French bio-terrorism network of labs
Born in the USA out of the anthrax scare that followed the 9/11 attacks, the formation of a network of laboratories kept on 24/7 alert against potential bio-terrorism was introduced in France at the end of 2001.
laws & regulations
7.5% reduced funding for medical analysis laboratories
Despite on-going negotiations with the Government, the Union for Medical Biologists has received a nasty surprise that threatens up to 8,000 jobs in the sector.
EU regulation progresses on clinical trials
Along with others, Germany has unanimously welcomed the revision of the EU directive on clinical trials. The change from mere guideline into a regulation valid in all member states, specifically aimed at making it easier to carry out multinational studies, is particularly welcomed, Bettina Döbereiner reports
Decubitus ulcers
After acknowledging that too many patients were developing hospital-acquired decubitus ulcers (also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores), staff at England’s Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust adopted a zero tolerance approach and prioritised action against bedsore development, which has resulted in a dramatic decrease in cases.
Mandatory tumour boards
The government of France takes cancer very seriously. With 150,000 deaths each year, this is the leading cause of mortality in the country. The national health system pays for 100% of the care.
New UK diagnostic imaging guidelines
United Kingdom – The Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Radiologists and the Society and College of Radiographers have worked together on recommendations that outline improvements for patients by ensuring that timely and appropriate medical imaging services are provided to them and their referring doctors.
HES: class of drugs threatened with withdrawal of approval
Infusion solutions on the basis of HES (hydroxyethyl starch) are blood volume substitutes. They replace missing blood volume in patients with high blood loss, they stabilize the blood circulation and restore oxygen and nutrient supply to organs.
Rushed deal leaves patients and jobs in second place
Eucomed, the European medical technology industry association, expresses disappointment and strong concern at the outcome of a vote in the European Parliament’s Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).
A burden of € 17.5 billion for unnecessary measures
The results of a survey amongst medical device companies in Europe about the financial impact of the upcoming changes in the European medical device regulation show a significant increase in costs for bringing new devices to patients.
Focus: Healthcare Mobility
The dark side of healthcare mobility
Professional mobility has always been high on the EU agenda. But what are the impacts on the medical sector, if physicians and nurses leave their countries en masse? Daniela Zimmermann asked Günter Danner, Associate Director of the European Representation of the German Social Insurance in Brussels
Healthcare Mobility
Spanish doctors and nurses emigrate for work
From January 2008 till the end of 2012 around 400,000 Spaniards decided to emigrate to find work, Eduardo de la Sota reports
Focus: Healthcare Mobility
France: Immigrant medics steadily increase
The number of medical practitioners in France is 216,000, among which 17,835 were trained elsewhere, representing almost 10% of the total, according to the Centre National de l’Ordre des Médecins (CNOM), which registers doctors in practice.
CoreValve banned, Edwards assures valve implants for German patients
An injunction against the sale of Medtronic's CoreValve and CoreValve Evolut systems in Germany went into effect as Edwards Lifesciences posted the bond required the District Court of Mannheim.
Germany: Promised Land for Spanish medics?
While German medics leave the country in search of better conditions, foreigners fill the gaps. Spain, with its troubled economy, provides a major source.
Hygiene: Fighting infections
The motive was clear. Lowering Germany’s comparatively high nosocomial infection rate – the reason for an amendment to the Hygiene Act passed in 2011 – called for improved hygiene management within the hospitals.
Continued access to MRI for patients in Europe
The Alliance for MRI welcomes the European Parliament's approval of a derogation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in its draft report on the revised Directive on Protecting Workers from Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields.
One third of German hospitals are in the red
Government grants €1.1 billion to help finance rising personnel costs and increase nurses specialists in infection prevention and control
UK labs face changes and challenges from new healthcare legislation
Aspects of new healthcare legislation are causing concern among medical laboratory experts in the United Kingdom – including the lack of future funding for innovation and development under a new reimbursement model, little appetite to quantify the cost effectiveness of laboratory testing, reduced staffing and a shift in emphasis that will see the need to make profit over-ride initiative and…
Rogue Dutch doctor prompts calls for EU early warning system
There are too many loopholes that allow bad or fraudulent physicians to beat the system.
MITA and COCIR applaud Obama for negotiations on partnership with EU
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) and the European Coordination Committee of the Radiological, Electromedical and Healthcare IT Industry (COCIR) applauded President Barack Obama for initiating discussions around a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union.
Essential role of personal data in healthcare
The Healthcare Coalition on Data Protection published a joint statement highlighting the role of personal data in delivering high quality,
BVMed asks for immediate action
The German Medical Technology Association BVMed is asking the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament to take immediate action in bringing forward appropriate measures to improve the designation and surveillance of notified bodies and market surveillance of medical devices.
Personalised medicine
Individually customised drug therapies have been used for the last two years, particularly for cancer patients
Measles and whooping cough cases are on the rise
When country doctor Edward Jenner inoculated 8-year-old James Phipps with pus from a cowpox lesion on a milkmaid’s hand, little did he know that he had started a long lasting revolution in preventive medicine.
RAPS and Eucomed provide common online training
The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS), the largest global organization for regulatory professionals in the healthcare product sector, and Eucomed, the European medical technology industry association, have joined together to provide high-quality online regulatory training to professionals throughout Europe.