What happened at eHealth Week 2015 in Riga?

A total of 1334 eHealth experts and 81 exhibitors from across Europe gathered in Riga to exchange knowledge and share best practices as part of the annual eHealth Week conference and exhibition. The presentation slides, photo's and Commissioner Andriukaitis' speech are now available.

The event kicked off with a VIP Exhibition Tour and a Press Conference, led by three representatives: Dr. Guntis Belēvičs, Minister for Health of Latvia, Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis and H. Stephen Lieber, CEO of HIMSS. Afterwards they opened the conference together with keynote speaker Toomas H.Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia.

In his speech, Commissioner Andriukaitis highlighted the timely release of the Digital Single Market: "We must seize the Digital Single Market opportunities to fulfill a vision for healthcare in the 21st century – a vision of a single, universally accessible, sustainable and high quality, eHealth single market for the benefit of all European citizens and healthcare professionals".

He also highlighted the importance of eHealth Week: "By coming together at events such as this and by sharing experiences in the Member States and at EU level, we will drive forward the case for eHealth".

eHealth frontrunner

According to President Ilves, Estonia has been a frontrunner in eHealth: Nearly all prescriptions are issued electronically, and two-thirds of hospitals use eHealth technologies in some way.

Politico magazine wrote that Ilves touted Estonia as a model of how IT in preventive and treatment services can "improve both the welfare of patients and the healthcare system in general." But more widely across Europe, "healthcare is lagging ten years behind when compared to other industries," he said.

Increasing dynamism of EU economy

Head of Unit for eHealth & Wellbeing Pēteris Zilgalvis (European Commission), who was also in Riga, said: "Digital solutions can increase the dynamism of the European economy and deliver benefits to EU citizens." For him, the conference offered the chance to explore how mobile health and eHealth can help EU citizens manage their own health by empowering them, as well "ensuring the sustainability of our health care systems."

During the event, the Nordic countries revealed interesting findings and next steps for them in terms of eHealth. Finland, for instance, announced they will be switching off paper-based prescriptions by 2017, as they “have reached nearly 100% coverage with electronic prescriptions now”, according to Maritta Korhonen, Head of Development in the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Real impact

Paul Timmers, Director for Digital Society, Trust and Security (DG CONNECT, European Commission), who spoke during the closing plenary said he was rooting for a European eHealth Community which can turn actions into tangible results with real impact for patients. He said: "I am glad to see that the eHealth community is committed to deliver results with real influence in terms of healthier citizens, more efficient and better healthcare services and economic growth and jobs. By joining up forces and learning from each other we can deliver a social and economic return on digital investment in health and social care".

2016: Amsterdam

eHealth Week 2015 concluded with an invitation to join next year’s edition in Amsterdam, during the week of 6 June, in The Netherlands, the country which at that time will be holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

More information:

• Presentations
• EU-funded project press release: "FICHe showcases 40 startups during eHealthWeek in Riga"
• Storify: a collection of #eHW15 tweets
• Photo's of eHealth Week 2015
• Video President Ilves: Recommendations for eHealth

Source

Digital-agenda for Europe

Cannabidiol Given Orphan Drug Designation for NHIE by the FDA

The drug Cannabidiol was recently granted orphan drug designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of children with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE).¹
 
Neonatal deprivation of oxygen during the birth process can lead to the acute or sub-acute brain injury known as NHIE.¹ In the US, the incidence of NHIE is 1.5 to 2.8 per 1,000 births.¹   Inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and cell death all play a role in the disease pathology.² Affected infants may show loss muscle tone, seizures, poor feeding, and a depressed level of consciousness.²  Around 35% of these infants to die in early life, and 30% may suffer from permanent disability.¹  Currently, there are no effective FDA-approved medications to treat the condition.¹
 
Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. It is one of a group of compounds, the cannabinoids, which mediate their effects through the cannabinoid receptors. ³ Several studies have highlighted the potential of cannabinoids as neuroprotective treatments in ischemic brain damage, perhaps partly because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.⁴
 
