Santo Domingo – Intelligence and anti-drug agencies in the Dominican Republic are handling information about a new synthetic drug called “Tussi,” known as “pink cocaine.”
Reports indicate that the potent and harmful hallucinogen is being trafficked in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Listin Diario sources assure that Dominican authorities, concerned about the effects of this potent drug, are carrying out in-depth investigations to find out if the so-called “pink cocaine” is circulating in the country among consumers and traffickers.

According to investigations to which this newspaper had access, the person who consumes Tussi is exposed to multiple risks, such as overdose, severe intoxication, or unexpected adverse reactions.
The effects can vary “from intense episodes of euphoria and hallucinations to severe anxiety, paranoia, panic and in some cases, psychosis,” the study says.

The specialists in charge of the research warn that “pink cocaine” has been proven to affect both the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system.”
The drug can also produce long-term effects, such as brain damage and psychiatric disorders.

The source, who is very close to the investigations into the possible presence of this synthetic drug in the Dominican Republic, assured that drug trafficking networks operating in Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela are responsible for its production and distribution in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The concern of the authorities goes beyond the effects that “pink cocaine” can have on public health, as they understand that Tussi “has become a tool for the dynamization of the illicit drug market” with the consequent increase in criminality, exacerbating violence.

According to reports obtained by Listin Diario, intelligence and anti-drug agencies in the country are keeping a close watch on discos and entertainment centers given the severe risk for the youth that the consumption of Tussi represents due to its high potential for physical, psychological, and addictive damage.
The intelligence work is carried out in response to recommendations for the implementation of prevention and control policies to curb the consumption and expansion of this dangerous drug.

The synthetic drug Tussi is also known as 2C or pink cocaine, although it does not contain cocaine. The pink is due to the fact that it contains a food coloring of that color.
As users are often unaware of what it contains, it can cause unpredictable and dangerous psychoactive effects.
Other effects include euphoria, increased energy, restlessness, increased heart rate, decreased appetite, distorted perception, headache, dehydration, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Although cocaine has anesthetic and stimulant properties, the properties of tussi are psychoactive, affecting serotonin, a neurotransmitter related to the control of emotions and mood.

According to information posted on various websites about the drug, its use is highly dangerous, as it leads people to feel that the effects of pink cocaine may not be what they expect and continue using it until they find it.
But they can also become addicted to the sense of risk that arises through what can be a chemical version of “Russian Roulette.”

When someone repeatedly uses pink cocaine, as with any addictive substance, the body begins to develop tolerance and needs to use more and more of it to feel the same effects as the initial doses.
For that reason, it can be deadly for users.

People trapped in addiction require specialized treatment and a detoxification process in a center that offers a program tailored to the needs of each patient, with the aim of reversing their physical and psychological dependence.
Pink cocaine,” originally from Colombia, is causing concern among healthcare providers because of its increasingly widespread use and its harmful effects.

The Vector Control Unit will continue targeting mosquito-prone areas when it conducts its fogging exercise in four parishes this week.

On Monday the following St John and St Philip districts will be sprayed: College Savannah with avenues, Fortescue, St Mark’s, Consent Bay, Blades Hill, and Three Houses.

The Unit will turn its attention to St Michael on Tuesday. It will go into Station Hill, Goodings Road with avenues, Bellevue Gap, Deanes Village, and surrounding areas.

The team will visit St Joseph on Wednesday when they fog Gaggs Hill, Hillswick Road, Phillips Road, Cleavers Hill, Bathsheba, Elizabeth Village, St Elizabeth New Road, Foster Hall, and environs.

The Unit will return to that parish on Thursday, October 3, and will target Blackman’s Tenantry, Horse Hill, Blackman’s Development, Tourville, Bonwell Road, Surinam Road, Nos. 1 to 3 Vaughn Road, and Quarry Road.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Friday, October 4, when the team fogs Carlton Terrace, Straker Road, Black Road Main Road, Spring Garden Nos. 1 to 2, Retreat Terrace, Hinkson Gap, Danesbury Road, and Brighton Road.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the spray.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time. (PR)

The post Fogging to be conducted in four parishes appeared first on Barbados Today.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for accelerated approval of telisotuzumab vedotin (Teliso-V) in adult patients with previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild type, nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with c-Met protein overexpression.

Approximately 85% of lung cancers are classified as NSCLC1 and despite advances in treatment, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths throughout the world. The c-Met protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase found to be overexpressed in approximately 25% of advanced EGFR wild type, nonsquamous NSCLC patients and is associated with a poor prognosis. Teliso-V is being evaluated within this patient population who currently have very limited treatment options.

"Patients with non-small cell lung cancer have unmet medical needs and oncologists are looking for new treatment options for these patients who unfortunately have a poor prognosis," said Roopal Thakkar, M.D., executive vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "We are hopeful that Teliso-V will be a differentiated treatment for certain patients as we look to elevate the standards of care in oncology."

