Newsletter 177

Contents

National News and Events

Anything Else

Of The Month

Website and News

The website is for YOUR events being held by YOUR branches, projects and campaigns. It is really, really easy to submit events and news, so please do, and let everyone know what wonderful things you are up to! Join in Medsin discussions at http://www.medsin.org/discuss

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National News and Events

Northern Regional Conference

Medsin Preston presents The Medsin Northern Regional Conference Global Health: Under the weather?

A day of talks and workshops on Climate Change and Health and an Introduction to Global Health

Featuring talks and workshops from Robin Stott (Climate and Health Council, Medact), Tim O'Dempsey (Liverpool Tropical School of Medicine), Andy Morse (Liverpool University), Professor Kath McCourt (Royal College of Nursing, Northumbira University) and more!

Royal Preston Hospital Education Centre

£5 for the whole day (includes tea, coffee, sandwiches and welcome pack)

E-mail Medsin Preston to reserve your place (we really need people to email so we can work out how much food we need etc.)

Click here to see the website!

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Be on the National Committee

Dedicated to Medsin? Why not think about applying to be on the National Committee 2008/09? Have a read of the official job descriptions, and of the current committee's take on their role here, and follow the instructions!

Next: Print and sign the form, appear at the Spring General Assembly on 26th-27nd April in Leeds, and tell the voting members (branches, nationally recognised projects and priority campaigns) why they should vote for you in 2 minutes.

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Global health conference 08

Oxford Global Health Conference Tickets – SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES!

See www.globalhealth2008.org to find out more, and to buy tickets!

400+ students, 50+ speakers – one weekend!

The annual, national Medsin Global Health Conference is being held in Oxford on the 29th-30th March (weekend after Easter). It'll be a truly massive event, and we hope to see you ALL there!

Exciting and dynamic lectures, within the plenary themes of:

  1. Tackling HIV/AIDS in Resource-Poor Settings
  2. Disaster Relief and Emerging Epidemics
  3. International Aid – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
  4. Mental Health in the Global Community

Also featuring 60+ interactive workshops – with the widest possible choice of themes – to educate and to inspire!

Eminent speakers from America, Africa, WHO, UN and across the UK.

For only £15 (£30 for non-students)! Including two free lunches, and an Oxford ball with food at the beautiful Oxford Union! Delegates get free accommodation with the local students!

Please check out the website for more info, and to buy your tickets.

www.globalhealth2008.org

Contact enquiries@globalhealth2008.org for more.

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Gerard's IFMSA Meeting Blog

The 57th Annual March Meeting of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) has just finished in Monterrey, Mexico. The theme for this General Assembly was Migration and Health. Gerard Millen, a medical student at Queens University, Northern Ireland was there and gives The Lancet Student.com a brief report on the main policy events here.

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Discuss Debating

Sign up to the Medsin Discuss list to have your say on issues currently affecting the network. Recent/Ongoing debates include a motion to leave the IFMSA, arguments against private healthcare and more! HAVE YOUR SAY! Join here!

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Bargain of the Century!

A wonderful flipchart (complete with paper and some complimentary pens) for a bargain price of £15

Who wants one, get them whilst their hot!!

Can be picked up at the Global Health Conference

Useful for trainings, planning sessions and doing ENORMOUS drawings :)

Email training if you want one (I have 6 left!)

Daze XX

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Enormous Exciting Pharmaware Debate!

"This house believes that the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and doctors is detrimental to health"

With speakers including

  • Peter Mansfield - world famous Pharma campaigner all the way from Australia
  • Assoc. British Pharmaceutical Industry
  • .....and other exciting people!

Friday 25 April, 18:30-21:00, Leeds.

This event is perhaps going to lead to Leeds becoming the first pharma free med school in the UK, following the example of some in the US such as Penn State and Standford...witness policy change in action!! And all this the evening before the Spring General Assembly in Leeds so you'll be in Leeds anyway!!! so come along! For more information, contact Medsin Leeds

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SGA08

Medsin's National Spring General Assembly, for a great weekend of.....

  • Mass Debating,
  • Training,
  • Networking,
  • Elections of next year's national committee
  • More Debating!

Saturday 26 April- Sunday 27th April 2008

And of course, socialising!

All of this is happening in lovely Leeds!!!!

For more information, contact the national committee

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Human Rights teaching in medical schools

Dr Peter Hall, Chair of Doctors for Human Rights, has requested Medsin's help with trying to establish whether human rights are being taught to medical students in the UK, and to what extent.

