Article • Politics
Britain and Brexit
A largely stunned nation now asks what will happen to its beloved NHS and the EU medical professionals who are here to support it.
News • Urgent threat
Why is new C. difficile strain so deadly?
A new, epidemic strain of C. difficile is proving alarmingly deadly, and new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine not only explains why but also suggests a way to stop it.
News • Investigation
NHS is impeding access to high priced drugs
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Bath, and The BMJ, show how NHS England, unable to budget for broad access to these drugs, tried to alter the outcome of the NICE process, and when it failed, defied NICE’s authority by rationing access to them.
Article • Compliance
The free ride is over!
At Europe’s most prestigious medical conferences, as many as half of the doctors attending are only there because of the generous sponsorship by pharmaceutical and medical technology companies. The practice has been going on for decades, to the point that continuing medical education (CME) in Europe is heavily dependent on the largess of these companies. In 2018 it all comes to an end when a…
News • Siemens Healthioneers
Managed Equipment Services contract from UK worth around €50 million
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (the Trust) has awarded Siemens Healthineers a cooperation contract worth around €50 million. The Trust is an integrated care organization which is responsible for the care of 530,000 local people in the midwest of UK. For a contract life-time of 10 years, Siemens will provide four hospital sites with a comprehensive suite of management services…
Medical device regulation in the EU and US needs urgent reform
Patients and clinicians need greater regulatory transparency to make informed decisions about treatment Medical devices approved first in the European Union (EU) are associated with a greater rate of safety issues, finds a study published by The BMJ.
Yuck factor may boost hand hygiene compliance
The yuck factor may be an effective tool for boosting hand hygiene compliance among health care workers, according to a study at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
News • Statement
The BMJ backs Remain in the EU referendum
Today, The BMJ has decided to come out and state that the UK should remain in the European Union. “Some readers may wonder why The BMJ is intervening in a political debate,” say the editors. “We think this issue transcends politics and has such huge ramifications for health and society that it is important to state our case.”
News • Exhibition
JIB 2016 - new collaborations, new place, new dates...
The Syndicat des Biologistes (SDB) and the Syndicat National des Biologistes des Hôpitaux (SNBH) are refounding the leading event in Medical Biology: the 60th edition of JIB and the 45th Colloque National des Biologistes will be held this year in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Hall 4.
News • Carestream
Île-de-France Region implements Image Sharing
Carestream Health has been selected to implement the Shared Regional Medical Imaging Services (S-PRIM) project in the Île-de-France, the largest region in France, with 12 million residents, making up 19% of the French population. The S-PRIM project will enable rapid implementation of a shared medical imaging infrastructure to ensure the continuity of basic services, such as migration of…
News • Epidemic
Global spread of Zika "of utmost concern"
The President of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) Prof Raad Shakir (London), said today that following the first confirmed Zika-related case of microcephaly on US territory, in Puerto Rico, and the ever-growing number of sexually-transmitted Zika infections in Europe, “it is increasingly obvious that the Zika epidemic has long assumed global proportions.” As the opening of the Olympics…
News • Warning
Obesity needs urgent action
The leading organisation responsible for research into obesity in Europe has warned that unless something is quickly done to tackle the region’s rising obesity epidemic, it is going to have a devastating effect on healthcare costs and productivity.
News • Fraud
Fighting against counterfeit medicine
Around the world, especially in developing nations, counterfeit medicines are a real problem. Until now, in many countries there hasn't been a standard protocol to conduct investigations and pursue prosecution. New research, led by Michigan State University, is providing the foundation to apply criminology theory to preventing the production and sale of fake and substandard medicines.
Article • Young Lions Health Parliament
A think-tank of young professionals in Germany
What are the future opportunities for a better healthcare in Germany? The Young Lions (YL) Health Parliament is a platform for 80 young professionals to brainstorm about the possibilities for a sustainable health care system. The platform has started the first time in the year 2012 for two years – in the year 2016 the second period ends.
News • Digitalisation
EIT Digital delivers investment to drive Europe’s digital transformation
Willem Jonker, CEO EIT Digital, today announced the results of the organisation’s €1 billion investment in digital innovation and entrepreneurship at the Driving Europe’s Digital Transformation conference in Brussels. He also announced plans for an additional investment of €1 billion over the coming years. EIT Digital will accelerate market uptake of research-based digital technologies by…
News • Migrants
Stop denying migrants their fundamental right to healthcare
European countries must stop denying migrants their fundamental right to healthcare, argues a doctor in The BMJ today. Europe is experiencing the largest mass migration of people since the Second World War, according to estimates from the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
News • Successful dying
Researchers define the elements of a “Good Death”
For most people, the culmination of a good life is a “good death,” though what that means exactly is a matter of considerable consternation. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine surveyed published, English-language, peer-reviewed reports of qualitative and quantitative studies defining a “good death,” ultimately identifying 11 core themes associated…
News • Congress
Obesity Day highlights growing obesity epidemic in Europe
The growing obesity epidemic, which is predicted to affect more than half of all European citizens by 2030, will be the focus of European Obesity Day to be held on 21 May under the theme: 'Action for a Healthier Future'.
Article • Industry
The China Watch
Every time I go into a Starbucks in China I’m amazed by the long, slow line of coffee drinkers, mostly young and low to middle wage earners.
Interview • Organ donations
Spain: 24 years on top of the world
With 4,360 transplant operations from 1,682 donations in 2014, Spain broke the country’s own record and confirmed its place as the world leader in organ donations, a position it has held for the past 24 years.
Article • Cases rise
Should we screen for sickle cell disease?
Every year around a quarter of a million children worldwide die from sickle cell disease. In Germany around 3,000 people suffer from this rare inherited blood disorder.
Article • Gaps
Migration brings opportunity
A unique pilot project to promote entry into professional life in Germany for refugees with a medical background might counteract the acute shortage of qualified employees in healthcare. The programme is scheduled to start this spring.
Article • Virus
The Zika mystery: scapegoat or villain?
From the beginning the accusation somehow beggared belief. A ‘mild’ virus was blamed for causing hideous malformations in babies’ heads. Brazil, a country suffering its worst recession since the 1930s, as well as political upheaval, became the focus of a worldwide healthcare scare.
Article • Digital health in Germany
Between revolution and slow-moving evolution
The spectrum of the Digital Health ranges from online information, to the digitisation of processes (e.g. clinical pathways in hospitals), the evaluation of big data (e.g. routine data/secondary healthcare data), medical technology, diagnostics and therapy to billing procedures of payers.
News • Toshiba
Sale of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation to Canon Inc.
A final agreement concerning the sale of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (TMSC; headquarters: Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan; President: Toshio Takiguchi) to Canon Inc. has been reached, as announced today by th parent company, Toshiba Corporation. As of today, TMSC will become independent from the Toshiba Group.
