The study was funded through the EU-funded ECAgents (Embodied and Communicating Agents) project, which aims to develop a new generation of robots which are able to interact with each other and their environment without human intervention. It is published online by the journal Current Biology.
Action on Grids for health is needed at EU level to address mobility of citizens and provide crossfrontier interoperability of data, cross-frontier infrastructures, best exploitation of resources (both technical and medical), equal distribution of healthcare and definition and implementation of standards.
Health-EU - the European health portal covering a vast range of health topics, is now available in 20 European languages. The portal was first launched in May 2006 by the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs, and is a 'one stop shop' for Europeans wanting to find out what's happening across a broad range of health issues in their own countries and across Europe. Individuals interested in submitting chapters (5,000-7,500 words) should submit via e-mail a 2-3 page manuscript proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter by March 31, 2007.
Information and communication technologies are increasingly being used to improve the quality, provision and access to care while also bringing new elements to the reflection on the financial sustainability of health systems. However, questions exist over the legal and regulatory implications for eHealth services, especially as these can cross institutional boundaries and national borders.