CEA is the European federation of the insurance and reinsurance industry. Set up in 1953, CEA represents the views of European insurers in all areas of change, with a focus on the regulatory framework. CEA groups national member associations of 32 European countries and represents over 5000 European insurance companies with a total domestic premium income of 855 bn Euros (2003 figures). CEA's aims: - to represent European insurers: promoting, defending and expressing their views within international bodies and giving expert opinions to public or private European and international organisations involved in insurance and reinsurance; - to exchange information and experience between markets: drafting studies in the interest of European insurance companies, with a view to improving the service to insureds and to developing insurance in Europe in response to society needs. - and, in a general way, to put forward the views of European insurers in economic and social debates.

Chronic Illness is an important journal for those who study, work with, manage or experience chronic illness. It integrates academic and clinical perspectives, and those of people living with long term medical conditions. It publishes original research, as well as reviews, discussions, communications and news items. Each issue conveys key developments arising from conceptual work and primary research including clinical trials, and reviews relevant research published elsewhere, as well as books and conferences.

The European Association of Hospital Managers (EAHM), founded in 1970, consists of national member associations from 26 European countries, who represent about 22.000 hospital directors and executives. Since 2004 associate members are also welcomed. EAHM aims at promoting the professional competence and responsibility of hospital managers in Europe. Through its activities, EAHM fosters also the growing together of the hospital systems of the European countries as the basis for the construction of a Social Europe. Besides representing the hospital management profession and its interests in the competent European organisations and international bodies, EAHM publishes also the bi-monthly tri-lingual magazine "Hospital". Further information can be obtained on www.eahm.eu.org.

The European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI) was conceived at a meeting, assisted by the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation (WHO), in Copenhagen in September 1976. The representatives of national Health / Medical Informatics societies from ten European countries signed a declaration of intent stating: "The Federation shall be constituted as a nonprofit organisation concerned with the theory and practice of Information Science and Technology within Health and Health Science in a European context. We declare that the ten delegates here today from the ten national societies shall constitute the preliminary Council of the Federation which thus hereby exists." Copenhagen, 11 September 1976.

The European Health Telematics Association ("EHTEL"), provides to its members a platform for information lobbying, representation, networking and co-operation in support of the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) in health and social care in Europe.
www.ehtel.org

The EMA is a non-profit association free of any political, linguistic, ethical, philosophical or financial considerations. Is aimed at all doctors in the EU now confronted with a new concept in European health care. Is essentially a forum that brings together colleagues working in the European medical community through the distribution of information and services. Is a privileged meeting place between East and West The primarily aims is to raise the quality of healthcare and medical working conditions in the European Community by improving information, transparency and above all, by encouraging collaboration and mobility. Its functions do not include the professional defence already assured by national medical associations

ESQH is a voluntary society registered as a charity in the Republic of Ireland. Its full members are National Societies for Quality in Healthcare, and there are currently members in 18 countries. The Society is committed to improving the quality of healthcare through networking, learning and sharing. It is run by an Executive Board made up of elected members, is administered through a Secretariat based in Ireland, and currently operates 6 franchised Offices, each charged with a specific strategic task. ESQH has recently been a partner in two EU-funded research projects, it hosts two scientific workshops per year, and runs an interactive membership-based website: www.esqh.net.

La Fédération des Etablissements Hospitaliers et d'Assistance Privés à but non lucratif. regroupe près de 2 900 établissements et services des secteurs sanitaire, social et médico-social, employant 180 000 salariés.

Il s'agit d'établissements d'hospitalisation, de soins, de cure, d'organismes et services pour l'enfance et la jeunesse handicapée, pour adultes handicapés, pour personnes âgées, de services sociaux pour la protection de l'enfance et autres établissements d'accueil, d'hébergement et de réadaptation sociale visés au titre premier de la Convention Collective Nationale du 31 octobre 1951.

Les établissements membres se caractérisent par une grande diversité de leurs statuts : associations, organismes mutualistes, fondations, congrégations,... L'absence de poursuite d'une finalité lucrative est le lien qui les fédère.

Depuis 1936, la FEHAP est présente sur l'ensemble de la prise en charge du patient au cœur de la protection sociale.

Health On the Net Foundation is the leading organization promoting and guiding the deployment of useful and reliable online medical and health information, and its appropriate and efficient use. Created in 1995, HON is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, accredited to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. www.hon.ch

The aim of HealthReform.cz is to prepare in cooperation with domestic and foreign experts a blueprint for a health reform which would be based on world trends but would also respect specifics of the Czech Republic. Our activities concentrate on the following topics:

• Macroeconomic consequences of health care financing
• Potential to develop health care as a competitive advantage of the Czech Republic
• Definition of scope of obligatory health insurance
• Role of personal accounts in health care financing and their impact on consumer and provider behaviour
• Regulation of health insurance market
• Informing citizens about quality of provided health care
• Regulation of input prices and reimbursement of drugs and medical devices
• Development of human resources in health care

The European Hospital and Healthcare Federation is an international non-profit association created in 1966. It is well known under the acronym HOPE: Hospitals for EurOPE. HOPE represents national hospital federations and where there is no national hospital federation members are national federations of local or regional authorities, owners of hospitals, or even representatives from national health services. HOPE aims at promoting improvements in the health of citizens throughout the countries of the European Union, and a uniformly high standard of hospital care. HOPE fosters efficiency, effectiveness and humanity in the organisation and operation of hospital services and of the health systems within which they function.

Created in 1964, the National Institute of Health and Medical Research ("INSERM") is the only French public research organisation entirely dedicated to human health. Its researchers are committed to studying all diseases, whether common or rare, through their research in the fields of biology, medicine and public health. In order to fulfil its mission, INSERM works in close partnership with other public or private research organisations and care centres such as hospitals.

