Somatostatin is a tetradecapeptide with potent inhibitory actions on several endocrine systems; it blocks the release of growth hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and thyrotropin from the pituitary gland (Krulich et al., 1968; Brazeau et al., 1973; Hall et al., 1978; Reichlin, 1983) and several peptide hormones from the endocrine gut and pancreas (Cohen et al., 1978; Gerich, 1981). It also a...

This paper critically examines some of the assumptions and politics which underlie the global mental health (GMH) movement; and explores the issue of cultural awareness within western psychiatric thinking and practice. The way distress is labelled has a range of consequences for the individual, their family and society, as well as those who may control or negotiate the descriptors used, the act...

The recent Immigration Bill debate in the United States Congress has again re-ignited the polemic regarding immigration policy. In this essay, I argue that disputes surrounding the legality of migrant workers highlight chronic, underlying problems related to factors that drive migration. The public health field, although concerned primarily with addressing the health needs of migrant population...

Introduction Let us start with an example of health policy analysis in action. Within that category of countries loosely known as ‘the West’, quite basic differences exist in attitudes to health policy and also actual health policy. Comparing the US with mainland Europe and indeed Canada, for example, one perceives a difference in attitude on the part of the majority towards collectivism and in...

but there has been neglect of systematic study of the development of medicine, and of medical services, in the smaller geographical areas-the large town, the city, or the country. It was, therefore, a pleasure to prepare to welcome to a very meagrely furnished shelf in the library Anning's History of medicine in Leeds. Regrettably, the welcome has to be somewhat qualified, for Anning's book is ...

Reform of the health care system is a complex process. Opinions vary as to the need for reform and the specific policy changes to be implemented. The Clinton administration has presented a proposal for health care policy reform, but alternative proposals have been recommended. A review of the legislative process indicates the many opportunities to amend or "kill" proposed health reform legislat...

We propose a new approach to the study of comparative public policy that examines how the agenda-setting attributes of an issue combine with problems to drive political attention. Whereas existing comparative policy studies tend to focus on how institutional or programmatic differences affect policy and politics, we begin by asking how the issue itself affects politics across nations. We illust...

The latest ACPE survey explores physician executive participation in politics, and the need for doctors to make an impact on health care policy.

Publicly provided health care implies considerable intergenerational redistribution. The possibility of accumulating a fund or debt will a®ect the degree of redistribution as well as how e±cient the ̄nancing of health care is. In a voting model we study how governments inability to make binding long-term policy commitments will a®ect the accumulation of a fund or debt. Today's government will b...