In May 2009, the UK is coming up before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva. Every five years each state that has ratified the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights has to present itself and explain how good it has been over faithfully respecting the human rights in the Covenant, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

In 2002 the Committee recommended that the UK ensure that doctors and other professionals are educated about Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Hence Doctors for Human Rights are interested to find out to whether this has been the case.

On behalf of Doctors for Human Rights we are interested in establishing what teaching medical students at your university receive with regards to human rights, if any?

Could you please respond to president@medsin.org.

Many thanks.

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Global Health Forum Lectures, Only 2 Left!

The Global Health Forum provides a platform for debating topical global health issues. Broadly, our topics concentrate on public health in the developing world, health within deprived communities in the developed world and issues relating to the ethics of health and healthcare. We run a weekly lecture series in which these important issues are presented by world experts and then questioned and discussed by the audience…you! This is a great opportunity to really explore things not covered in your course but which many of us are deeply interested in. Our talks are accessible to all. No baseline knowledge is needed, just an interest in the reasons underlying the massive discrepancy in public health across the world. All lectures take place at 6.30pm in the Sir Alexander Fleming building in South Kensington and there is free food!

  • March 14th - Effects of deforestation on drug sources
  • March 11th - Chernobyl/Hiroshima effects and aftermath

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Life Under Israeli Occupation

There will be a talk from Dr Asad Khan, entitled "Go And See the Truth For Yourself, I Did" - Life Under Israeli Occupation: through the Eyes of a Doctor

Dr Khan is a Specialist Registrar, Respiratory Medicine, Wythenshawe Hospital

The talk will be on Wednesday March 12th at Halifax Central Library at 7.00pm.

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Sir Graham Catto visiting Imperial

Sir Graham Catto, head of the GMC is visiting Imperial college. See the facebook link. This talk is must for all at the medical school and is expected to be full. Get there early to secure seats. Refreshments of cheese and wine will be provided and soft drinks too.

  • Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2008
  • Time: 5:45pm - 7:00pm
  • Location: SAF, South Kensington

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Anything Else?

The following aren't officially affilliated with Medsin, but we thought you might be interested.

The 8th Cambridge International Development Course (IDC)

Interested in international development? Want to learn more about the issues surrounding development work from experienced professionals and academics?

The IDC is for you!

Welcoming participants from all disciplines and levels of experience, this single-day programme provides an opportunity to investigate issues in international development in greater depth than you have before. A great follow up to the introductory December IDC or brilliant as a stand-alone course for you to advance your knowledge and understanding!

The day includes lectures on the ethics and philosophy of development, complemented by a whole range of interesting workshops, covering key areas, including: 'Conflict and Post-Conflict', 'Environment', 'Trade', 'Economics and Politics', 'Health and Healthcare Provision' and 'Education' something for everyone!

The day will be led by a range of development professionals and academics. This promises to be both thought-provoking and challenging, and will give you a chance to focus on issues, and conflicts of interest, which arise in the main areas of development work. The occasion to meet with so many professionals and academics in the field of development doesn't come along often - this is not an opportunity to miss!

Saturday 3rd May 2008 9.00am- 5.00pm, Law Faculty Booking is obligatory £8 (includes buffet lunch and refreshments)

For more information, and to book your place, go here.

This event always SELLS OUT, book early to avoid disappointment.

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International Congress of Medical Sciences for students and young doctors

We are honored to invite You to the upcoming - 7th International Congress of Medical Sciences for students and young doctors in Sofia, Bulgaria (ICMS).

For the last 6 years this annual event has become the biggest and most perspective conference of its type in Eastern Europe with more that 300 active and passive participants. The attendance of more than 100 international participants from 17 countries (including 2 from Medsin) last year transformed ICMS into a cosmopolitan, internationally recognized scientific meeting. ICMS is organized by the Association of Medical Students in Bulgaria, member of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, the Students Council of Medical University – Sofia and the Bulgarian Dental Students Scientific Association. This letter is a warm invitation to all future scientists who are seeking an opportunity to present their research works and exchange ideas upon topics in the field of

  • Medicine
  • Dentistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Medical technologies
  • Biomedical sciences

And thus strengthen the European network for scientific collaboration.

