Statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E) Executive Director, American Public Health Association. "The American Public Health Association (APHA) praises Congress for passing historic legislation that will require health insurers to provide the same level of coverage for mental illness and substance abuse as they do for physical illness.

The Yale School of Public Health has received a $10.7 million grant to expand its participation in a national study that will follow 100,000 children from before birth to age 21 to understand factors that contribute to their health and development. Last year, Yale was awarded $15 million to start the work in New Haven County.

More than half a million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease, a brain disorder that leads to tremor and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. Although not a normal part of aging, Parkinson's occurs most often among people 60 and older, and the risk increases with age. Older adults now can visit the NIHSeniorHealth Web site to learn more about Parkinson's disease here.

NIH has prohibited smoking inside or in close proximity to buildings on the NIH campus for many years. Effective Wednesday, October 1, 2008, NIH will extend this prohibition to the full extent of the campus and become a tobacco-free facility. Use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, and any other tobacco products will be prohibited both indoors and outdoors on the Bethesda campus.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced an expanded ClinicalTrials.gov database. The database will accept basic results information, in addition to trial registrations.

Despite years of conversation between policymakers and health care professionals, comparative effectiveness remains an elusive concept for consumers. Now two of the nation's largest consumer groups are convening a panel of experts to discuss what this research can mean for individuals as the country addresses health care reform.

Community pharmacies in Wales will, from February 2009, be able to offer an allergy screening service to members of the public. The initiative from Allergy UK in association with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) will train pharmacists to provide advice and support for allergy sufferers in the principality.

A directory listing 100 of the most prestigious health and social care researchers has been published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) today. The Directory lists Senior Investigators who have been chosen to support the people making the most outstanding contribution to patient and people-focused health research.

Offering unrivalled flexibility for microscopists, the new 12.8 megapixel Olympus DP72 digital microscopy camera combines high sensitivity, speed, resolution and quality, with no restrictions. With market-leading image acquisition rates, image display via uncompressed full RGB, and a range of advanced features, the DP72 enables unsurpassed performance standards for all laboratory imaging needs.

Each year, more than two million people die from alcohol-related causes which is why World Health Organization (WHO) was asked by its Member States in May at the World Health Assembly to develop a global strategy to combat the harmful use of alcohol.