eHealth

European Commission's eHealth Stakeholder Group

The European Commission has invited European eHealth user and industry representatives to participate in an eHealth stakeholder group, which has been set up in early 2012. This group of representatives from umbrella organisations representing health professions and industry will contribute to the development of legislation or policy related to eHealth, by providing for example reports, opinions and relevant data.

The ESR has been accepted as a member of the eHealth stakeholder group of the European Commission. The complete list of the selected stakeholders can be found here .

Please visit the eHealth Stakeholder Group's website for more information.

Consultation on eHealth Action Plan 2012-2020

The European Commission launched a consultation on the eHealth Action Plan (eHAP) 2012-2020. This second eHealth Action Plan shall provide a longer term vision for eHealth in Europe.

The main topics to be addressed in this action plan are:

• Increase awareness of the benefits and opportunities of eHealth, and empower citizens, patients and healthcare professionals
• Address issues currently impeding eHealth interoperability
• Improve legal certainty for eHealth
• Support innovation and research in eHealth and development of a competitive European and global market.

In May 2011 the ESR submitted a response under the lead of the eHealth and Informatics Committee chair. The Commission analysed the responses and has published the result . The full report on the public consultation on eHealth Action Plan 2012-2020 can be found here . 

The most important issues pointed out in the report are:

• the need to support the systematic evaluation of the benefits and costs, effectiveness/usefulness of eHealth solutions
• improve interoperability and strengthening the evidence based approach
• facilitate cooperation between Member States

The eHealth Action Plan will also address the interoperability of electronic health records and telemedicine services and is planned to be published in 4Q 2012.

More information is available here . 

European Commission Communication on Telemedicine

In November 2008 the EC published a Communication on telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society.

The main aims of this communication are to:

• establish legal clarity in the area of ehealth
  
• solve technical issues and facilitating market development
• build confidence in and acceptance of telemedicine service

Different actions were put in place to gather information and consult stakeholders on this subject. The ESR is actively participating in these deliberations.

eHealth Governance Initative

The "eHealth Governance Initiative" is formed by the member states and led by the Austrian Health Ministry. It is in charge of following-up the Council Conclusion on eHealth of 1st December 2009 and will follow up the "European eHealth Interoperability Roadmap towards Sustainable Health", initially developed by the Calliope Network. The aim is a better coordination of European and national initiatives in the area of eHealth.