Taking Control – Medical Devices Industry to get a Regulatory Authority

[This article was published in the March 2008 issue of the eHEALTH Magazine (https://www.ehealthonline.org)]

The medical equipment market in India is growing at an annual rate of 15% and is expected to touch US$ 4.98 billion by 2012. With a highly unregulated environment in terms of quality, reliability, pricing and control, uncertainty rules the roost. Often, it�s a confusing maze for care providers and medical professionals, and the brunt of all this has to be borne solely by those at the end of the chain – �the patients� !

There is a dire need for a legal framework and a regulatory agency to look after the industry. How far have we reached? Is the Government taking the right steps? eHEALTH takes stock of the matter.

Conference on Medical Value Tourism

[This article was published in the March 2008 issue of the eHEALTH Magazine (https://www.ehealthonline.org)]

CII Northern Region Headquarters recently organised a one and half day conference on medical value tourism, between 7-8 February 2008 at the impressive office premises of its headquarters in Chandigarh.

Software to help GPs assess risk of heart disease

New computer software that enables GPs to more accurately assess which patients are most at risk of developing heart disease has been released for clinical use.

Google, Cleveland Clinic team up on medical data

Web search company Google Inc is collaborating with Cleveland Clinic, one of the premier U.S. health institutions, to pilot an exchange of data that puts patients in charge of their own medical records.

XTend Medical launches diabetic telehealth program

XTend Medical Corporation announced recently that the company has begun a remote diabetic monitoring program with a target of 500 patients to be part of the initial program.

CLINICARE, Barrie FHT sign largest EMR contract in Canada

CLINICARE Corporation of Calgary recently announced that it has been selected by the Barrie and Community Family Health Team to implement their OntarioMD approved Clinical Management Solution (CMS).

Large US medical insurers agree cover for online doctor visits

Since the dawn of e-mail, patients have been pleading for more doctors to offer medical advice online. No traffic jams, no long waits, no germ-infested offices. There was always one major roadblock: Many health insurers wouldn’t pay for it.

Centre to regulate private, public clinics

As the kidney racket throws light on illegal clinics running across the country, the Centre issued a statement saying it would soon bring in a law to regulate both private and public clinics.

Byrraju Foundation & Satyam provides healthcare to remote areas

Satyam Computer Services Ltd recently announced that its global healthcare practice, working with the Byrraju Foundation, has implemented a program to provide tele-electrocardiograms (ECGs) to patients in remote areas of the country who would otherwise have no access to such care.

Network for healthcare jagdish mahapatra vice president sales cisco systems India

Interview

NHS urged to work alongwith pharma industry

New guidelines, issued by the Department of Health, call for more partnerships between the NHS and drug companies, stressing they should be “of mutual benefit with the principal beneficiary being the patient”.

Exchanging health information – eHealth Initiatives in the USA : Susan Thomas, eHEALTH

[This article was published in the February 2008 issue of the eHEALTH Magazine (https://www.ehealthonline.org)]

The multi-stakeholder, non-profit eHealth Initiative (eHI) recently released the results of its Fourth Annual Survey (2007)of Health Information Exchange at the State, Regional and Community Levels in the United States of America, taking stock of 130 community-based health information exchange initiatives. We seek to take stock of the situation as it now appears in the US, and what kind of learning it proposes to the rest of the world.

Architecting Health Network – Building a Foundation for Health Connectivity : Michael Gill, Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group

[This article was published in the February 2008 issue of the eHEALTH Magazine (https://www.ehealthonline.org)]

Health IT tends to be a catch-all phrase and includes almost anything electronic that displays or transports information. This article focuses primarily on the transportation of information and the provision of applications in a connected environment, where connectivity is the defining factor.