Health professionals

[eHealth week] eHealth innovation must be driven by full inclusion

13 May, Brussels -The motto of the 2013 eHealth week (13-15 May), which kicks off today, is ‘Delivering Innovative Healthcare and Well-being’. According to the European Commission, eHealth Week aims to encourage continuous investment in health IT in an effort to improve patient care and get a handle on rising medical costs. An integral part of this year’s eHealth Week is the High Level eHealth Conference, organised by the Irish Presidency and the European Commission. (...)

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Also about: Social Issues , Patient safety , eHealth , technology , patient rights , Fundamental Rights

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) publishes list of drugs under additional monitoring

As one of the deliverables of the pharmacovigilance legislation, that came into effect in July 2012, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) released an initial list of drugs subject to additional monitoring on 25 April 2013. Please click here to read the full EMA Press Release, which contains additional information. How to identify them? Medicines subject to additional monitoring will have to display an inverted back triangle in their package leaflet and in the information for healthcare (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Patient safety , Information to Patients , health literacy , public health , patient rights , pharmacovigilance , EMA

Public consultation on Declaration of Helsinki on medical research involving human subjects

A two-month public consultation (15 April to 15 June 2013) on the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki on medical research involving human subjects has been launched by the World Medical Association. A revised version of the Declaration is available on the WMA website. This consultation is of particular interest in the context of the ongoing revision of the Clinical Trials legislation. Please click here for detailed information on the consultation process The (...)

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Also about: Research , Health Inequalities , medical devices , vulnerable groups , clinical trials , women health

Clinical trials: Exploring the limits of transparency

Glenis Willmott MEP (S&D, UK) took the initiative to bring together experts to discuss the extent to which more transparency could be workable in non-commercial clinical trials. The debate, which took place in the European Parliament on 10 April, served to present the key arguments for and against increased transparency in the context of administrative and data reporting requirements for academic researchers and patient safety. EPHA’s Position on Clinical Trials urges political (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Research , Healthcare services , Transparency , Health Inequalities , public health , patient rights , pharmacovigilance , health system , clinical trials

[Save the Date] Third Flu Summit of the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESI)

The third annual Flu Summit organised by EPHA member the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza will take place on 2 May 2013 in Brussels. It will be an opportunity to learn about and discuss with experts issues such as pandemic preparedness, new influenza target groups, and vaccination strategies. This year’s edition focuses on new developments and challenges in the influenza field, with special attention for discussions on safety and effectiveness of influenza vaccines. (...)

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Also about: Access to Medicines , Communicable Diseases , Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Patient safety , H1N1 influenza , health literacy , public health , health threats , health system , ESWI European Scientific Working Group on Influenza

European Medicines Agency Workshop on Medication Errors

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) organised a workshop on Medication Errors on 28 February – 1 March, a timely event given that such incidents are much more frequent across Europe than is commonly known. They are the most common preventable cause of adverse events in medication practice. The workshop was opened by EMA Director Guido Rasi who stated that, although the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions to the EMA-administered EudraVigilance database forms an integral part (...)

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Also about: Access to Medicines , Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Healthcare services , public health , patient rights , pharmacovigilance , health system

Medical Devices at EU Socialists & Democrats Workshop: an evolving debate

On 19 March 2013 a workshop on medical devices took place in the European Parliament to continue discussions over the legislative proposal presented by the European Commission in September 2012. The workshop was organised by the S&D Group (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament) and was chaired by the Rapporteur for the Medical Devices report, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt MEP (Germany, S&D). The discussion over the two proposals on Medical (...)

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Also about: Research , Patient safety , technology , medical devices , patient rights , Innovation

[Update] European Parliament’s Industry and Employment Committees vote on the General Data Protection Regulation

The European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee voted on 20 February to adopt an opinion on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation. The Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee also voted the following day to adopt their own opinion. A total of four committees have now submitted opinions to the Rapporteur, including the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Legal Affairs committees. The ITRE Committee opinion, drafted by MEP Sean (...)

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Also about: Research , European Parliament , employment , data protection

[Lunch debate] The Battle against Tobacco, Cancer and Heart Disease, Feb. 19, European Parliament (Brussels)

The battle against tobacco, cancer and heart disease - Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 12:00-15:00. Jointly organised by the European Parliament MEP Heart Group and MAC (MEP Against Cancer). [Press Statement] In the fight against Tobacco, Cancer & Heart Disease, the new Tobacco Directive is a battle that cannot be lost. Programme - The Battle against tobacco, cancer and heart disease. February 19th – EP (Brussels) Report - The Battle against tobacco, cancer and heart disease The (...)

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Also about: tobacco and smoking , Social Issues , Non-communicable diseases , Chronic Diseases , Cancer , second-hand smoke , prevention , Addictive and harmful substances and behaviours

Fact or fiction? The Co-production of health and the digital user

In December, the 2012 EHTEL symposium explored, amongst other things, user perspectives in the domain of digital health. It was an opportunity to learn about new developments in eHealth and how they can help address health inequalities and improve access, particularly regarding less literate and disadvantaged population groups for whom the digital divide is still a reality. Following an introduction of the conference theme - ’’The Future of eHealth is already here’’ (...)

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Also about: Healthcare services , eHealth , health literacy , technology , patient rights , vulnerable groups , Innovation , cross-border , health system , health economics