Medical devices
(BRUSSELS) – The European Commission launched a public consultation Thursday on how Europe should promote digital innovation in health and care, for the benefits of citizens and health systems in Europe.
Demographic change, growing prevalence of chronic diseases, re-emergence of infectious diseases and the rising cost of healthcare poses major challenges for healthcare provisions in Europe.
The Commission believes that digital innovation can offer cost-effective tools to support the transition from a hospital-based healthcare model to a person-centred and integrated model; to improve health promotion, prevention and access to care, and contribute to the sustainability and resilience of healthcare systems; make effective the public’s right to access their health data everywhere in Europe; and help improve surveillance and early detection of infectious outbreaks. It can also drastically advance the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
The input from the consultation will feed into a new policy Communication, which is expected by the end of the year.
In a statement, the Commission said the consultation would help it “identify ways to offer citizens, medical professionals and researchers better access to health data, prevention, rapid response to pandemic threats, personalised treatments and care.”
Digital initiatives would be looking to deliver on the free movement of patients and data, support modernisation of national health systems, and bring together scattered evidence and innovative knowledge from across Europe.
The consultation will collect information on three main pillars:
- Citizens’ secure access to their health data and the possibility to share it across borders, clarifying citizens’ rights and enhancing interoperability of electronic health records in Europe;
- Connecting and sharing data and expertise to advance research, personalise health and care, and better anticipate epidemics;
- Using digital services to promote citizen empowerment and integrated person-centred care.
Citizens, patient organisations, health and care professionals, public authorities, researchers, industries, investors, insurers and users of digital health tools are all invited to share their views via EU Survey until 12 October 2017.
Digital Single Market Mid-term review
