As we prepare for the festive season we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everybody who has contributed to the success of EHFCN over the past 12 months.  The end of the year is always a good time to reflect on what we've achieved, what still needs to be done and what we are aiming to deliver in the year ahead.

This year was a challenging time for us all and EHFCN was no different. However we have met these administrative and financial difficulties head on. Contacts are being made with many new organisations and institutions and new projects are currently being developed in order to increase the added value to our members. Communications will continue to be strengthened via the website, the extranet and upcoming publications.

2012 already looks like an exciting year for EHFCN and we hope you will be very pleased with the progress we are making in delivering our message across Europe. Events and projects already in the pipeline include: the first results and recommendations for tackling pharmacists' fraud, an “Open House” in the Netherlands and a global awareness campaign, which will be launched at the beginning of March.

We look forward to your support as we continue to strengthen the Network and reduce losses to fraud and corruption in our healthcare systems.

Instead of the usual newsletter, we are happy to provide you with the following link to the Perspectives on the Professional Qualifications Directives report published in Eurohealth, the quarterly of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Included in the report is

- an overview of Health Care Fraud & Corruption written by EHFCN President Paul Vincke and Jonathan Cylus from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Polices as well as

- articles contributed by our member organisations INAMI-RIZIV Belgium, HELFO Norway and NHS Scotland CFS.

Please click here to access the Eurohealth report

Wishing you all a good reading as well as a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Paul, Anne, Desree, Andrei, Leticia & Julie.