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Dermatologists have warned that individuals who use skin-bleaching products may experience delayed wound healing, increasing their risk of infections and other health complications. The experts noted that bleaching creams and soaps often contain harsh chemicals such as hydroquinone, potent steroids, and mercury, which can cause skin thinning, irritation, and long-term damage. Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Dr Ayesha Akinkugbe, said the chemicals in these products impair the skin’s ability to heal from injuries. According to her, bleaching creams, especially those containing steroids, thin the skin, making it fragile and slow to recover from cuts or injuries. “Yes, they can make it much harder for the skin to heal properly. The skin loses some of its natural strength, and wounds take longer to close. Hydroquinone also affects melanin...

Medical experts have said no hospital or doctor deliberately rejects patients but rather refers them to specialist hospitals if their cases exceed the capacity of the facility. The clarification follows a recent outcry by a man, Akinbosola Folajimi, who alleged that a hospital refused to treat his pregnant wife, Kemi, despite being in visible distress. In separate interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, the physicians emphasised that referring a patient should not be misconstrued as rejection or refusal to provide treatment. The health experts also advised Nigerians to seek medical attention early to ensure timely and adequate care, noting that early presentation increases the chances of survival, especially in cases where referrals are necessary, thereby helping to prevent avoidable health emergencies. They urged Nigerians to enrol in health insurance plans, stating that doing so would help prevent cases of referral due to an inability to pay medical bills. ...

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for greater private sector participation in ongoing healthcare reforms, stressing the government cannot singlehandedly shoulder the burden of transforming the nation’s health system. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing critical deficits in the health sector through strategic partnerships and investments. Speaking on Saturday during the commissioning of the newly completed Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre in Sagamu, Ogun State, the Vice President described the facility as a critical addition to Nigeria’s emergency care infrastructure and a symbol of the administration’s resolve to prioritize healthcare delivery. Shettima revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a “comprehensive Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, including the creation of over 8,800 new Primary Healthcare Centres across the country and the upgrade of existing tertiary institutions to handle trauma, oncol...

Worried young men are increasingly paying for private prostate cancer tests as they are not eligible for them on the NHS , figures have revealed. Over the past three months Britain’s biggest online pharmacy has seen a 600 per cent rise in sales of blood tests that looks for signs of the disease. According to Pharmacy2U, men under 50 are most likely to order the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. The trend followed the news last year that Olympic champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy had terminal prostate cancer. He was diagnosed at 48, having never been offered a PSA test. NHS guidance states that men under 50 can have the test only if they have symptoms, which include difficulty urinating, erectile dysfunction, blood in the urine and semen, weight loss , back pain and loss of appetite. But most men with early-stage prostate cancer do not have any. Sir Chris – along with Prostate Cancer UK – is calling for the age at which men are offered the te...

Prescription practices for osteoporosis drugs have been dubbed a 'wild west' which risks thousands of preventable deaths every year. A report published by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Osteoporosis and Bone Health – which includes MPs, lords and clinicians – found that two-thirds of patients with the brittle bone condition have struggled to get their medication. Experts say there is a 'postcode lottery' caused by a lack of knowledge among many GPs about new medicines. 'Patients are clearly being let down,' says Louise Statham, a clinical pharmacist at the University of Sunderland. 'Patients deserve consistent prescribing, so their postcode does not impact their treatment.' Osteoporosis affects more than 3.5 million in the UK – nearly two-thirds of whom are women. Many do not realise they have the condition until they break a bone. The disease causes bones to become so fragile a break can be triggered by a cough or sneez...

Cash-strapped hospitals have written off £256.4 million owed by foreign patients because of failures to properly check that they were entitled to free NHS treatment. An investigation by The Mail on Sunday shows escalating debts from health tourists – who have had everything from spinal surgery to heart care and cancer treatment – is creating a growing black hole in NHS finances. In the last year alone, £44 million has been lost – a 63 per cent increase on the £26.9 million that hospitals had to write off in 2017-18. Damning findings from our research, based on an analysis of health service accounts over the past seven years and a detailed Freedom of Information request to trusts across England, reveal: Just a third of the £621 million owed by overseas visitors to hospitals has been repaid. One Nigerian patient who had planned treatment at Barts Health NHS Trust in London ran up a near £500,000 bill, and a Romanian patient owes Lewisham and Greenwi...