13,000 people (including 6 000 researchers) work in INSERM's 339 research units located all over France.

IAPO is a unique global alliance of patients' organizations representing patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promoting patient-centered healthcare around the world.
IAPO's vision is that patients throughout the world are at the centre of healthcare. IAPO is helping to build patient-centered healthcare worldwide by:

• Realizing active partnerships with patients' organizations, maximizing their impact through capacity building


• Advocating internationally with a strong patients' voice on relevant aspects of healthcare policy, with the aim of influencing international, regional and national health agendas and policies


• Building cross-sector alliances and working collaboratively with like-minded medical and health professionals, policy makers, academics, researchers and industry representatives

The International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) is a non-profit organization fostering the creation and innovation, dissemination and application of medical, clinical and biological engineering knowledge and the management of technology for improved health and quality of life. Its activities include participation in the formulation of public policy and the dissemination of information through publications and forums.

The IFMBE as the only international organization covering the full range of biomedical and clinical engineering, healthcare, health technologies and management, is representing through its 58 national and international constituent societies some 130.000 professionals involved in the issues of health technologies and health care delivery, a unique pool of expertise on healthcare innovation and technology. The Federation as an NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization is closely cooperating with WHO in the areas of health technologies, specifically policy and planning, quality and safety, norms and standards, technology assessment and management, ethics, education and capacity building. Together with WHO and within the broad context of improving health service delivery and health systems performance, the Federation supports countries in the area of health technology policy, planning and management, education and capacity building. www.ifmbe.org

The International Review of Patient Care provides an invaluable service to physicians and healthcare professionals by examining the technologies - existing and emerging - that offer the best treatment options, while considering the logistical implications of delivering the highest standard of treatment possible. The publication combines the resources of market analysts Frost and Sullivan and senior healthcare thought leaders to provide technical papers and solutions that place treatment and patient care first. As such, it is required reading for specialist physicians and senior executives involved with all major medical disciplines.

The main aim of The International Review of Patient Care is to report on the latest developments in each area of patient care from new and innovative angles. Some of the most prestigious specialists have gathered together to write the unique and cutting-edge editorials. www.irpcare.com

The Irish BioIndusrry Association, established in 1998, currently represents 44 companies. It is the leading representative body for the Bio Industry in Ireland. Membership includes manufacturers, distributors, those who support the industry either through services or provision of advice, finance and capital. Biotechnology company members mainly occupy distinctive niches in the healthcare related areas. Indigenous companies include Elan, Biotrin, Tridelta and Megazyme. There is an exciting level of campus company activity with increasing numbers of spin outs from Irish Universities.

Published by Espicom Business Intelligence, Pharmaceutical Companies Analysis (PCA) provides a complete and detailed review of over 40 of the world's major pharmaceutical companies.

Each report provides a full review of the company's activities, from its origins to its latest corporate activity, including mergers and acquisitions, agreements, divestitures, major purchasing contracts and litigation. Sections are included on products, international activities and R&D;, as well as a full, in-depth five year financial analysis.

To start your subscription online or to download further information visit www.espicom.com/pca

The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) is an independent medical charity with a primary aim to provide continuing professional development for qualified medical and health-related professionals. The public in turn benefits from healthcare professionals who have received high quality and relevant education from the RSM.

The Society celebrated its bicentenary in 2005. Each year it arranges and holds over 400 meetings for healthcare professionals across a wide range of medical subjects. In order to aid education and training further the Society also has the largest postgraduate medical library in Europe -based in central London, together with online access to specialist databases. RSM Press, the Society's publishing arm, publishes books and journals principally aimed at the medical profession.

In addition to the lectures and training provided by the RSM, members of the Society also have access to club facilities including accommodation, restaurant, members' lounge and bar.

To find out more about the Royal Society of Medicine, information on our meetings or joining as a member or the work it undertakes visit www.rsm.ac.uk or call +44 (0)20 7290 2991. For more information about RSM Press, visit www.rsmpress.co.uk

Player or investor, lawyer or contractor, if you need to know pharma, you need to know Scrip World Pharmaceutical News. Most people in the industry do. We've been the leading provider of global pharmaceutical news for over thirty years. Find out why: request a free trial at www.scrippharma.com.

The UKeHA is the national organisation that represents a wide range of stakeholders involved in the development and delivery of eHealth in the UK. Our diverse membership embraces industry, the NHS, academic bodies, government departments and national professional organisations. The Association's professional and international links provide a network that brings together members to discuss and understand eHealth issues. www.ukeha.co.uk

Founded in 1944, the World Bank's mission is to fight poverty and help the poor in developing countries by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. It is the largest source of development assistance, providing about US $20 billion in assistance for the 4.7 billion poor who live in the Bank's 100 client countries, bringing a mix of finance and ideas to developing countries. The Bank is the largest source external finance for development assistance in the health sector. Annual lending to the Health, Nutrition and Population sector ranges from US $1-2 billion, with a total portfolio valuation between US $12-15 billion. www.worldbank.org

Published by Espicom Business Intelligence, World Pharmaceutical Markets provides a complete and detailed review of over 60 key pharmaceutical markets around the globe. Each report provides an insightful interpretation of market trends and a range of information from economic/demographic data through to health status, services, personnel and funding to regulation and domestic production. In addition to this all country reports now include unique and original 5-year market forecasts - all in one convenient, monthly updated service.

To start your subscription online or to download further information, go to www.espicom.com/wpm

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The WHCC Affordable Health Innovations Site seeks and promotes health care innovations that can reduce the cost of quality care. Visit the site to learn how the share your innovation.