Cell Bank: After cell phones we now enter the era of cell banks. The first stem cell bank in the world is being opened in Britain under the chairmanship of Lord Naren Patel - an obstetrician who is now a member of the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Lords. The bank will accept stem cell lines approved by its steering committee grow them and provide them to researchers when required. Its major role will be to provide strict quality control. Stem cells are special because they can multiply and survive infinitely given appropriate conditions. For many degenerative disorders if we learn how to utilize them, stem cells may be the only answer (bmj.com 29 May 2004, BMJ 2004; 328:1277).

Mission with machines: An interesting experiment was recently underway in two contrasting states of India - Karnataka and Orissa. Can we improve the health of our people in the remotest villages by upgrading information and communication technology? HIN India (Health InterNetwork India) is a pilot project coordinated by WHO. It's aim was to provide connectivity (computers and internet access), content (relevant, high quality information), capacity building (skills to use information technology) and policy (leadership role in introducing change). HIN India introduced ICT into seven primary health centres and three community health centres and upgraded computers, internet connection, and networks in four research institutes and two medical colleges. It also tested applications such as e-fax (faxing direct from computers), e-consultations, geographic information systems, and handheld computers in these settings. There were many lessons to be learnt including the fact that basic infrastructure is critical for any development. Computers without electricity and internet connections without functional telephone lines are the ground realities which we need to transcend. http://www.hin.org.in/, BMJ 2004; 328: 1193-1196 (www.bmj.com15 May).

East meets West: For years, Indians with money would go to Western countries for advanced medical therapy. We are now witnessing a complete turnaround. Indian tertiary care hospitals are now seeing patients from Britain, Canada, and USA come for treatments ranging from cardiac bypass, hip resurfacing and dental treatment. Maharashtra has set up a Council for Medical Tourism and the Confederation of Indian Industry and the world famous management consultants McKinsey have reported that health tourism in India could generate upto $ 2 billion by 2012. A cardiac bypass in India plus air travel costs around $6000, compared with $23 000 in a private hospital in Britain or $30 000 in the United States. Low costs and the easy command of English by Indian doctors are the main attractions. Meanwhile sociologists are amazed that the government should promote medical tourism when the majority of the country's population struggles for basic health care facilities. BMJ 2004; 328: 1338 (www.bmj.com 5 June 2004).

True Lies: Is truth to be sacrified at the altar of big business? Is information being manipulated to suit the interests of gigantic multinational companies? Glaxo SmithKline is facing trial in the United States for allegedly hiding negative reports of trials involving the antidepressant Paroxitine used in adolescents. Five trials are being highlighted of which 2 showed no efficacy of the drug and 3 showed an increase in suicidal ideation. Damaging internal memos of the company which have been found, say that it was "commercially unacceptable" to admit that paroxitine did not work in children and it would have to "effectively manage the dissemination of these data in order to minimise any potential negative impact". A national trials registry which records all trials at onset in the USA is one possible solution against future fraud. BMJ 2004; 328: 1395 (www.bmj.com 12 June).

Gouri Rao Passi,
Consultant, Department of Pediatrics,
Choithram Hospital & Research Centre,
Indore 452017.
E-mail: [email protected]