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International Health News Briefing is a newsletter from the International Health Policy and Innovation program. Each  issue contains summaries of health policy news in select countries, as well as updates on related Commonwealth Fund publications and events.

February 2013

New NHS requirement encourages greater transparency in care in the U.K.; Australia introduces new food regulations to reduce the rates of chronic disease; and more.

January 2013

Canadian pharmacies offering diabetes education, monitoring, and care; U.K.'s GP practices to undergo inspections every two years; and more.

December 2012

National Health Service to eradicate paper records by 2015; centralized digital patient records system launched in The Netherlands; and more.

Fall 2012

Linking of U.K. patient records offers greater source of information for researchers; reduced drug spending in the Netherlands; and more.

August 2012

U.K. to provide open access to scientific research; Dutch health minister and physicians reach agreement to keep down health costs; France increases health care system budget; and more.

July 2012

National mental health reform initiatives in Australia; France makes hospital data available to patients and policymakers; electronic medication management across New Zealand; and more.

June 2012

Canada drug expenditures dip; prescriptions for exercise improve health in New Zealand; hospital-acquired infections decrease in England; and more.

May 2012

Using mobile devices to access patient records in Canada; qualified nurses, pharmacists, and midwives can now prescribe painkillers in U.K.; and more.

April 2012

German public insurers see record profits; U.K. health reform signed into law; and more.

March 2012

Major changes to U.K. health reform bill; Australian private insurance rebate reform passes; and more.

September/October 2011

Australia's first electronic mental health strategy; New Zealand launches eHealth services; and more.

March/April 2011

Australia's efforts to increase their primary care doctors workforce; electronic health records rollout begins in Quebec; and more.

January/February 2011

U.K. health reform bill published; Australian government seeks input on super clinics, and more.

December 2010

Australia creates new preventive health agency; new value-based drug pricing proposed in U.K.; and more.

November 2010

Ontario takes the lead in new purchasing alliance between Canadian provinces and pharmaceutical companies; U.K.'s National Health Service exempt from major spending cuts; and more.

October 2010

Major U.K. health reforms announced; Australian implementation of electronic medical records begins; and more.