A roundup of the week's other health news in brief:
Row over British payout to fund Irish healthcare
The cost of healthcare in Ireland has sparked heated debate in Britain over payments to British pensioners living here.
The Labour government has been accused of diverting millions of pounds from the National Health Service to pay for the healthcare of pensioners in Ireland.
Under reciprocal arrangements between the two countries, the UK and Ireland make payments to each other to cover the cost of providing healthcare to their citizens – including pensioners – living in the other’s country.
However, the British Conservative party said government figures showed that while the UK received just £2,606 (€2,898) a year per pensioner, Ireland got almost three times that, at £7,457 (€8,293).
Weight-loss drug seized
Sixty-three batches of a powerful weight loss drug traditionally used by African bushmen on hunting trips have been seized by Customs this year.
Almost 20,000 tablets made using the mysterious hoodia plant – once heralded as a potential miracle cure for obesity – have been discovered in the post and in people’s luggage.
The pills were seized under the CITES trade agreement, which attempts to stop the sale and distribution of products made from endangered plants and animals.
Age Action appeal for unwanted gifts
Age Action is urging the public to turn their unwanted festive gifts into funds to help some of Ireland’s most needy older people.
“Instead of leaving them in a drawer, donate them to Age Action and let us sell them in our charity shops,” Age Action’s head of business development Daragh Matthews said.
Age Action’s shop in Camden Street, Dublin, will open from 2pm to 4pm tomorrow to receive unwanted gifts. Shops in Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Galway, Monaghan and Castlebar will reopen on January 4th.