Adding a few rupees as taxes to air tickets can help generate the much needed funds to buy life saving medicines for diseases such as HIV/ AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. United, a UN agency which negotiates to buy cheap medicines from the leading pharmaceutical companies all over the world to treat deadly diseases in developing countries, is urging India to join countries such as France, Brazil, Chile, and South Korea in imposing a nominal tax to fund its efforts. The initiative which generates about $ 200 annually is proposing a tax of Rs. 10 on domestic tickets and USD 1 on any international flights in the Indian market. Clearly this big a noble cause and India with a booming air passenger market, India can make a big difference if it joins the initiative. Since 80 percent of the drugs bought by united are from the Indian pharmaceutical companies and some of them are used to treat Indian patients, India has nothing to lose by joining this programme. The money raised from this initiative  [...]

This is alarming news for women using cosmetics. Surprisingly, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals or phthalates are found in moisturizers, nail polishes, soaps, hair sprays, perfumes, health and skin care creams may elevate and trigger diabetic risk in women. A team of researchers from the division of women's health at Brigham and women's hospital, Boston, analyzed urinary concentrations of phthalates in a survey and tests conducted on over 2000 women. The results were stunning and they found that women with the highest levels of the specific phthalates had almost twice the risk of diabetes, compared to women with lowest levels of those chemicals. It was found that phthalates apart from being found in the cosmetic products were also found in the medication to cure diabetes. This could also clearly show the higher level of phthalates in diabetic women.