, leading to a total of more than $9 billion secured against a targeted $11.9 billion budget for its next five-year strategic period from 2026 to 2030 (Gavi 6.0). Additional donor commitments are expected in the coming months. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: World leaders recommit to immunisation amid global funding shortfall

    Source: Council of the European Union

    At the Global Summit: Health and Prosperity through Immunisation in Brussels, world leaders pledged support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, leading to a total of more than $9 billion secured against a targeted $11.9 billion budget for its next five-year strategic period from 2026 to 2030 (Gavi 6.0). Additional donor commitments are expected in the coming months. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: CloudBees accelerates European momentum

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  CloudBees, a world-leading enterprise DevOps development solution, has reached significant milestones in its European expansion, following the 2022 appointment of CEO Anuj Kapur.

    With more than 110,000 developers using CloudBees across its EMEA business, the region now accounts for about a quarter of the global ARR and customer base, cementing the company’s position as a key player in the region. This presence builds on the sustained investment from CloudBees across the region, where there are now over 160 employees and the business continues to actively hire across main hubs in the UK, France, Germany, and the Middle East region.

    As of March 2025, the company supports over 100 enterprise customers across Europe, including HSBC, BNP Paribas, DZ Bank, Worldpay, and Tesco Bank. It continues to attract marquee ‘Global 2000’ brands from a wide range of industries, reflecting growing demand for enterprise-ready DevOps solutions in the region.

    “EMEA is one of the fastest-growing regions for enterprise software delivery, and CloudBees is making an important investment to meet that momentum,” said Philippe Van Hove, VP, Sales EMEA at CloudBees, who joined in April 2024 in this newly created role.

    “We’re building an expert team across the region to support our customers’ most complex DevOps challenges, from hybrid cloud environments to AI-enhanced delivery. This expansion marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to helping organizations scale securely, ship faster, and stay ahead.”

    Global momentum
    15 years since its founding, CloudBees has grown into a team of over 500, surpassed $150 million USD in global ARR, achieved profitability, and now supports over 500,000 developers.

    Today, the company enables hundreds of enterprises to accelerate innovation, improve efficiency, and reduce security risks. As part of its go-to-market strategy, CloudBees has built a robust global partner network, including AWS, Perficient, Aliado, Cognizant, and SPKAA and a global customer base, such as Salesforce, Adobe, Accenture, Mount Sinai Health System and others.

    In recent weeks, CloudBees announced CloudBees Unify, the industry’s most open and flexible DevOps solution, which enables organizations to consolidate governance, standardise security, and accelerate delivery without discarding existing systems. Unlike traditional DevOps platforms, CloudBees Unify acts as an operating layer on top of any existing toolchain, using an open and modular architecture that connects seamlessly with popular tools like GitHub Actions and Jenkins.

    Pioneering AI-powered software development
    Following its 2024 acquisition of AI-driven testing company Launchable, CloudBees launched “CloudBees Smart Tests”, an AI-augmented QA testing tool. Early customers, including LY Corporation and GoCardless, have reported dramatic improvements in testing efficiency – including a 50% reduction in machine hours, 90% decrease in test execution time, and 40% reduction in build times.

    The acquisition saw former CloudBees employee Jenkins-creator Kohsuke Kawaguchi return to the company at this critical growth stage.

    “We’re proud to be helping some of Europe’s leading enterprises solve their most complex development challenges. As developer demands grow, our focus remains on delivering scalable, secure, and compliant solutions that help teams move faster and thrive in the AI era,” said Anuj Kapur, CEO of CloudBees, who served as Chief Strategy Officer at Cisco and President at SAP before taking the helm at CloudBees in 2022.

    In 2024, Forrester reported that using CloudBees’ product suite brought its customers’ downtime to almost zero, and efficiency and security gains saw an ROI of 426%. By year two of partnering with CloudBees, total lost developer hours reduced by 99%, saving $4.5 million, which reached $10.6 million by year three. Software pipelines also increased by as much as 60% over a five-year period.

    About CloudBees

    CloudBees is a leading DevOps solution for enterprises navigating the complexity of modernizing software development at scale. Built for global enterprises, CloudBees bridges the gap between legacy systems and emerging technologies, helping organizations innovate securely, intelligently, and on their own terms.

    As the industry’s most open and flexible DevOps solution, CloudBees integrates with any developer tool, allowing teams to build better, faster, and safer across any environment. CloudBees automates and optimizes software delivery at scale with continuous compliance and enterprise-grade governance built-in, accelerated with AI capabilities.

    Founded in 2010, CloudBees is backed by Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bridgepoint Capital, HSBC, Golub Capital, Delta-v Capital, Matrix Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

    Visit us at www.cloudbees.com.

