Microsoft helps clamp down on fake meds
A Europe-wide system for clamping down on counterfeit medicines moved a step closer this week with the selection of Microsoft Windows Azure cloud platform and Solidsoft to develop a new system for checking pharmaceutical authenticity.
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Pharma to report spend on docs
Pharmaceutical companies are starting to monitor and report the money they spend on promoting their products to healthcare professionals in the UK and Europe.
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Microsoft moves into genetic-data
Microsoft Corporation has made a move into genetic data management, following its acquisition of Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co. The Rosetta technology will be used to add genetic and genomic data management abilities to Microsoft’s recently announced Amalga Life Sciences effort. The agreement calls for Microsoft and Merck to […]
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MHRA launches drug info debate
The UK’s medicines regulatory body has launched a consultation on the European Commission’s plans to change the rules on the information that drug companies can provide to patients. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is seeking views from the public on the UK government’s response to the proposals and says it will also […]
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UK rejects EU-wide IT
The UK government has rejected the idea of developing interoperable IT systems across the EU and of delivering an EU-wide electronic prescription system. In its response to the European Commission’s proposals for a directive on patient rights in cross-border healthcare, the Department of Health said the costs of developing and implementing the NHS IT Programme […]
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Doctors call for Google to change ad policies
Doctors are calling on internet search engine Google to change its advertising policies to prevent links to unproven remedies appearing when patients search for medical information.
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EU sets e-health map for 2009
Ilias Iakovidis and Michael Palmer tell E-Health Europe’s Outi Alapekkala how e-health will develop in 2009 and far beyond.
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European drugs to carry barcodes
Medicines sold across Europe will have to carry barcodes and other improved security mechanisms, under proposals unveiled by the European Commission to crack down on counterfeit drugs. The Commission says it aims to use technology to enable “total traceability" of all medicines bought in pharmacies or online. Even with the new measures, some repackaging will […]
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Multi-national effort targets illegal online drugs
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has led an operation in conjunction with Interpol and medicines regulatory bodies to tackle illegal internet medicines. The multi-national collaboration, called operation Pangea, has been working target the illegal sale and supply of medicines sold over the Internet. Operation Pangea has been co-ordinated by the Permanent […]
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European Commission consults on Web 3.0
The European Commission has launched a consultation on how to make sure Europe leads on the next generation of the internet. In its new consultation document the Commission outlined the main steps required to respond to the next wave of the information revolution, resulting from trends such as social networking, the decisive shift to online […]
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