United Way of the Lower Mainland will receive an additional $5 million to enhance Better at Home.

Obese and overweight children and their families in British Columbia are being offered more support with the launch of a new provincial initiative that encourages healthy and active lifestyles.

The Informed Dining program continues to expand with 22 national restaurant chains representing more than 1,800 restaurant outlets signing up.

British Columbians will soon notice they are paying less for many of the generic prescription drugs they need for their health. Starting April 1, a new drug pricing regulation will reduce the price of generic drugs to 25 per cent of the brand name price, from the current rate of 35 per cent of the brand name price. The price will further drop to 20 per cent in April 2014.

Health minister Margaret MacDiarmid announced $1.9 million in funding to support two projects that will help raise awareness about the transmission, treatment and prevention of viral hepatitis among B.C.'s Asian and South Asian population as well as throughout the province.

With the selection of 11 new service providers for the Better at Home program, more B.C. seniors will benefit from assistance with non-medical services such as grocery shopping and snow removal to support them in living independently in their own homes.