1) International migration of health workers
Source: the OECD

In a Policy Brief released on 15th March 2010 the OECD and WHO provide new insights into recent migration trends for doctors and nurses and discuss the main causes and consequences for destination and origin countries. Possible policy responses stressing the importance of improved international co-operation to address the global health workforce crisis are presented along with new updated data up to 2008.
The Brief.

2) Preventing needle-stick injuries in the health sector
Source: European Parliament

An agreement to prevent needle-stick injuries in hospitals, one of the most widespread and serious risks to health workers across the EU, was welcomed by an overwhelming majority in Parliament on 11 February 2010. The deal was drawn up by EU representatives of hospital employers and workers. In the EU, there are more than one million needle-stick injuries every year, says a resolution drafted by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Elisabeth Lynne (UK) and MEO Pervenche Bérès (FR) on behalf of the European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs Committee. A resolution welcoming the agreement was approved by a show of hands. Parliament has been calling since July 2006 for legislation to protect Europe's healthcare workers from potentially dangerous infections due to injuries with needles and other sharp medical instruments. The Commission issued a proposal for a Council Directive implementing the agreement signed by the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM) and the European Federation of Public Services Union (EPSU). MEPs recommend adopting and implementing the measures set out in the legislative proposal. "The framework agreement between the Commission and European social partners will represent an important contribution to the protection of the health and safety of workers active in the hospital sector", says the resolution. "However, Member States and social partners should be free to adopt additional measures more favourable to workers", it adds.

3) European Commission launches consultation on Interoperability Solutions for Public Administrations (ISA)
Source: European Commission

In order to address cross-border interoperability, the European Commission worked in 2009 with representatives from the Member States towards a European Interoperability Strategy (EIS). The purpose of this work was to identify commonalities and areas of shared interest at Member State and EU level and to establish consensus around a strategic action plan for interoperability, to be implemented in the coming years by both the Member States and the Commission. The EIS elaboration focused first on the definition of a common vision, related priorities and objectives and then on the definition of possible actions at EU and Member State level that will contribute to making this vision a reality. The EIS document for public consultation presents the background, the overall strategic approach and the next steps in the EIS. Its annex describes the approach by which the EIS has been elaborated. In so doing, these documents intend not only to present the results of the EIS but also to be an invitation to further collaboration with the community of interoperability-related stakeholders within the European Union. Everyone interested in interoperability within the context of public service delivery is cordially invited to send suggestions for implementing the European Interoperability Strategy. Suggestions should mainly target the higher levels of interoperability (semantic, organisational, and legal).

The EIS document for public consultation