Since 2008, GW has been researching the neuroprotective effects of Cannabidiol in animal models of NHIE. This work has shown that Cannabidiol reduces neurologic disability in several models of newborn animal brain hypoxia. GW expects to submit an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) in mid-2015 for their intravenous formulation of CBD. The company expects to begin a Phase 1 trial in the second half of this year.¹

"This orphan drug designation for Cannabidiol for the treatment of newborn children with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy follows several years of pre-clinical evaluation," GW’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Gover, stated in a press release.¹ Potentially, Cannabidiol might be approved for orphan drug status for other uncommon medical conditions, especially those with an inflammatory component.³ Mr. Grover also noted, “GW continues to explore the opportunity for the development of cannabinoids in rare pediatric conditions characterized by significant unmet need.”¹

References

1. GW Pharmaceuticals receives orphan drug designation from FDA for Cannabidiol for the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy [press release]. http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/04/24/728108/10130593/en/GW-Pharmaceuticals-Receives-Orphan-Drug-Designation-From-FDA-for-Cannabidiol-for-the-Treatment-of-Neonatal-Hypoxic-Ischemic-Encephalopathy.html. Published April 24, 2015. Accessed May 3, 2015.
2. Fatemi A, Wilson MA, Johnston MV. Hypoxic ischemia encephalopathy in the term infant. Clin Perinatol. 2009;36(4):834-838. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849741/. Accessed May 3, 2015.
3. Nagarkatti P, Pandey R, Rieder SA, Hegde V, Nagarkatti M. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future Med Chem. 2009;1(7):1333-1349. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/. Accessed May 3, 2015.
4. Alvarez FJ, Lafuente H, Rey-Santano MC, et al. Neuroprotective effects of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol in hypoxic-ischemic newborn piglets. Pediatr Res. 2008;64:653-658. http://www.nature.com/pr/journal/v64/n6/full/pr2008260a.html. Accessed May 3, 2015.

Source

http://www.raredr.com/articles/Cannabidiol-Orphan-Drug-Designation-NHIE 

The Government of Ireland has approved a new Bill to provide a Universal GP service

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Primary & Social Care Kathleen Lynch have received Cabinet approval for the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015, and agreement that the Bill should be published and introduced to the Oireachtas.

“This phase in the introduction of a universal GP service for the whole population will see free GP services extended to all persons over the age of 70, regardless of income or means. In tandem with separate plans for the under-sixes, this will ensure that the youngest and the oldest have access to GP care without fees. This is a significant step on the way towards universal health care,” Minister Varadkar said.

Minister Lynch welcomed the Government decision saying:

“The first two phases covering the over-70s and the under-sixes will ensure that our oldest citizens and the parents of our youngest can go to their GP, focusing on their health and not how much the visit will cost.”

Subject to the legislation being passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, the objective is to have a universal GP service for over 70s in Quarter 2 of this year. This is proposed to coincide with the introduction of the under six service.

The Government’s Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 reiterated the commitment to the introduction of a universal GP service for the entire population, in line with the Programme for Government.

The Government has prioritised the under sixes and over 70s in the first two phases of the roll-out of universal GP care. The second phase of introducing a universal GP service will cover all persons aged 70 years and over. It is estimated that about 36,000 over 70s currently pay to attend a GP as they are not covered by a medical card or a GP visit card. The cost to the Exchequer of the proposed legislation for a universal over 70s GP service is estimated at €18 million in a full year.

This service will be provided under the existing GMS GP contract. Negotiations on a contract to facilitate the extension of free GP care to all children under the age of six are at an advanced stage between the Department of Health, HSE and the IMO. Contracts will not be issued pending the conclusion of negotiations.

Source

http://health.gov.ie/blog/press-release/universal-gp-service-for-everyone-over-the-age-of-70/

Annual IHE-Europe Connectathon, Luxembourg 20-24 April 2015

The 2015 IHE-Europe Connectathon, organised in cooperation with IHE-Luxembourg and will take place in Luxembourg on 20-24 April 2015.

