PRESS RELEASE

Today, we are extremely proud, and happy for informing all our readers and friends that the content of the EHTO Web Site was, again, certified by the well reputed certification entity “HON-Health On the Net” (a non-governmental organization), lead by Celia Boyer, the HON Executive Director.  
To whom wishing to know more about the HON “assessing and certification activities”, the “Health On the Net/HON” (www.hon.ch) is a Swiss organization operating at Global level, being the official body in the European space in charge of the assessment of existing World’s Health and Internet websites.
That is achieved through regular/annual Audits done over thousands of Site’s, to check their full compliance with the strict established rules for the “HON code of conduct”.
(“HON” offices are located in the Geneva University Hospital – DIM, Switzerland).  
The “HONcode team” –working at the “Code of Conduct Department - HONcode” - was (as it has been since 1997), the responsible team in charge of all the annual assessments of EHTO content, according with the important HONcode Principles. 

Because the EHTO full compliance with those Principles (established in the “HONcode Code of Conduct Principles”), EHTO has obtained in February its renewed certification for 2010.
Finally (and as a key action that officially closes each of the EHTO’s Audit process), the “accreditation” award is made publicly known at the moment when the “HON and the HONcode Team” agree to post the “official HON Certification Seal” in the EHTO Home Page, accordingly.  

Therefore, and from February 2010 on, EHTO is proud of keeping the content of its Site fully “Certified” – and that also ensure to all of our Users about the high quality of any News we include in the EHTO Portal.

It is also important to inform that “HON” is also supported by the strategic vision, the recommendations and the very diversified work issued by the “HON Foundation Council”.  (*)
The members of the “HON Foundation Council” are internationally well known and reputed personalities, having a Global expertise since the 90’s. Therefore they are high level and accountable professionals. Those personalities come from the EU, Switzerland, and from the US.  Besides their necessary knowledge on “Health and Internet”, all them also cover a wider range of expertise and have a long experience obtained during many years of their active life, to date (Industry, Biomedicine, professors at Universities, top Entrepreneurs and Managers, Hospital Directors, Health ICT and Standards experts, Regional Health Governance, and former EC Directors and Officers).     

Measures for internal and external quality assurance have been established between EHTO and HON for years.
But since 2007, HON took steps to improve the system in respect of the stringent standards such as the EN 45011/ISO65 adapted norm.
In December 2009, HON has passed successfully its annual audit to include this new norm.  

Well, through this “Press Release” we are happy to can inform not only about EHTO receiving its “Certification Seal” for 2010, but also to  make awareness of “HON” and of its important activities in this particular and fundamental field of creditableness and quality on the existing “Health Sites and Internet News”, worldwide. 

Looking for sending you our EHTO next NEWSLETTERS, soon

And, thanks for pushing us to keep our continuous improvement of Creditableness and Quality!   

Maria Laires

(*)  For legal reasons, which are applicable in Switzerland, the audited accounts have to be approved by all members of the Foundation's Council and submitted to the "Service des Surveillances des Fondations" (CH).