In the UK, the General Medical Council has recently published guidance on social media, which states that where doctors identify themselves as doctors in publicly accessible social media, they should also identify themselves by name because any written material by authors who represent themselves as doctors is likely to be taken on trust. This places an onus on doctors to be thoughtful in what they write.

US Virgin Islands: Affordable Care Act – Implementation gathers pace

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the US Virgin Islands has received extra support from representatives of the US health department, as discussions over health insurance continue. USVI Governor John de Jongh explored the options for expanding the existing Medicaid program in accordance with the new Act.

US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was among those he consulted. Mr de Jongh said: “The opportunity to co-ordinate our efforts and discuss the options of a Medicaid exchange and a health insurance exchange with Secretary Sebelius and other federal policymakers proved tremendously beneficial as we consider our next steps in implementing the provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

“I greatly appreciate the commitment that Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officials have shown in working with the territory on these critically important matters.”

Barbados: Neonatal mortality rates debated at workshop

Ongoing concerns over neonatal deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean were the focus of a three-day workshop in Barbados in March.

The workshop, organised by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), was aimed at creating a regional strategy following an estimate of neonatal deaths – defined as death within the first 28 days of life – at 15 per 1,000 live births in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mr Boyce added that the main focus should be on promoting effective policies and programmes; evidence-based interventions for newborn care in health services and communities within a health systems approach; strengthening surveillance systems; and targeting the poor and marginalised populations.

He revealed the factors that contributed to high neonatal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean included low visibility of newborn deaths and newborn health in national priority settings; inequalities in access to skilled birth attendants and primary healthcare; and continuing poor maternal health.