Every year hundreds of thousands of people die because of infections that have become resistant to treatment. A new data-mining, clinical monitoring and decision-support system, developed by EU-funded researchers, offers a powerful new weapon in the war on resistance to antibiotics. According to the World Health Organisation, around 440,000 new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis emerge annually, causing at least 150,000 deaths. The DebugIT project developed a system to monitor antimicrobial resistance using data from different hospitals, identify trends showing which types of bacteria are becoming resistant to certain types of antibiotics, and then use that knowledge to implement courses of treatment with more effective drugs.

For some time, we have been working to bring together everyone who needs to get involved – from doctors to medical device makers, from investors to ICT experts – to promote our vision of an innovation friendly, sustainable, affordable and high quality healthcare for all Europeans. At the end of February, we asked people to commit – in writing – to concrete actions and deliver tangible results through partnerships. The response to this invitation has been impressive. We received close to 300 hard “commitments to action”, and 60 locations willing to serve as ‘Reference Sites’ (regions, municipalities, health jurisdictions, etc.) for implementing the EIP actions.

Don’t you think that the economic and technological potential of standards remains highly unexpressed? Don’t you think that ICT standards might get depressed soon? Don’t you think that the problem with an open and voluntary definition of interoperability lies upon the challenging communication of what standards are and why they are so important, with respect to the social challenges that the EU is facing today (here we specifically refer to standards in the fields of eHealth, eGovernment, Smart Cities, and IT Security)? ICT standards might be able to solve many of the major problems of the Universe, except communicating such an extraordinary ability.

More than 600 members are currently taking part in the online discussion platform which Neelie Kroes launched on 19 April in preparation for the Digital Agenda Assembly (Brussels, 21-22 June) and the forthcoming review of the Digital Agenda for Europe. The members making the most interesting contributions in each group will be invited to attend the Assembly. Highlights include, a discussion group on Ecommerce , featuring a discussion on mobile payments , addressing opportunities of Near-Field Communication and the issue of choice and competition between incumbents and new payment players. The trustmark debate explores ways to encourage citizens to buy from smaller websites or ways for providers to flag certain benefits (e.g. extended return or guarantee periods, delivery and payment options); it also addresses the issue of a stakeholders' platform on trustmarks . The VAT debate addresses the challenges of applying tax at the provider's location versus doing it at the consumer's location. If you are interested in these or other issues discussed in the platform, join and contribute to the debate .

Two new healthcare providers have just entered the epSOS piloting phase: Gavardo and Manerbio hospitals in Italy!!! Take a look on the map to see where you can find them. More Points of Care will follow soon, stay up-to-date. Good news as the holiday season stats soon!

With your European Health Insurance Card you can access state-provided healthcare if you fall ill or have an accident during your stay abroad. Show your card to a doctor or at the hospital and you will receive the necessary treatment under the same conditions as people insured in that country. As well, if you need a refill of your medication while abroad check the ePrescription services offered by epSOS. Read "Semantic interoperability needs political commitment" for recent information http://bit.ly/KcyzHA.

In times of fiscal austerity, healthcare IT can help to keep costs in check while at the same time maintain or indeed increase quality of care. But this will only come true if eHealth projects are closely aligned to strategic health policy goals.

"yesterday I was reminded of just how much innovation and impact those smaller companies can make, when I awarded the best ideas for active and healthy ageing". Blog post by N. Kroes

Denmark, England and Scotland have been pioneers in the use of electronic communication in and across the health and social care sectors. The three pioneers have been able to integrate telehealth into standard patient treatments, according to a new study from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (IPTS)

Ministers for Health and top government officials from all of Europe are on their way to Copenhagen to discuss health IT and telehealth. Together with the European Commission, The Danish Minister for Health, Astrid Krag, hosts the yearly “High Level eHealth Conference” which takes place in Copenhagen on 7-9 May. It is connected to the EU Presidency and is part of “eHealth Week 2012” alongside a number of other events. Follow us on twitter: @EU_ehealthweek #eHW12.

In what areas and how could EU action on social media benefit employability, jobs and growth across Europe? These questions will be addressed during the Digital Agenda Assembly on 21 and 22 June in Brussels, more specifically in the workshop Social Media Social Networking for Economic Recovery, Jobs and Growth. We will explore the use and great potential of social media for growth and jobs in Europe from three perspectives: 1- businesses; 2- social media platform providers; 3- the public sector. Join the discussion today!

The Commission has presented an outline of the principles that should guide EU countries when they organise the participation of the relevant partners in the different stages of the implementation of the EU Common Strategic Framework funds. It prepares the ground for a European Code of Conduct on partnership (ECCP), which will lay down minimum requirements for national authorities to ensure a high quality involvement of partners.

Europe needs innovation more than ever before to support sustainable growth and create new jobs, to replace those lost in the crisis. To keep up with growing global competition, we must leave the comfort zone of business.

Join in the Online Engagement Platform to Discuss in the online groups, Contribute to the Digital Agenda Assembly, Help us to shape the Mid-Term review of the DAE! Use the following hashtags: #DA12 #DA12social

For the first time ever, eHealth Week is launching the Innovation/SME Village, at this year’s event in Copenhagen, Denmark. This platform offers the unique opportunity for Small to Medium Enterprises* (SMEs) to showcase their products, services and technology solutions. Turn concepts and ideas into business reality by networking with some of the most influential players in the healthcare IT ecosystem. If you want to gain visibility on the exhibition show floor at eHealth Week, then the SME Village is the place in which to be seen!

Los valencianos serán los primeros de España cuya historia clínica podrá consultarse en centros sanitarios europeos cuando reciban asistencia gracias al proyecto epSOS, un sistema transfronterizo cofinanciado por la Comisión Europea y que evitará problemas a las personas que acuden al médico en el extranjero.

The European Health Insurance Card is being used in epSOS, a pilot project co-financed by the European Commission, which aims at developing cross-border eHealth services to improve the quality and safety of healthcare for citizens travelling to another European country. epSOS can make a significant contribution to patient safety by reducing the frequency of medical errors and by providing quick access to documentation. In emergency situations, this documentation provides the medical personnel with life-saving information and reduces the (sometimes needless) repetition of diagnostic procedures.

OPTIMI has developed technology-based tools to monitor subjects’ physiological and cognitive state in their natural environment. Between April and May 2012, OPTIMI will begin small-scale trials, in UK and Spain, measuring how far two systems of Computerized Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy can help participants exposed to chronic or acute stress.

After more than three years of hard work to develop feasible cross-border eHealth services, epSOS is moving from pilot to operational cross-border eHealth services. In this piloting phase the solutions that have been developed are tested in a real-life environment over a one-year period. The major challenge for secure cross border data exchange in respect of EU and national privacy regulations has been successfully addressed in a common approach accepted by the participating nations.

A number of recent highly publicized drug safety issues have shown that adverse drug reactions (ADRs) may be detected too late - when millions of patients have already been exposed. As a result, the EU-ADR funded project is working on the basis of the asumption that earlier detection is needed. Before launching a new drug onto the market, appropriate tests are conducted. However, adverse reactions may only be detected once the drug is more heavily used. EU-ADR proposes an alternative approach towards the detection of ADR signals with the objective of overcoming the limitations of spontaneous reporting databases and providing a solid basis for large-scale monitoring of drug safety.