In December 2021, Teliso-V was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA. The BLA submission is supported by data from Phase 2 LUMINOSITY trial (Study M14-239), an ongoing study designed to characterize the safety and efficacy of Teliso-V in c-Met overexpressing NSCLC populations. Data from the LUMINOSITY study were recently presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology congress and topline data from this trial were shared in 2023. Teliso-V is being further evaluated as a monotherapy in patients with previously treated c-Met overexpressing NSCLC in the randomized Phase 3 confirmatory global study TeliMET NSCLC-01. Enrollment in the study is underway and continues across global clinical trial sites.

Read also: AbbVie, FutureGen ink pact to develop Next-Generation Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

One of the most notable developments is the progress in nurse practitioner training, a critical step for the advancement of nursing in Barbados. According to the President of the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA), Dr Fay Parris, the government has identified a foreign university that will facilitate the training of Barbadian nurses in advanced practice roles. This initiative aims to create a stronger health-care workforce by equipping local nurses with specialised skills.

“We have moved a lot further because the government of Barbados has identified an education university overseas where they will offer Barbadian nurses the opportunity to become nurse practitioners,” the BNA president said. This collaboration is expected to expand the local talent pool of nurse practitioners, who are essential in providing higher-level care in the country’s health-care facilities.

Already, some Barbadian nurses have qualified as nurse practitioners, and the initiative has sparked significant interest among others. 

Parris noted, “We have some Barbadian nurses who are already nurse practitioners, and we have had a lot of interest in the programme because so far, the Ministry of Health and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) have sought to find out from persons their expression of interest in the programme. So, we are moving forward with that programme.”

Currently, Barbados has several clinical nurse specialists, focusing on areas such as education and geriatrics. These advanced practice nurses are playing a crucial role in specialised care, and Parris stressed that more advanced practice nurses are on the horizon. “We are moving forward with having advanced practice nurses,” she said, underscoring the importance of this initiative for the future of nursing in Barbados.

Alongside the strides in advanced nurse training, Barbados is tackling a significant challenge: the shortage of nurses. Parris acknowledged that while the shortage has been a persistent issue, efforts are being made to ensure that health-care standards remain high, particularly in ensuring that every patient receives the care they need. One of the key barriers to addressing the shortage is the time it takes to train new nurses. 

“With that in mind, we know it takes four years to produce a registered nurse. So therefore, we would have had to seek assistance from outside of the island to complement in numbers,” she explained. Barbados has had to rely on external support in the short term to meet the immediate demands in health care.

However, the long-term strategy remains focused on bolstering the local workforce. Efforts to train more nurses locally have begun to bear fruit. Parris highlighted a significant improvement in the pass rates of nursing students in the regional examination — a crucial step in increasing the number of qualified nurses entering the health-care system.

“You would have noted some years ago there was an issue with the pass mark at regional examinations. And that has improved quite significantly. Our numbers are up in the 80s and 90s percentage of pass now,” she revealed. “So that would mean that we have a greater number of nurses leaving the programme to be employed.” This improvement means that Barbados is set to produce a more consistent flow of new nurses into its health-care system in the coming years.

Despite this progress, there remain challenges, particularly for those students who do not pass the regional examination on the first attempt. Recognising this, the government and the BNA are exploring alternative pathways to ensure that even those who initially struggle can eventually join the nursing profession. “We are also looking at some nurses who were not able to pass the exam. We are providing other avenues for that to occur,” Parris noted.

To further secure the future of Barbados’ health-care workforce, the government is also taking steps to ensure that newly trained nurses remain in the country after completing their education. She confirmed that discussions have been ongoing between the BNA and the Ministry of Health and Wellness regarding the bonding of nursing students — a system designed to guarantee that nurses serve in Barbados for a period of time after receiving government-funded education. (RG)

The post How Barbados is enhancing its health-care system appeared first on Barbados Today.

As part of the VBID Model, MA plans offer additional supplemental benefits and/or reduced cost sharing (in some cases to zero). MA plans participating in the VBID Model may also use reward and incentive programs.

CY 2025 VBID Model Participation

For CY 2025, the VBID Model has 62 participating Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) testing the model in 48 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico through 967 plan benefit packages (PBPs).

Santo Domingo.- Médico Express has become the health center with the highest number of certified medical tourism professionals (CMTP) by Global Health Care Accreditation (GHA) worldwide, marking a major milestone in the sector. This distinction highlights the center’s dedication to delivering top-tier medical care to international patients and advancing its role in the medical tourism industry.

The CMTP certification is an international benchmark that ensures healthcare providers are equipped with the necessary skills to offer high-quality services, patient safety, and comprehensive management of patient experiences. Médico Express, which is also the first Fitwel-certified health facility in Latin America, has solidified its status as a leader in the rapidly expanding medical tourism sector, with the Dominican Republic being recognized as the top destination in the Caribbean by the Medical Tourism Index (MTI).

Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, CEO of Médico Express, emphasized that the certification represents the center’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in health tourism. With a skilled team, advanced technology, and a dedicated international department, Médico Express is set to continue enhancing its services and positioning itself as a benchmark for quality and accessibility in the global healthcare market.