The medical device industry must consider its role in cost containment and cost-effectiveness in the overall U.S. healthcare picture, argued experts at the recent World Healthcare Congress in Washington, D.C. The U.S. healthcare system is lagging behind its fellow industrialized nations in terms of the quality and cost of healthcare, and the degree to which it is willing to learn from models in other countries may be key, experts said. more»

If the financial markets operated like the healthcare market does with data, you would have to call 100 people every day to find out how the market is doing," said Greg Simon, CEO of FasterCures. The need for the pharmaceutical industry to make better use of large existing databases was the theme of a panel discussion Simon moderated at the World Health Care Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 20. more»

Not many knew that the `Knowledge Commission' is working on a report, until the Finance Minister (FM), P. Chidambaram, said so, on April 17. Inaugurating the Biocon Pharmaceuticals' multi-product biologics facility in Bangalore, the FM said he was waiting for the report to make more investments in the fields of IT (information technology) and BT (biotechnology). more»

The World Health Care Congress geared to CEOs, senior executives, and government officials from large employers, hospitals, health systems, health plans, pharmaceutical and biotech companies was held in Washington D.C. on April 17-19, 2006. The topics included electronic health records, quality and safety issues, private sector health IT initiatives, clinical transformation, business models for health IT, pay for performance issues, plus other topics. more»

Are our health care dollars more judiciously spent developing life-saving wonder drugs or providing better access for all? A lively panel debated that moral conundrum Tuesday at the World Health Care Congress. Reigning CMS honcho Mark McClellan faced off against firebrand health economist Uwe Reinhardt in a session dubbed "Access vs. Innovation." more»

The final day of the World Health Care Congress focused on the Bush administration's plans for reforming the health insurance market. more»

In an effort to make good on its commitment to the health care industry to be present from "lab to bedside," Microsoft announced another series of partnerships aiming at the health care industry. At the World Health Care Congress from April 17 to 19, Microsoft released its vision for "knowledge driven health plans" in conjunction with 22 companies that will provide solutions based on its framework. more»

SNOW: Good afternoon; thanks so much for having me here today. This is an important gathering and the subject matter is simply critical. I appreciate very much the topic you've asked me to address, because the economic impact of health care is absolutely central to the policy discussions that surround the issue. more»

Good afternoon; thanks so much for having me here today. This is an important gathering and the subject matter is simply critical. I appreciate very much the topic you've asked me to address, because the economic impact of health care is absolutely central to the policy discussions that surround the issue. more»

SEC. SNOW: Jerry, thank you for that nice introduction -- brief and to the point. I appreciate it very much. And I'm delighted to be here to join this important group at this important conference to talk about a subject that's awfully important. more»

I joined the Bush administration about 14 or 15 months ago, but unfortunately my wife and two twin daughters, who are now seniors in high school, were not able to join me. But because you invited me today, I was able to get my wife to come out one day early. She's coming out tomorrow for the visit of President Hu and the luncheon, but I got her to come out today. more»

Top health care executives consider escalating coststheir industry's biggest challenge, according to the results of asurvey released today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN) at the 3rd Annual WorldHealth Care Congress. more»

Wal-Mart executive Susan Chambers, author of a health-care memo last year that raised eyebrows and outraged critics, told the World Health Care Congress in Washington on Monday that the company is expanding its health-care coverage for employees. more»

Susan Chambers, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Executive Vice President of Human Resources, speaking at the 3rd Annual World Health Care Congress, announced several changes in the health benefits made available to Wal-Mart's part-time employees. more»

The World Health Care Congress is a meeting of chief and senior executives from all sectors of health care. At the 2006 conference, more than 1,550 top-level government and corporate officials and leaders from the nation's largest employers, hospitals, health systems, health plans, pharmaceutical and biotech companies will discuss the improvement of health care quality, cost and access. more»

"Two Hundred Palm Treo 700w Smartphones Loaded with VisionTree Software Give Attendees and Panelists Functionality for Constant, Two-way Interaction Today at the World Health Care Congress, Palm, Inc. and VisionTree Software, Inc. announced they are collaborating for the first implementation of the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 700w smartphone running the VisionTree Conference Platform. More than 200 VIP attendees will use Treo 700w smartphones as tools to wirelessly collect, analyze and report data while at the conference, which runs April 17-19." more»

THE United Nations today praised Thailand and Vietnam for doing "excellent work" preparing for a possible bird flu pandemic. more»

During a speech to the World Health Care Congress on Monday, Susan Chambers, executive vice president of Wal-Mart's (NYSE: WMT) people division, said the company would improve health benefits to its employees. more»