Wellington, Aug 19 NZPA- The Pharmac board has appointed five new members to its consumer advisory committee after a review of the committee's terms of reference.

This brings committee membership to nine members.

Wellington, Aug 19 NZPA - More than 80 leading surgeons will gather in Queenstown today and tomorrow for a special scientific meeting to look at the delivery of acute surgical services in New Zealand.

The PHARMAC Board has appointed five new members to the Government drug funder's Consumer Advisory Committee.

The refreshed membership follows a review of the Committee's Terms of Reference, and brings the committee to nine members.

Calling for nominations - Know someone who deserves a medal for showing us how to age with strength and vitality?

Wellington, Aug 18 NZPA - Regulation of doctors should become clearer after the Medical Council and New Zealand's 20 district health boards (DHBs) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

By Matthew Backhouse of NZPA

Wellington, Aug 18 NZPA - Communities could be at risk of losing some youth health services due to confusion around funding and a lack of national direction.

By Matthew Backhouse of NZPA

Wellington, Aug 18 NZPA - Health Minister Tony Ryall today deflected questions over whether he would intervene in the future of neurosurgical services in the South Island.

A Christchurch primary school closed its doors today after a student was diagnosed with swine flu.

Emmanuel Christian School principal Jill Garrett told NZPA one of the girl's parents called yesterday evening with the news -- she had been absent since Friday.

Wellington, Aug 18 NZPA - A $30,000 grant will advance research efforts to develop a better prostate cancer screening test at Otago University.

"The drugs just didn't work anymore" - Drug websites put a human face on addiction