The IHE-Europe Connectathon provides a unique opportunity for vendors to test the interoperability of their  products in a structured environment with peer vendors. Participants test against multiple vendors using real world clinical  scenarios following IHE Integration Profiles specifications.

The annual IHE Connectathon affords all companies, large and small, the opportunity to test their own products, across a variety of domains includingRadiology, Cardiology, Pathology, Patient Care Devices, Patient Care Coordination, Pharmacy, Laboratory, and IT Infrastructure, along with those of their peer vendors.

Introducing testing of the new Dental domain with integration profile Secure Exchange of Dental Information (SEDI)

The last two years have seen national, regional and hospital tender procedures demand current independent demonstrations of IHE profile implementation competence by vendors and an increasing number of buyers are turning to the IHE Product Registry and Connectathon results pages which list Connectathon results, as part of their decision making process.

IHE-Europe published a Whitepaper on Connectathon, which explains in detail what the Connectathon is and how it is done.

The 15th Connectathon organized concurrently with the Congress Med@Tel which will make announcements on "Pharmacy and m / eHealth". Here, for your reference, the titles, authors and abstracts:

Pharmacy and m / eHealth
Chair: Jamie Wilkinson, Director of Professional Affairs, Pharmaceutical Group of The European Union

Presented in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union


m / eHealth in Europe - The Pharmacy Perspective
Jamie Wilkinson
Director of Professional Affairs, Pharmaceutical Group of The European Union (PGEU), Belgium [Abstract]


mHealth Tools Supporting Pharmacists' Key Roles: Selected Examples on From Around The Globe
Zuzana Kusynova
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), The Netherlands [Abstract]



A Pharmacy-Led Medication Adherence Monitoring Program in Italy: A Pilot Study With Interactive Monitoring Service
Fulvio Bruno, Mauro Centola, Erika Nerini
FBCommunication, Italy [Abstract]



Netcare: Videoconsultation in Swiss Pharmacies: An Example Where IT Facilitated Collaborative Practice
Dominique Jordan
pharmaSuisse, Switzerland [Abstract]



ePrescription and EHR: A SYNERGIC Strategy to Provide A Wide Range of Services for The Citizens
Federica Sandri, Francesca Vanzo, Sara Valongo, Claudio Saccavini, Claudio Dario
Arsenal.IT, Italy [Abstract]



European Pharmaceutical Students' Association Perspective on mHealth
Lucas Besson
European Pharmaceutical Students' Association, Belgium [Abstract]

Digitalcare Farma: A New Approach to The Pharmaceutical Care
Roberto Tobia
Federfarma, Italy [Abstract]



An IT-Solution for Public Display of Stock Levels in Swedish Pharmacies
Robert Svanstrom
Swedish Pharmacy Association [Abstract]



Smart Technologies in Disease Management- What do Patients Think;
Reem Kayyali, Bassel Odeh, Nada Philip, Shereen Nabhnai-Gebara
Kingston University, UK [Abstract]



A Brief Report about The Application of telepharmacy in Pharmaceutical Care
Marlise Araujo dos Santos
School of Pharmacy, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil [Abstract]



IT Solution for Pharmaceutical Interviews in French Pharmacies
Kevin Dolgin
Observia, France


Integrating Hospital Pharmacy and Community Pharmacy - Facing The Challenge With IHE Interoperability Profiles
Leonidas Tzimis
EAHP (European Association of Hospital Pharmacists), Greece
IHE Pharmacy Co.-Chair for Users [Abstract]

The entire program can be viewed HERE .

Resources

http://connectathon.ihe-europe.net/ 

http://www.medetel.eu/index.php?rub=educational_program&page=program#Mon

A new robot joins Pharmacy team at Airedale Hospital, UK

An important member has been welcomed to the pharmacy team at Airedale Hospital to help speed up their dispensing service – an automated dispensing robot.

The new addition to the team allows pharmacy staff to spend more time on wards working directly with nurses and doctors, and helping patients to understand their medicines.