Agartala ( Tripura ) [India], April 6 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday paid a surprise visit to IGM Hospital and Agartala Government Dental College and directed all staff and doctors to ensure that there is no gap in the treatment of patients. During the visit, he spoke to the doctors and health staff and emphasized the importance of addressing shortcomings in the service. "Even under huge loads, the doctors and health workers here are providing very good services. However, there are some problems. In this case, due to the excessive load on the hospital, there are some problems with cleanliness. There is also a lack of awareness among the relatives of the patients in this regard. So they have to be overcome. And we have to learn a lot from the corporate sector. However, the government hospitals spend more than the corporate sector. Necessary initiatives will b...

Patients who regularly miss NHS appointments could be sent to the back of the queue under plans to cut waiting times, Wales has been told. It is one of a number of Welsh government ideas being discussed to improve the NHS, which has recently seen small reductions in record waiting lists. The threat of sanctions would be balanced by an improved Welsh NHS app, which would allow patients to track their progress through the system and make or amend appointments at the touch of a button. Health boards could also have their funding clawed back if they have been given extra cash to hit specific targets but do not make them. But this will not affect core health board funding. The plans are being framed as striking a new deal between the NHS and patients, where there would be a greater expectation for patients to play their part. In order to better manage waiting lists, there could also be increased levels of intervention to get patients fit for surgery, such as people ...

The Lagos State Government has vowed to hold accountable all parties involved in what it described as “tragic and shocking death” of Mrs. Folajimi, a pregnant woman who was rejected by a private hospital in Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki Area of Lagos State. PUNCH Online reports that the private healthcare facility she sought help from denied her emergency care due to a lack of financial deposit, leaving her and her unborn child in peril. In a swift response, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Saturday, in Ikeja, launched an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the death. The Ministry of Health, working in partnership with the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), has set up a dedicated panel to probe the matter, identify breaches in medical standards, and determine the degree of negligence involved. According to Abayomi, initial reports indicated that both a traditional birth attendant and a pri...

By Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Government has vowed to hold accountable all parties involved in the shocking and tragic death of Mrs. Folajimi, a pregnant woman who tragically lost her life in Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki. Public outrage has erupted as reports suggest that the private healthcare facility she sought help from denied her emergency care due to a lack of financial deposit, leaving her and her unborn child in peril. The Lagos State Government extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family, reiterating its commitment to ensuring that justice is served. “No woman should die while giving life,” said Prof. Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health. In a swift response, the Lagos State Government has launched an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the death. The Ministry of Health, working in partnership with the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), has set up a dedicated panel to probe the matt...

Parents, teachers, doctors, and disability inclusion advocates have identified issues that need attention to create a more supportive environment for children with autism in Rwanda. These challenges were highlighted during the National Conference on Autism, held in Kigali on April 2, in commemoration of International Autism Awareness Day. ALSO READ: Early detection of autism helps children prosper – experts The event, the first of its kind in Rwanda, brought together parents of autistic children from across the country, talented autistic children who showcased their abilities, and key stakeholders in disability inclusion. 1. Mutuelle de Sante coverage While not all autistic children require medication, those with related complications often need long-term treatment. One of the major concerns raised by parents is the high cost of autism-related treatments which are not covered under the community-based health insurance scheme, Mutuelle de Sante. Parents are advocating for the inclusio...

New Delhi [India], April 5 (ANI): Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday hailed the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in Delhi as a "historic step", marking the national capital's formal inclusion as the 35th state and Union Territory under the Centre's flagship healthcare programme. Speaking to the media, Delhi CM Gupta said the move would finally extend the benefits of the scheme to Delhi's residents. "Hearty congratulations to the people of Delhi. Today, the Ayushman scheme has been implemented in Delhi, and the people of Delhi are finally getting what they are entitled to. I thank the central government and PM Narendra Modi for this," she said. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh alleged that the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of delaying the scheme's rollout. He announced that the registration process for beneficiari...

By Anthony Adongo Apubeo Bolgatanga, April 05, GNA – Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has urged stakeholders in the Upper East Region to be vigilant and increase surveillance for Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM). He called for intensified awareness creation among residents to ensure that they were abreast with the signs, symptoms and precautionary measures to help in the prevention of the spread of the disease and early detection for timely treatment. Professor Akoriyea made the call during an engagement with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council in Bolgatanga as part of a working visit to the region since his assumption into office earlier this year. In the early part of 2025, the country recorded its meningitis cases in the Upper West Region and as at February, 16 persons had lost their lives to the disease out of the total 173 suspected cases. Additionally, in the Upper East Region, two perso...