    Contact

    Toby Andrews – Ballou PR
    cloudbeeseu@balloupr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: If you take a GLP-1 medicine and have been hospitalised by acute pancreatitis, the Yellow Card Biobank wants to hear from you 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    If you take a GLP-1 medicine and have been hospitalised by acute pancreatitis, the Yellow Card Biobank wants to hear from you 

    GLP-1 medicines are licensed for Type 2 diabetes and weight management, and include the branded products Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy 

    The pioneering Yellow Card Biobank, launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Genomics England, will start investigating whether the risk of acute pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas) from GLP-1 injections for weight loss and Type 2 diabetes may be influenced by an individual’s genes.   

    Patients who have been hospitalised with acute pancreatitis suspected to be related to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 medicines), such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, are being asked to report it to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme. These medicines are sometimes referred to colloquially as “skinny jabs” although they are licensed for both weight loss and Type 2 diabetes.   

    Healthcare professionals are also being asked to help recruit for the study by reporting Yellow Cards on behalf of patients experiencing acute pancreatitis while taking GLP-1 medicines.    

    When a Yellow Card report is received, the MHRA will contact patients to ask if they would be willing to take part in the Biobank study. This would involve providing further information and submitting a saliva or spit sample which will be used to explore whether some people are at a higher risk of acute pancreatitis when taking these medicines due to their genetic makeup, with the overall aim of reducing the occurrence of these side effects in the future.  

    Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said: 

    Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing. It is predicted that adverse drug reactions cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospital stays alone.    

    Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions – enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic makeup.  

    To help us help you, we’re asking anyone who has been hospitalised with acute pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 medicine to report this to us via our Yellow Card scheme.   

    Even if you don’t meet the criteria for this phase of the biobank study, information about your reaction to a medication is always extremely valuable in helping to improve patient safety.

    Professor Matt Brown, Chief Scientific Officer of Genomics England, said:     

    GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have been making headlines, but like all medicines there can be a risk of serious side effects. We believe there is real potential to minimise these with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause.   

    This next step in our partnership with the MHRA will generate data and evidence for safer and more effective treatment through more personalised approaches to prescription, supporting a shift towards an increasingly prevention-focused healthcare system.

    Although infrequent, acute pancreatitis has been reported with GLP-1 medicines. This can be serious. The main symptom of this is severe pain in the stomach that radiates to the back and does not go away. Anyone who experiences this should seek immediate medical help.  

    The Yellow Card Biobank aims to help understand how a patient’s genetic makeup can impact the safety of their medicines and forms part of a long-term vision for more personalised medicine approaches. Approved scientists will use the genetic information in the Yellow Card Biobank to investigate whether a side effect from a medicine was caused by a specific genetic trait. Ultimately this will enable healthcare professionals to personalise prescriptions using rapid screening tests, so patients across the UK will receive the safest medication for them, based on their genetic makeup.  

    Side effects continue to be a significant burden on the NHS and studies have shown they account for one in six hospital admissions. Screening tests provide the opportunity to reduce the likelihood of these adverse drug reactions from happening.  

    The MHRA will request a saliva sample from everyone who takes part in the Yellow Card Biobank study. Saliva testing kits will be posted to participants at their home. It is quick and easy to provide a sample. Instructions will be provided along with a prepaid postage envelope.   

    Notes to Editors  

    • Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs) are medicines that help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating. Some newer medicines, like Mounjaro, also act on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control. These have been referred to in the media as “weight loss injections” or “skinny jabs”, but not all are authorised for weight loss.    

    • The Yellow Card Biobank is looking to recruit patients across the UK aged 18 or over who were hospitalised after experiencing acute pancreatitis after taking a GLP-1 medicine. If you are unsure whether you are or were taking one of these medicines, check the label to see what the active ingredient is – it should say semaglutide, liraglutide, lixisenatide, dulaglutide, exenatide or trizepatide. Alternatively, speak to a healthcare professional.  

    • Healthcare professionals are asked to report Yellow Cards on behalf of patients who are taking GLP-1 medicines (including dual GLP-1 and GIP agonists) and experience acute pancreatitis. While completing the Yellow Card, select “Yes” when asked if you agree to be contacted about the Yellow Card Biobank. If the patient is eligible, the team will be in touch to ask for your help in contacting the patient. The Yellow Card Biobank also works directly with healthcare professionals to refer patients, please see the website for more information or to get in touch with the team.    

    • The MHRA has issued recent guidance on how to use these medicines safely.   

    • The first phase of the Biobank campaign was to recruit patients who experienced severe reactions to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and allopurinol.    

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.  

    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.  

    • Genomics England is a company established and wholly owned by the Department for Health and Social Care. It is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, it supports the NHS’s world-first national whole genome sequencing service and runs the growing National Genomic Research Library alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives.  

    • This project forms part of the Government’s Life Sciences Vision.    

