Microsoft Healthcare Users Group (MS-HUG) and Microsoft Corp. announced the winners and finalists for the 10th annual MS-HUG awards. This year's honors were awarded to healthcare organizations who have demonstrated significant advancements, innovation and success using Microsoft technology in the healthcare industry – ultimately helping solve major business issues and improving quality of patient care.

Specialists in broadband videoconferencing for the care industry, mediagrids, has kicked off a partner recruitment programme with the appointment of the integrated telecare services company iTelecare.

Atos Worldline, an Atos Origin company, will once again participate at this year's CeBIT in Hanover from 15 to 21 March 2007. Present on Bitkom Partner’s booth (Hall 9, Booth C52), Atos Worldline will showcase new solutions and concepts, including its upgraded card management system for processing the electronic health card, in association with the integrated security solution in the telematics infrastructure, along with the use of signature cards in its electronic invoicing offering "Worldline eInvoice".

BridgeForward Software, Inc, a leading provider of application integration technology to the US and UK healthcare industry today announced that Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, one of the leading children's hospital in the world has standardized on ClearSpan Server as it's enterprise-wide integration platform.

Hungary is expecting to launch the public procurement procedures for the production of its new eHealth card by the end of May 2007. The production and distribution of 11 million new cards and the development of a centralised eHealth IT system is expected to cost the government around €100 million.

Due to the information system implemented by Romsys, Romania is one of the first countries that implement UE settlements regarding quality and security standards in order to collect, process, stock and provide human blood and blood components as well.

Health Industry Insights, an IDC company, announced the release of a new report which identifies Western European Healthcare top 10 predictions for 2007. Among the predictions, Health Industry Insights' European team foresees a long-term shift to transform service delivery to a patient-centric model, where prevention of acute episodes is part of patient every-day lives at home, and patients act as gatekeepers to national consolidated electronic health records.