ATOS AND HUMA ENTER FIVE YEAR PARTNERSHIP

France-based information technology company, Atos and British digital healthcare innovator, Huma have announced a five-year strategic global partnership.

The collaboration aims to shift healthcare and clinical trials from hospital to home and will focus on Huma's modular platform which can power digital 'hospitals at home' up to a national scale. The partnership will also support pharmaceutical and research industries to run global decentralised clinical trials.

Through this initiative, Atos will invest up to €20 million in R&D, market resources and sales personnel. The platform is already in use in the US and across Europe for illnesses such as atrial fibrillation, diabetes and COVID-19.

LIFELIGHT SECURES £1.2M INNOVATE UK LOAN

Lifelight, a technology that allows a device to measure blood pressure, pulse and breathing rate by looking into the device's built-in camera, has secured a £1.2 million Innovate UK continuity loan, fast-tracking remote patient monitoring of vital signs.

Lifelight's solution offers a non-contact platform that avoids unnecessary contact for both user and healthcare worker as well as minimising patient distress. The technology enables patient self-management via one device, consequently reducing unnecessary in-surgery or home visits.

Lifelight’s CEO and Founder, Laurence Pearce said: “Providing remote patient monitoring and enabling clinicians to understand how their patients are doing remotely is crucial in a post-pandemic world. Lifelight is at the forefront of this shift and we are delighted to be recognised in this way by Innovate UK.”

SEVEN COUNTRIES BEGIN USING EU'S NEW TRAVEL SYSTEM

The European Commission has announced that seven member states have begun using the EU's Digital COVID Certificate to resume safe travelling this summer.

The EU gateway has gone live one month ahead of the deadline and claims to allow nations to verify certificates in a secure and privacy-friendly way.  

Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland - have connected to the gateway and have started issuing the first certificates. 

Available in digital or paper form, the certificate has a QR code that enables access through the gateway. Other European countries are set to follow suit in the coming weeks when all functions are deployed nationwide.    

APP SUPPORTING WOMEN WITH CANCER LAUNCHES

UK-based women’s cancer charity Victoria’s Promise has launched an app to support women as they face the challenges of tackling cancer.

The app welcomes women between the ages of 18 and 50 and provides access to a support network at every stage in their cancer journey.

The Victoria’s Promise app is also accessible for families, designed to offer partners, parents, and siblings a place to talk and share their experiences, as well as gain support and insights.

The app provides webinars, workshops and other resources for both women and their families, providing round the clock support for women with cancer.

As well as the app, Victoria’s Promise offers in-person services in North Hampshire. These services began with supporting women who were diagnosed or being treated in North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke.

CSAM HEALTH GROUP ACQUIRES MEDSCINET

Provider of eHealth solutions in the Nordics, CSAM Health Group has announced that they have acquired provider of eHealth solutions within clinical research, MedSciNet.

The acquisition will bring the Swedish company and its customer portfolio into the CSAM family of eHealth solutions, strengthening the Nordics presence in Europe and establishing a footprint in North America.

Sverre Flatby, CEO, CSAM, said: “An exciting new niche area for CSAM, the Health Analytics space taps clinical trials, quality registers and Bio banks to gather health information. The Software-as-a-Service products from Swedish MedSciNet also provide key insight into what and how health data can increase the quality of healthcare services, and the outcome of healthcare within maternity care, cancer, and much, much more.”

MALAFFI RECEIVES ACCREDITATION FOR PATIENT DATA SECURITY

Malaffi, Abu Dhabi's first Health Information Exchange (HIE) and a strategic initiative of the Department of Health, has received accreditation from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC).

Since its inception in 2019, data safety and security has been a top priority for the organisation. ISO and EHNAC are regulators who assess a company’s dedication to information security through on-site audits and evaluations.

This global recognition demonstrates that high-quality data handling is fundamental to Malaffi and establishes the platform’s dedication to keeping patients and their health information safe through its data security standards.

MEDICLINIC LAUNCHES ONLINE APPOINTMENT BOOKING APP

Mediclinic Middle East has launched MYMEDICLINIC 24X7, a new online appointment management and telemedicine portal that allows patients to view profiles of doctors, book appointments online and upload insurance documents.

Powered by Okadoc technology and integrated with InterSystems TrakCare, the Dubai-based healthcare information system gives Mediclinic Middle East patients the flexibility to book an in-person or virtual appointment.

Hein van Eck, chief strategy officer at Mediclinic Middle East, said: "Mediclinic Middle East has always been committed to providing the highest standard of healthcare to its patients, and this level of service should begin right at the start of our patients' healthcare journey with us. With MYMEDICLINIC 24x7, patients literally have access to healthcare at their fingertips. They can select their doctor, book, reschedule or cancel their appointments and even conduct consultations by video, all within a few clicks on their mobile device or computer. We are very excited to introduce MYMEDICLINIC 24x7 to the UAE public and are confident that it will provide the flexibility, immediacy and convenience that our patients expect and deserve."

AMAZON ALEXA PRESCRIBED TO PATIENTS

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS has launched a scheme that will provide 400 Alexa smart speakers to patients, allowing them to self-manage their health and wellbeing from home.

The NHS trust will be able to prescribe Amazon Echo to patients who need assistance with tasks related to medication adherence, such as setting reminders for insulin doses and cardiac rehabilitation. 

The device has also been beneficial for patients struggling with mental health and loneliness, who have found comfort in talking to another voice within their home. 

The scheme is run by staff from North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare trust, and startup tech-training company Wavemaker. Funding for the Alexa Echo Show devices came from North Staffordshire CCG, NHS England and Wavemaker.

TUNSTALL HEALTHCARE ACQUIRES SECUVITA

UK-based, provider of software solutions, services and technology for the telecare and telehealth markets, Tunstall Healthcare has announced the acquisition of Secuvita, a technology solution provider in the Netherlands for an undisclosed fee. 

The organisation will harness the combination of technology, aligned with service delivery, to optimise all opportunities for communities as it drives health and social care into the digital age. 

The acquisition will allow healthcare solutions to be provided across the Netherlands and will benefit up to 70,000 existing Secuvita users. 

Gordon Sutherland, CEO of Tunstall Group, commented: “I’m delighted to announce the acquisition of Secuvita by Tunstall. Patrick Gaasbeek and the team at Secuvita have built a strong company based on similar values to Tunstall; a strong collaborative approach to our customers, high levels of accountability and a drive for continuous innovation and service.