    • For media enquiries, please contact the newsdesk@mhra.gov.uk or call 020 3080 7651

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York has the least pregnant smokers in Yorkshire

    Source: City of York

    York has the lowest rate of pregnant women smoking in Yorkshire and the Humber at the time of delivery, new figures have revealed.

    According to new data published by NHS England Statistics on Women’s Smoking Status at Time of Delivery: Data tables – NHS England Digital only 4.6 per cent (65 women) smoked in York, at the time of their delivery. This shows a significant drop, when compared to figures in 2020, which were 10.4 per cent (167 women).

    Many women have been supported to help quit for good through help from the Health Trainers.

    Cllr Lucy Steels- Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at City of York Council, said “Stopping smoking during pregnancy is a positive step you can take for the health of you and your baby.

    “Stopping smoking can be challenging, but you do not have to face this alone. The council’s health trainers can offer support tailored to your needs and look at techniques and strategies to keep you motivated on your journey to becoming smoke free”.

    The Health Trainers offer an incentive scheme of £170 in shopping vouchers which are offered, if they continue to quit during their pregnancy and quit for good.

    Lucy Evans, from Acomb, gave birth at full term to a 7lb 14oz healthy baby girl, Violet, 12 weeks ago. She stopped smoking a week after her first health trainer appointment early in her pregnancy, and received free nicotine gum and patches as well as one-to-one support sessions.

    She has just received her final voucher this week, which she plans to spend on clothes for Violet and a treat for herself.

    She said: “I wanted to quit to make sure my baby was healthy and would definitely recommend this scheme, you get so much support and help and it makes you want to quit even more.

    “I feel a lot healthier, I’m not coughing as much and am breathing better, and I feel like I can handle stress a lot better as I’m not relying on smoking.”

    The service offers personalised, individual support and advice, and signing up is really simple.

    Visit York Health Trainers and complete the online referral form, call 01904 553377 or email cychealthtrainers@york.gov.uk

    Across the region, the Smoking at Time of Delivery (SATOD) data shows that 7.5 per cent (3,901) of pregnant women across Yorkshire and the Humber were recorded as smoking in 2024/25.

    This is 1.8 per cent lower than the previous year, when maternal smoking rates were 9.3 per cent across the region. This equates to 642 fewer women smoking compared to last year.

    This is the lowest rate of smoking during pregnancy recorded in Yorkshire and the Humber since data began to be collected. This also reflects improvement across England as a whole, where SATOD rates fell to 6.1 per cent from 7.4 per cent last year.

    Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of harm to both mother and baby. It increases the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, and sudden infant death. Children born to parents who smoke are also more likely to experience respiratory illness, learning difficulties, and diabetes, and are more likely to grow up to be smokers when compared to children born into smoke-free households.

    As well as the health harms caused by smoking during pregnancy, it also adds to the cost of living and pushes families further into poverty. The average smoker spends £3,000 per year on tobacco, with younger women from the most deprived areas being the most likely to smoke and be exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Medical products centre set

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Department of Health today announced that the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) will be established by the end of 2026.

    Additionally, the department will implement “primary evaluation” for new drug registration in phases starting next year, with full implementation by 2030.

    At a press conference this morning, Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam said with the CMPR’s establishment, the Government will consolidate the regulatory functions for Western and Chinese medicines as well as medical devices, and enhance the existing regulatory regime in a holistic manner.

    “The vision of the CMPR is to become a ‘leading, internationally renowned medical products regulatory authority, driving excellence and innovation’, with the goal of gaining international recognition in the field.

    “The CMPR will promote innovation, and research and development of drugs and devices by optimising medical products regulation.

    “This will ensure that the public can benefit from the latest scientific research, and that patients will gain earlier access to innovative, safe and effective medical products. It also fosters growth in the local healthcare and biotechnology industries.”

    The department established the Preparatory Office for CMPR in June last year. Since then, preparatory work has been focusing on driving regulatory excellence, promoting medical product innovation, and deepening national and international collaboration.

    As for the implementation of “primary evaluation”, Dr Lam noted that the Government implemented the “1+” mechanism in November 2023, an important step towards the adoption of “primary evaluation”.

    Under the “1+” mechanism, new drugs that are supported by local clinical data and recognised by relevant experts can be applied for registration in Hong Kong, if the applicant provides approval from the drug regulatory authority of one of the reference places, instead of two in the past.

    Since its implementation, 11 new drugs have been approved for registration under this mechanism.

    The initial phases of “primary evaluation” will cover applications for the registration of products containing registered chemical entities and biological entities with extended applications, such as new indications, new strengths, new posology and new dosage forms.

    This will progressively establish a robust approval system, providing strong momentum for the development and market expansion of the healthcare industry in the city, the Mainland, and beyond, Dr Lam added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –