New moves to pull down barriers to electronic healthcare systems

The European Commission has launched a consultation on the barriers to the large-scale deployment of electronic healthcare systems and the actions needed to overcome them as it prepares its 2012-2020 eHealth Action Plan.

This is intended to build on the first such action plan (IP/04/580), which was launched in 2004.

In addition to considering barriers to adoption, the Commission wants views on the best ways to improve interoperability and on how the Commission should address legal issues related to eHealth.

The Commission says information and communication technologies are already central to dealing with the stresses facing healthcare systems across the EU, including the ageing population, a rise in chronic diseases, budget cuts and a shortage of healthcare workers. Examples of this include allowing remote diagnosis and remote monitoring of patients, the sharing of electronic patient records between healthcare professionals, and monitoring systems and alarms that make it possible for older people to remain independent and living in their own homes for longer.

However, the Commission says there is considerable potential to develop eHealth further in the future. Launching the consultation, Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda, said, “At a time when individuals and governments need to watch every euro, eHealth can help to improve the efficiency of healthcare systems and boost the economy, as well as empowering patients.”

Specifically, the questionnaire seeks feedback on the following goals:

•  to increase awareness of the benefits and opportunities of eHealth;
•  to address the problems of interoperability of eHealth systems;
•  to improve legal underpinnings for eHealth;
•  to support innovation and research in eHealth.

Public Consultation on the eHealth Action Plan (eHAP) 2012-2020: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/health/ehealth_ap_consultation/index_en.htm