The conference will be from 8 – 11 th May 2008 and can offer its participants:

  • Internationally respected certificates
  • Lectures of world-leading professors
  • Interesting workshops devoted to the latest discoveries in the field of medicine
  • Exciting social program every day (including post-congress tour)
  • Contact person who will meet you at arrival

For further information visit our website or do not hesitate to write to us at info@icmsbg.org

Deadline extended to 20.03.2008

Looking forward to seeing you in May! Best regards ICMS 08 Organizing Committee

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CIVICUS Youth Assembly 2008, 16-18th June, Glasgow

“People, Participation and Power...”

Building on the success of last year's CIVICUS Youth Assembly the 2008 event will offer an exceptional opportunity to meet and work with other young women and men who are really making changes to things that matter.

The Youth Assembly will offer young delegates a program and a space to develop and commit to action internationally. The theme of participation in civil society will be explored over the course of the event and delegates will learn about issues that effect billions of people worldwide. The programme will develop not only delegates knowledge, but also build personal capacity through a series of workshops and skills development sessions. Participation is key and all delegates will be fully engaged in a programme of full participation.

In attending the Youth Assembly delegates will also go on to participate, as full delegates, in the CIVICUS World Assembly where they will have a voice and opportunity to meet and influence some of the world's leading NGOs, groups and individuals who are committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world.

Delegate places are available to successful applicants aged 18 to 25 years old. The application deadline for the CIVICUS Youth Assembly is 31st March

All delegate places are 100% free of charge and we will include all your accommodation, food and social programme events for the week. We will also include your Delegate Fees to attend the CIVICUS World Assembly.

Click here for more information and to apply.

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Royal Society of Medicine talks

Upon arrival at meetings all participants must register to collect their personalised name badge, programme and other related information.

The Forum will be providing lunch as part of the meeting. Please note that we require full payment and details of any dietary requirements to guarantee your place at least four working days before the meeting.

Lauren Wynn Events Co-ordinator www.rsm.ac.uk/Catastrophes ´

Medicine Overseas(http://www.rsm.ac.uk/academ/cce103.php)

Organiser: Catastrophes & Conflict Forum Date: Friday 25 April 2008 Venue: The Royal Society of Medicine

Topics include –

  • Careers overseas and Elective preparation
  • Training courses - security issues
  • Interactive clinical scenarios - Landslide in the mountains, junior level
  • Interactive clinical scenarios - Tropical medicine
  • Humanitarianism - History, philosophy and law
  • Humanitarian Operations
  • Alternative medical careers - Academic, personal safety

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Multi- extreme and complete drug resistant TB with HIV; the deadliest duo?

Organiser: Respiratory Medicine Section Date: Wednesday 26 March 2008 Venue: The Royal Society of Medicine

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Pandemic Flu Preparedness Course

Organiser: Society Conferences Date: Thursday 24 April 2008 Venue: The Royal Society of Medicine

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Torture and Post Traumatic Epilepsy

MEDICAL FOUNDATION DOCTORS' STUDY DAY

17th March 2008

The Resource Centre, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA Tel. 020 7700 0100
www.theresourcecentre.org.uk

OUTSIDE DOCTORS & A NUMBER OF MEDICAL STUDENTS WELCOME TO LUNCH AND THE AFTERNOON SESSIONS

Please check availability and reserve a place by emailing Hannah Rutledge To confirm your place, return an application form with your cheque for £5. Please email Hannah if you would like an application form.

  • 1.00 – 2.00 LUNCH
  • 2.00 – 3.00 Psychological approaches to the management of torture survivors, Professor Renos Papadopoulos, Director of the Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees, Essex University and Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Family Psychotherapist at the Tavistock Clinic
  • 3.00 – 3.20 Tea
  • 3.20 – 4.20 Post-traumatic epilepsy, Professor Simon Shorvon, Professor in Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, University College London and Consultant Neurologist, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London and Dr Rod Bale, Consultant Psychiatrist, Medical Foundation
  • 4.20 – 4.30 Wrap –up and evaluation Dr Brian Fine

To reach the Resource Centre by tube:- Piccadilly line to Holloway Road station. On leaving the station turn left and walk under the railway bridge for 5 minutes. The Resource Centre is on the opposite side of the road and can be reached by using the pedestrian crossing. To reach the Resource Centre by bus:- Buses 4, 17, 29, 43, 153, 253, 259, 271, 279 and X43 stop within a short walk of the Resource Centre. Also there are mobility buses available in the area, these are numbers 920, 921, 923 and 927.

