An apparently healthy man has become the first person in the world to be prescribed a medicine based on an analysis of his genome.

The maker of the flu vaccine now implicated in a rash of child sickness across Australia has ruled out a "bad batch" is involved.

Epidemic is expected to return, although only five cases have been confirmed so far.

Kiwis could get quicker access to new and expensive medicines - and the Govt's bill could go up - under a free trade deal with the US.

Buying kidneys and other organs is illegal but authorities cannot stop people going overseas on "transplant tourism" trips.

There are about 500 people waiting for a kidney transplant in NZ as some Kiwis use the internet to buy organs from third world countries.

A woman is starving herself to death in a Wellington hospital.

The swine flu virus is being blamed for a leap in the number of pregnant women dying in New Zealand and Australia.