Pharmacy discount card programs like Amazon Prime and GoodRx gold could save patients millions of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for commonly prescribed generic medications

A nationally representative study found that at least one out of five prescriptions for commonly prescribed generic medications were cheaper through Amazon Prime or GoodRx Gold discount cards compared to actual out-of-pocket (OOP) payments made by patients. The authors also highlight the disproportionately higher frequency of OOP payments exceeding discount card pricing for various vulnerable subgroups like the uninsured and […]

Justin Trudeau accuses India of Assassinating Sikh Leader

Justin Trudeau has said India was involved in the alleged assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader. Stating there is “credible evidence”, the Canadian Prime Minister told the House of Commons that in recent weeks, national security authorities had been probing allegations that the Indian government was behind an assassination. Mr Trudeau said: “Any involvement of a foreign […]

An implantable device could enable injection-free control of diabetes

One promising approach to treating Type 1 diabetes is implanting pancreatic islet cells that can produce insulin when needed, which can free patients from giving themselves frequent insulin injections. However, one major obstacle to this approach is that once the cells are implanted, they eventually run out of oxygen and stop producing insulin. To overcome that hurdle, MIT engineers have […]

Nicotine e-cigarettes, prescription drugs and dual nicotine replacement therapy identified as most effective stop-smoking aids

Nicotine e-cigarettes and two prescription medications that curb symptoms of withdrawal are the most effective stop-smoking aids, according to a comprehensive, multinational review by a team of scientists, including a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health and health policy researcher. Dual forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as combining a patch with gum or a lozenge, were found to […]

Commonly used muscle-building dietary supplements are under regulated in Canada

A new policy analysis, published in the journal Performance Enhancement & Health, highlights several gaps in current Canadian policy regulating muscle-building dietary supplements. Muscle-building dietary supplements, including whey protein, creatine monohydrate, and amino acids, are used based on purported benefits to muscular growth and recovery. These products are regulated by the Natural Health Products Regulations under Health Canada. “We identified many gaps […]