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Journey to Justice: Breaking the Chains of Global Debt

This event will take place on Sunday 18th May 2008 at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham. It will mark the tenth anniversary of the human chain in Birmingham in 1998, when 70,000 people joined together to demand that the G8 drop the debt.

Ten years later some debts have been cancelled, resulting in many transformed lives. But the debt crisis is not over. Much wider debt cancellation is urgently needed to help tackle global poverty.

For more information click here.

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Global Health: Current Issues, Future Trends and Foreign Policy Conference

On Tuesday 29th April 2008, the Royal College of Physicians of London will host a conference on global health.

"Global Health: Current Issues, Future Trends and Foreign Policy" will explore the growing UK debate on global health, with updates on communicable and chronic disease. Coming after the publication in 2007 of Lord Crisp's "Global health partnerships" and Sir Liam Donaldson's "Health is global: proposals for a government-wide strategy" this conference will discuss their impact and the latest Government initiatives. Drawing together experts from the clinical and policy worlds, the conference will examine the role the UK has to play through the prism of its foreign policy. It will afford an opportunity for people from different fields to interact in lively and informative debate.

The Rt Hon Lord Malloch-Brown, Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN will deliver a guest lecture on "Health security: foreign policy and global health"

A full programme and registration details can be found here.

Venue: Royal College of Physicians Location: London

Audience: Physicians, public health specialists, healthcare personnel, policy makers, political lobbyists, journalists, supranational organisations, NGOs.

For more information please click here or email the conference team.

There are student places at £75, down from £225! Just state that you are a full time student on the apllication/payment form.

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£500 Student Essay Prize

MEDICINE, CONFLICT AND SURVIVAL is offering a £500 prize for the best essay BY A MEDSIN MEMBER on a topic covered by the Journal, and publication of the essay in a forthcoming issue.

The Essay should be no more than 2,500 words long and the deadline for submission is the end of July 2008

For the topics covered by the Journal, go here and click ‘Aims and Scope’. On the same page, click ‘Instructions for Authors’ to find how the essay should be presented.

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Of The Month

UAEM

Access to Medicines, Trade, and the Role of Universities

Millions Are Dying

The World Health Organisation estimates that 10 million people die every year because they’re unable to access existing drugs and vaccines. Several factors impede access to the medicines that exist, chief among them being the cost.

Yet generic competition has been able to lower the price of antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from more than $15 000 per patient-year 6 years ago to $99 today. Unfortunately, generic drug production has been impeded by trade agreements that prevent generic companies from producing new drugs for up to 20 years. Millions wind up dying because competition can no longer take place, and pharmaceutical companies wind up having exclusive rights to vital medicines.

Universities Can Help Change This

Because many of these life-saving drugs are developed in campus laboratories, universities wield substantial leverage when they license their drugs to pharmaceutical companies. That means that you have the power to help save lives without leaving your campus!

Our proposal is simple: When a university licenses a promising new drug candidate to a pharmaceutical company, it require that the company allow the drug to be made available in poor countries at the lowest possible cost. This would have virtually no financial impact on the company or university, but could ultimately save millions of lives.

You can help: A Call to Action

Events and Actions are planned throughout the UK, US, and Canada. Join students, faculty, and researchers at top research institutions in the UK, US and Canada for this Day of Action: Demand that lifesaving drugs developed in your campus laboratories be made available in poor countries.

Learn

  • Screen a movie: show the film Pills, Profits Protest on your campus to teach your fellow students about the barriers to ensuring access to medicines.
  • Organise or attend a workshop on trade agreements and access to medicines. Email Lauren.Smith@essentialmedicine.org if you need help finding a speaker.

Build

  • Have students from your whole school sign letters to the Board of Trustees to let them know how many of you care about the 10 million who don’t need to die!
  • Host a sign-on for the Philadelphia Consensus Statement (PCS) to add your campus’ voices to the thousands already calling for universities to play their role in ensuring access to medicines.

Act

  • Have a mass mailing – send the signed letters to your university’s Board of Directors urging them to address this issue within their Board and to the President.
  • Log your new PCS signatures on http://www.essentialmedicine.org/cs to be counted as more voices calling for change.

Our contact details are: E-mail: uaem.uk@gmail.com Website: http://www.essentialmedicine.org

Mori

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Last updated on Tuesday 11 March 2008 at 17:48.