The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is calling experts to join forces and tackle two challenges which are of major importance to public health. Measuring the combined benefits and risks of vaccines and assessing the effectiveness of new medications in the real world setting are the focus of the Call for proposals that IMI has launched.

One of the greatest challenges facing the EU is how best to design and adapt cities into smart intelligent and sustainable environments. Almost three quarters of Europeans live in cities, consuming 70% of the EU's energy. Congestion costs Europe about 1% of its GDP every year; most of it is located in urban areas.

Efforts to increase the healthy lifespan of EU citizens by two years received a major boost as 261 projects were submitted for inclusion in the European Innovation Partnership for active and healthy ageing. The partnership brings together more than 50 regions, technology companies and health providers to deliver solutions for:

The BMJ (British Medical Journal) has published its peer reviewed paper which assesses the effect of home based telehealth interventions on the use of secondary healthcare (inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department hospital use) and mortality.

Eucomed, the European Medical Technology Industry Association, and EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, have joined forces in a coalition of 9 MEPs, 65 leading trade unions, civil society organisations, health organisations and other industry associations in writing an open letter calling on the European Council for more equal and equitable healthcare for Europe's citizens.

Just in time for the summer holidays, the EURO 2012 Football Championship and the London 2012 Olympics, the European Commission has launched an application for smartphones explaining how to use the European Health Insurance Card.

Health consultancy Greenfield Management Solutions has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) regarding a study on regulatory aspects for eHealth, including telemedicine and satellite services, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This project is framed in the recently launched eHSA programme (Satellite-enhanced Telemedicine and eHealth for sub-Saharan Africa).