Cannabis goes under the microscope in Health Europa Quarterly issue 09, which includes a special feature on the fast-evolving medical cannabis industry in Europe, as well as dedicated sections on changing legislation and research efforts in Australia, North America and Latin America.
Beginning with a Foreword by Brian O’Connor, the chair of the European Connected Health Alliance (ECHAlliance), this edition also explores viable digital solutions to some of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing us today.
Obstacles and opportunities in medical cannabis
Health Europa Quarterly issue 09 focuses on the regulatory environment for medical cannabis and hurdles to patients’ access.
- Australian Minister for Health Greg Hunt provides an insight into Australia’s experience with medical cannabis three years on from its legalisation
- Peter Homberg, of law firm Dentons, reflects on Germany’s difficulties getting its medical cannabis industry off the ground
- Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana’s Gerald Major outlines the rationale behind the #DontTaxMedicines campaign
- pharmaSuisse reacts to the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to open up access to cannabis-based medicinal products for patients.
Can digital health solutions live up to the hype?
With healthcare services across Europe coming under increasing pressure to deliver more and better services with fewer resources, Health Europa Quarterly issue 09 examines whether innovative digital technologies could transform healthcare delivery.
- Professor Wendy Tindale, clinical director of the NIHR Devices for Dignity MedTech Co-operative, describes the complexities of developing healthcare technologies for the NHS and launching them onto the market
- EIT Health’s Jan-Philipp Beck, Kurt Höller and Jorge-Fernandez Garcia set out the myriad challenges involved in translating innovative ideas into commercially viable digital health solutions in Europe
- MedCom’s Anna Seeberg Hansen and Jane Rasmussen explain why enhanced data sharing and continuity of care are central to Denmark’s digital health priorities.
The chronic disease epidemic facing Europe
By 2020, chronic diseases are expected to account for 73% of all deaths worldwide. Health Europa Quarterly issue 09 takes an in-depth look at three of the biggest culprits: diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- Diabetes UK’s Bruce Warwick introduces the Food Upfront campaign to make detailed food and nutrition labelling a reality for diabetes patients in the UK
- The European Society for Medical Oncology’s spokesperson, Dr Marina Garassino, reflects on the potential of combination immunotherapy for treating lung cancer
- The Joint Research Centre details the objectives and progress of the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC)
- Health Europa Quarterly highlights recent research into the relationship between congenital heart defects and poor cardiovascular health in later life.
Other issues of Health Europa Quarterly can be found by clicking here.
