Government & Policy

MedTech Europe welcomes launch of European Health Data Space   The European Commission this week launched the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which will allow citizens to access their health data in any EU member state. MedTech Europe CEO Serge Bernasconi, said: “To be successful, the proposed EHDS legislation needs to address the barriers to data sharing, advance investment in infrastructure, and foster the adoption of international interoperability standards. But first and foremost, it needs to lay the foundation for the building of trust in health data sharing amongst EU citizens.” The proposal put forward by the European Commission will now be discussed by the Council and the European Parliament.   NHSE tech director Harjeet Dhalival to join Palantir Former NHS England deputy director of data services Harjeet Dhalival is reported to be joining US software firm Palantir. The news comes shortly after it was revealed that NHS’s former head of artificial intelligence (AI) Indra Joshi was joining the company, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Palantir is competing for the £240 million NHS federated data platform (FDP) contract. A Palantir spokesperson, said: “Palantir hires the best and brightest people from public and private sector organisations around the world. We are delighted that Harjeet is joining Palantir’s UK team, which we are aiming to grow by 250 this year.”   Study finds AI algorithm detects interval breast cancers A study, published in the European Journal of Radiology, found that AI can correctly detect interval breast cancers in prior screening mammograms, including in some cases with no discernible suspicious signs. The AI, developed by Berlin-based deep tech firm Vara, assessed 2,396 screening mammograms from women at the Mammography Reference Centre North in Germany, who were later diagnosed with an interval cancer. In the cohort, 374 of the interval cancers were considered ‘false negative’ and 468 ‘minimal signs’. When the algorithm was set at an operating level of 99% specificity, it could detect and localise 27,5% (103) of the ‘false negative’ and 12,2% (57) of ‘minimal sign’ cancers.   Diaverum launches holiday dialysis booking platform Renal care service provider Diaverum has launched a booking engine for holiday dialysis.   The d.HOLIDAY booking platform allows users to apply search filters, select payment options in advance and have real-time visibility of treatment availability across Diaverum’s global network of clinics. Michaela Blomstrand, director of patient experience and community affairs, Diaverum, said “Travel has already for some time evolved into a digital-led industry, and will continue to lean on digital innovation as it seeks to find agile ways of recouping its losses from the pandemic. Our strategy for d.HOLIDAY and our booking platform has been developed in line with this prediction”.

The Connected Health Initiative stressed the importance of seamless information exchange throughout the care continuum in a letter to National Coordinator Micky Tripathi.

The framework, which leaders hope will start working in 2025, will potentially harness the health data of nearly 450 million people, facilitating cross-border care and opening opportunities for research.

DHA Director Lt. General Ronald Place talks about the agency's strategies for supporting the health of the military.

The agency's third go-live came on the heels of two separate incidents on Monday and Tuesday in which federal Cerner clients faced hours of downtime.

Micky Tripathi, national coordinator for health information technology, discusses info blocking rules, FHIR APIs and what's to come in the next year.

Researchers from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT found substantial differences between solo and large-practice physicians when it came to data exchange capabilities.

The White House announced Tuesday that it was calling on electronic health record vendors to incorporate information about antivirals directly into their interfaces.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said the patient's prescription had not been renewed as it should have been, although the medication could still be viewed in a different area of the system.