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A guide to online medical information from around the globe

Credentialing & Verification Update, September 30, 2008

The October 2008 issue of Harvard Health Letter provides an interesting overview of the vast universe of online medical information from around the world. Just as a growing number of Americans travel overseas for less expensive medical care, many countries are also providing English-language health Web sites produced or vetted by their health agencies. The article examines a dozen of these Web sites, including:

South Africa (www.doh.gov.za)
One of the most comprehensive offerings of the South African Department of Health Web site is a guideline on foot care. Odd, until you realize that feet are the primary means of transportation for most South Africans.

Australia (www.sunsmart.com.au)
Australia has the world’s highest skin cancer rate, so it’s no surprise it also provides the world’s most comprehensive Web site on skin cancer prevention. SunSmart provides standard advice on sun protection, as well as more detailed information on storing sunscreen, the minimum width of a protective hat brim (no baseball caps!), and more.

Hong Kong (www.gov.hk/en/residents/health/healthedu)
The Hong Kong government has been waging a “Healthy Exercise for All” campaign since 2000. The Web site has an exercise routine for every stage of life—and almost every level of fitness. Workouts range from familiar calisthenics to dancing and rope skipping.

The Health Letter article also looks at Web sites from Botswana, Canada, Fiji, India, Iraq, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Visit the Harvard Health Letter Web site.

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