Czechs lost another drug case
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) concluded that Czech legislation still doesn't comprise harmonized legislation related to technical aspects of handling the blood and its derivatives.
Laws & regulations
Austria
EH correspondent H-C Pruszinsky reports
Bids begin to increase telecare
At Telecare 2007 exhibition held in Birmingham, UK, this September, Moira Mackenzie, the Scottish Executive's Telecare Programme Manager spoke of aim of the country's new government (minority Scottish Nationalist party, elected in May 2007) is keen to reform healthcare which it will change through administrative reform.
Cardiology roundup
The new £2 million remote access stereotaxis catheter laboratory at London's Heart Hospital, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), is the first of its kind in the UK and one of only 40 worldwide.
MRI and magnetic fields
The European Commission (EC) has postponed the EU Directive that would have affected the use of MRI until 30 April 2012, to allow time for a substantive amendment to be adopted.
Hippocrates meets Medusa's head
By Dr J Larsen MD FRCR, Consultant Radiologist at Braunschweig Hospital, Germany
The European Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC)
The ERSPC is the world's biggest study of screening of prostate cancer. It involves up to 260,000 men, 220,000 of them in the age group 55-75 years old. Professor Chris Bangma, Director of the ERSPC and Chairman of the urology department at the Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam (headquarters of the ERSPC) explains the study's background and aims
Revised international accreditation standards for hospitals
The Joint Commission International (JCI) has produced a revised set of international accreditation standards for hospitals. Initiated in 1997, the JCI developed out of a need seen by the international community to have standards of care to assure quality and safety for patients. "When these standards were first devised, organisations around the world were trying to apply the US domestic standards…
UK update
Juggling the NHS accounts?
The most useful EU-supported venture
The Eastern Lithuania Cardiology Project (ELCP) - an integral inter-institutional regional project sponsored by the Lithuanian Government and the European Structural Funds, which began in 2004 - will end this year. In May, those who voted on the Lithuanian EU Support official website (a specially organised event, focusing on all EU-supported projects in all fields) nominated this project as the…
FRANCE: Thousands will lose healthcare cover
"If you think 53 makes you old enough to retire, then fine, go ahead and retire. But don't expect the state to pay for it." President Nicolas Sarkozy, during his election campaign
Central Patient Admissions - the new Task and Challenge for Ultrasound
In Germany, a comprehensive reimbursement system designed around Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) was introduced following the Health Reform Act of 2000. The previous method of payment, wherein the number of treatment days was multiplied by the amount allowed per treatment day, was discarded. The new DRG-based payment system requires the optimization of patient treatment, from admission to…
Healthcare says farewell Prime Minister Tony Blair
]UK — Leading up to his June departure as Prime Minister, Tony Blair highlighted his government's achievements in the National Health Service (NHS), particularly in the way technology has improved and is set to improve patient care.
Czech president signs new laws
Under a new law amendment, signed last month by Czech president Vaclav Klaus, patient will be able to see and copy their own medical records without restrictions.
Cops hunt "cash for ops" surgeons
France - The country's health ministry is facing growing calls for a full public inquiry after allegations that surgeons have been demanding huge cash payments from patients keen to jump hospital waiting lists, and for charging exorbitant fees for "private" operations.
Knowing the right procedure
DGCH promotes studies for evidence-based medicine (EbM) in surgery to establish guidelines.
EU directive threatens use of MRI
A new, powerful alliance, comprised of leading politicians and healthcare groups (see box), aims to pressure EU Authorities to revise the controversial directive 2004/40/EC (EMF)*.
ICT improves patient safety
Improving patient safety and quality of care is of key importance for European citizens, and both the European Commission and Member States (MS) expect great benefits from new, information and communication technology (ICT)-based healthcare solutions.
Dutch hold "mini" conference on tissue vigilance
To help improve transfusion safety, in accordance with EU Directive 2002/98/EC, the Dutch National Haemovigilance Office, TRIP, receives and analyses reports of transfusion reactions and promotes haemovigilance.
Clinical Research: Eastern Europe will soon catch up with Germany
Asklepios proresearch, a clinical research organization located in Hamburg, Germany recently presented its annual report about clinical research activities in Europe. Their result: The number of participations of clinical studies in Germany, one of the leading countries in research projects, slightly increased in 2006, with a positive trend for 2007. But countries like Poland and Russia are…
Toxic chemicals in medical devices must be labelled
Due to a revised EU law, manufactures of medical devices are forced to label certain chemical ingredients in their products. This decision will enable hospitals to protect their patients against harm caused by toxic devices - if they are interested in. Because alternative products of course are connected with higher costs.
New Labour Code causes confusion and anger
The amended version of the new Czech Labour Code stipulates that emergency working hours and overtime in hospitals and social care institutes be altered so that employees are paid no less than they receive for regular working hours.
The first pan-European VHD, CVD and diabetes guidelines
The first, pan-European guidelines to be published on the treatment of valvular heart disease (VHD), diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have made a series of new recommendations that experts hope will contribute to improving the outcome for patients.
National smoking ban begins
From 1 February, France has implemented the first wave of a national smoking ban, with all health and administrative buildings, educational establishments and public transport becoming smoke-free areas. Smoking is also banned in all other workplaces, except in specially designated smoking rooms, which non-smokers would not have to enter for any reason.