As technology and communication improve, some conventional methods of medical services in animals and humans as well as crop farming will inevitably change.People are demanding more efficient, readily available and non-physical services wherever digital technology is applicable.I have included crop agriculture under health services because even plants get diseases and need to be treated. There is the role of crop farming experts that is called plant health services.We know more about the use of pesticides in crop farming to kill insects and other disease-causing agents. But plants also have bacteria and viruses that cause diseases such as the tobacco mosaic virus or bacterial wilt in tomatoes and passion fruits.Some crop farmers call agriculture service providers and request them to diagnose and treat diseases on their plants to avoid paying the visit or chemical application fees.Read: Remote diagnosis and prescription is rarely helpfulI have received questions from livestock farmers, ...

Amid growing concerns spurred by recent remarks from a popular religious leader, Nigerian pharmacists have clarified misconceptions about fluoride, emphasising its safety and efficacy when used in regulated amounts. The comments, which circulated widely in trending videos, featured the cleric condemning the presence of fluoride in toothpaste, food, and pharmaceutical products, alleging it to be poisonous and cancer-causing. Responding over the weekend, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria described the claims as “not totally in alignment with scientific facts”, while acknowledging the pastor’s influence in spiritual matters. “We at ACPN will not attempt to tackle the pastor’s anointing in God’s word,” said ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Ezeh, and Secretary, Omokhafe Ashore, in a joint statement. “But (we) will clarify with some scientific insight and background that the pastor’s exposition on fluorides was not totally in alignment with scien...

The Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products has ordered the immediate withdrawal of several batches of the ointment «Oriumycin 1%», commonly known as «the yellow ointment», following the detection of a quality defect during laboratory testing. In an official letter to the Moroccan Pharmaceutical Promotion Company «Promopharm», the agency reported that tests revealed a defect in the consistency or appearance of the ointment, which could pose a potential risk to consumer health. The batches concerned are 22043, 22046, and 1001, all of which must be withdrawn nationwide. The agency also instructed wholesale distributors, retail pharmacies, and the logistics departments of healthcare institutions to immediately stop marketing the product and to return all available quantities without delay. Additionally, it requested a detailed report on the progress of the withdrawal process, including a comparison between the quantities sold and those recovered, along with official ...

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has advised taking vitamin A to fight measles. A Texas hospital is now treating children with toxic levels of the supplement in their bodies. This article may be potentially distressing to parents with children. West Texas has been gripped by a measles outbreak for the past several weeks and as a result of misinformation passed on by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., it now faces a second, related health problem: Vitamin A toxicity — or hypervitaminosis A — in infants and children. The situation appears to be the direct result of bogus medical information pedaled by the vaccine-skeptic secretary himself. Kennedy recently said that although the measles vaccine is the best defense against the highly contagious and potentially fatal infection, he emphasized that getting inoculated was a "personal choice." Kennedy, whom President Donald Trump appointed to be t...

By: Raphael Nyarkotey OBU (Prof.) Kidneys are vital organs responsible for filtering waste products, including creatinine, from the blood. Creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism and serves as a key indicator of kidney function. Elevated serum creatinine levels often signal impaired kidney function, commonly resulting from conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), dehydration or acute kidney injury (AKI). Traditionally, CKD management involves medications, dialysis and, in some cases, kidney transplants. However, there is increasing interest in alternative and complementary therapies, particularly in naturopathy, to address elevated creatinine levels and promote kidney health. This article reviews the efficacy of various naturopathic remedies, including herbal therapies, dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments, in supporting kidney function and lowering creatinine levels. Additionally, the article examines the evidence supporting the use of the...

The federal government and stakeholders in the health sector have called for increased investments in women's health and empowerment to enhance their access to quality healthcare and opportunities across Nigeria. They made this call in Abuja during the Womanhood Art Gala, organised by Nigeria Health Watch. The Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, said, 'We must all invest in ensuring that every woman, regardless of her background, has access to the healthcare she needs.' She pointed out that disparities in maternal health outcomes, especially in Nigeria, remain alarmingly high. Nigeria continues to record one of the highest maternal mortality rates (MMR) globally, with over 1,000 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births-far from the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing global MMR to below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. 'This stark reality reminds us of the urgent need to ensure every woman ha...