AEGiS-WashBlade: Medical Report: Ohio congressman accused of curbing health studies debate

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Medical Report: Ohio congressman accused of curbing health studies debate

Washington Blade - September 24, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) - A watchdog group has criticized an Ohio congressman for what it says is an attempt to cut off debate on health studies in a federal spending bill. Several lawmakers last year sought to block funding for sex-related studies being funded through the National Institutes of Health. Republican Congressman Ralph Regula, who heads a subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, this year asked lawmakers in a letter not to challenge specific grants on the House floor. Citizens Against Government Waste said the tactic threatens open debate in Congress. Regula said in the letter that he did not have enough notice to answer detailed questions that came up last year about the sex-related studies, some of which are multiyear projects that continue to be funded in this year's $142 billion bill, which includes $28.5 billion for NIH. "There are 40,000 grants out there, so it's kind of hard to be knowledgeable about each one," Regula said. Last year's effort by Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to cut $1.5 million in funding for four sex-related grants, which also included a "Study on American Indian Transgender Research," failed 212-210.

AIDS, syphilis rates on the rise in New York: mayor's report

NEW YORK (AP) - AIDS, tuberculosis and syphilis in the city increased during the past fiscal year, according to a mayoral report released last week. According to the biannual Mayor's Management Report, among the areas that lagged were those that fell under the auspices of the Department of Health, which saw increases in several areas that had been declining for years. For instance, AIDS increased by 960 cases to 5,124 and the tuberculosis rate went to 1,140 from 1,084 in the previous fiscal year. Syphilis cases also rose for the fourth consecutive year: In fiscal year 2000, there were just 131 cases citywide; in fiscal 2004, which ran from July 1, 2003, to June 30, the number was 599. The health department said most of the increase occurred among gay and bisexual men engaging in unsafe sexual practices and it has launched education campaigns and free screenings for sexually transmitted diseases.

AIDS activists alarmed by rise in HIV among gays in Singapore

SINGAPORE (AP) - Activists in Singapore urged health authorities this week to take action to curb an "alarming" rise in the number of gay men infected with the AIDS virus. HIV infections among gay men in Singapore rose from 12 cases reported in 2000 to 40 cases in 2003, health ministry statistics showed. In the first half of this year, 31 out of 138 new cases of HIV infection were reported among gay men. "I would call the rise in infections alarming," said Brenton Wong, vice president of the Singapore-based Action for AIDS advocacy group. "This is a warning sign that our present efforts are not enough," Wong said. "If prevention is not scaled up, then we will have potential disaster in a few years' time." Wong said there was a lack of strong public messages promoting condom use in preventing the spread of disease.

Two adult film companies fined in wake of HIV outbreak

LOS ANGELES (AP) - State officials fined two companies more than $30,000 each for allowing adult film actors to perform without using condoms - the first time the state has taken such action. Most gay pornography productions have incorporated condom use for decades, in contrast to heterosexual-focused adult films. The fines against Evasive Angles and TTB Productions, both straight producers of straight porn, follow an HIV outbreak that forced a temporary shutdown of adult film production in Southern California. The companies have 15 days to appeal. Three women contracted the virus that causes AIDS from a male performer while working for either Evasive Angles or TTB Productions. Regulators could not determine which company had hired the performers at the time, but found both companies are owned by the same person, said Dean Fryer, an agency spokesman. The four actors were diagnosed earlier this year, prompting an investigation.

Ark. AIDS program cuts medications to save money

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - The Arkansas Department of Health said last week that it will drop coverage for two medications under the Arkansas AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Without the cuts, the program risks running out of money before the end of the funding period March 31, the agency said. "This is not good that we are holding medicines in any way, shape or form," said Dr. Michael Saccente, a member of the committee that recommended the cuts to the Health Department. "But I don't see where we have a choice." The federal AIDS drug program helps those with lower-income. The program receives about $3.2 million in federal funds annually, said Bob Alvey, Health Department spokesperson. The committee hopes that eliminating the two medications - Valcyte and Sporanox - it will save about $10,000 a month.

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