- © 2008 Canadian Medical Association
Needle therapy: British Columbia has become the first province to include acupuncture as a supplementary benefit under its health insurance plan. Residents earning less than $28 000 per year will be reimbursed $23 for each visit (maximum 10) to an acupuncturist. Acupuncture is recognized worldwide as “safe and effective,” said Health Minister George Abbott.
HIV trends: A government of Manitoba report indicates HIV infection is spreading more rapidly in heterosexual First Nations populations than other groups (www.gov.mb.ca). The update on HIV 1985–2007 indicates 24%, or 20 of 82 newly diagnosed cases of HIV in 2007, self-reported their ethnicity as Aboriginal. Of those, 14 self-reported their risk factor as heterosexual activity.