This will help reduce wastage, for example, by giving pharmacy staff more time to check medicines that patients bring in and to review patients’ medical histories. It will also reduce the chance of dispensing errors and speed up the delivery of medicines.

The current turnaround time for pharmacy dispensing a discharge prescription is two hours from receipt of prescription. It is estimated the robot will half that time and help patients get home sooner.

Nick Chilton, clinical director of pharmacy and medicine management at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The project has been in the Trust’s capital plan for some years and the pharmacy team are very excited. It has become a reality with the help from the Department Of Health’s Safer Wards – Safer Hospital Fund and the Trust’s digital care programme.

“Not only will the robot improve safety and improve patient experience, it will also reduce stock holding of medicines within pharmacy. The automation is an integral part of redesigning the pharmacy department and a key development in supporting the tranformation of pharmacy services. Altogether, it’s a great return on investment.”

Deborah Walker, lead pharmacy technician for medicines distribution at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The robot has been a joy to work with. We no longer have to make trips to our storeroom. It takes away a lot of the manual parts of our job and allows us to spend more time with patients.”

Around 80 percent of medicines kept in pharmacy are now held by the robot which is linked to the department’s computer system. When an order is placed, the required machines are picked by a robotic arm and delivered to the dispensary work station by conveyor belt.

The robot installation cost £410,000 which included a redesign or the floor space and process flows. The giant piece of equipment (10m x 3m) comes with two robotic picking arms, a refrigerated section, and an additional set of cabinets for storage and management of controlled drugs.

Sources


Airdale Hospital

Cravel Herald

EAHP’s Hamburg Conference puts patient safety at the heart of the hospital pharmacist’s agenda

Bringing an action-packed 20th Congress of the EAHP to a conclusion, EAHP President Dr Roberto Frontini reminded the 3,500 attendees of the critical mission of the hospital pharmacy profession: putting patient safety first.

The entire Congress took this theme as its guiding subject with keynotes, seminars, and Synergy events including:

• Developing a safety culture: how to progress effectively; 
• Safety in high reliability industries – what health professionals can learn; 
• Barcoding the single dose of drugs to improve patient safety; 
• Improving patient safety through multidisciplinary teamwork; 
• Evidence and pharmacovigilance of monoclonal antibody reference and biosimilar products; 
• Targeted drugs, scattered goals, an examination of new approaches to cancer therapy 

In addition, the Congress provided an opportunity recognise to achievements with the following prizes awarded:

• 1st prize poster abstract: Natalia Navas Iglesias, Long-term stability of diluted solutions of the monoclonal antibody Infliximab 
• 2nd prize poster abstract: Rianne Zaal, Evaluation of a systematic tool to reduce inappropriate prescribing (STRIP) in adults with intellectual disability: a pilot 
• 3rd prize poster abstract: Carlota Salazar, Parenteral Nutrition (PN) in premature infants: risk analysis after redesigning a production process 
• 1st prize Good Practice Initiative: Patricia Ging, Innovating and collaborating – synergy between the hospital pharmacy and the University 
• EAHP-EPSA Student Science Award: Claudine Aziz, Compliance with the health information and quality authority of Ireland national standard for patient discharge summary information 

EAHP Director of Education, Science and Research Prof. Dr. Kees Neef closed the Congress by describing the programme for the 2016 Congress in Vienna with the guiding message: “Hospital Pharmacists taking the lead: partnerships and technologies".

EAHP Chief Operating Officer Jennie De Greef commented: “I want to express thanks to all those who make the continuing growth and impact of the EAHP Congress possible, including the Board of Directors, Scientific Committee and our industry partners Bayer HealthCare and Roche (Platinum partners), Amgen and Novartis Oncology (Gold partners) and Pfizer and Baxter (Corporate partners). We already have lots of new ideas and initiatives lined up for our 2016 Congress and look forward to sharing these in the coming months. Registrations and abstract submissions open on the 1st August 2015.”


Source

EAHP