eHealth & Equity in the Global Health Communities Unit H1 – ICT for Health DG INFSO. European Commission Brussels, Thursday 15 December 2011

2 Council of European Union In 2006 the Council of the European Union agreed to a set of Common Values and Principles in EU Health Systems The overarching values are: Universality, Access to good quality care, Equity, Solidarity The operating principles are: Quality, Safety, Care that is based on evidence and ethics, Patient involvement, Redress when things go wrong, Privacy and Confidentiality

3 Health inequity in EU Life expectancy gaps: Between EU Member States there is a 5-fold difference in deaths of babies under one year of age, a 14 year gap in life expectancy at birth for men and an 8 year gap for women Large differences (up to 20 years) in the number of years lived in good health (Healthy Life Years) Significant economic costs: Health inequalities related losses have a significant impact on productivity - estimated to cost around 141 billion annually Increased poverty and social exclusion: Health, poverty and social exclusion are strongly interrelated

4 Some facts - Challenges for European Health Systems Pressure on healthcare systems: Citizens expectations for high-quality care Demographic changes Increased prevalence of chronic diseases Increased mobility of citizens and patients Staff shortages, unequal territorial distribution Reactive model of healthcare delivery Rising healthcare costs How to offer high-quality & affordable care?

5 eHealth for equity! (Public consultation: stakeholders opinion on benefits) a. Improving the quality of healthcare services delivery % b. Reducing costs and contributing to the sustainability of healthcare systems % c. Ensuring wider access to health-related information by patients, healthcare professionals and other key actors % d. Enhancing learning opportunities for healthcare professionals % e. Improving access to services39 19,11% f. Providing a tangible benefit to society as a whole2210,23% g. Increasing equity178.33% h. No potential benefits envisioned31,72%

6 Europe 2020: Digital Agenda Directive EU 2011/24 Patients rights in cross-border healthcare, eHealth Network: -Minimum health data -Use of medical information -Common identification and authentication eHealth Strategic Framework eGovernment: -eID -eSignature eHealth action plan: -Legal issues -User acceptance -Interoperability Data protection Directive EU Standardisation framework European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing Included key actions 13 and 14 of the Digital Agenda eHealth task force

7 Digital Agenda for Europe eHealth Actions Action 75 Work with Member States to equip Europeans with secure online access to their medical health data by 2015 By 2020 widespread deployment of telemedicine services; Action 76 Propose a recommendation to define a minimum common set of patient data to be accessed/exchanged across Member States by 2012; Action 77 Foster EU wide standards, interoperability testing and certification of eHealth systems by 2015;

8 eHealth for health – a look ahead eHealth Governance Initiative A mechanism to link operational projects to political objectives Facilitate cooperation between MS at three levels: Political Strategic Operational (epSOS and similar future initiatives) Make sure that initiatives like epSOS are noted and taken up by decision makers at national level Participants: Member States Representatives + stakeholders Link with eHealth Network Art 14 (?) Timeline: 2011 for 3 years

9 EIP Active Health Ageing - AIM To add 2 years to the average healthy lifespan in the EU by 2020 by Developing innovative products and services for longer healthier lives Helping social and healthcare systems to be sustainable, Spur innovation and encourage competitive markets

10 EIP AHA – Main areas of work Innovation in Prevention and Early Diagnosis Framework Conditions and Evidence Innovation in Care & Cure

11 EIP: First set of actions 2012 Innovative ways to ensure patients follow their prescriptions – a concerted action in at least 30 European regions; Innovative solutions to prevent falls and support early diagnosis for older people; Co-operation to help prevent functional decline and frailty, with a particular focus on malnutrition; Spread and promote successful innovative integrated care models for chronic diseases amongst older patients, such as through remote monitoring. Action should be taken in a number of the EUs regions; Improve the uptake of interoperable ICT independent living solutions through global standards to help older people stay independent, mobile and active for longer. ageing&pg=implementation-plan

12 Conclusions Healthcare systems are under pressure, EC is committed to support stakeholders in meeting these challenges. eHealth can help Same challenges can be best answered by cooperation and sharing experiences – Partnership between stakeholder local, regional, national and global level is key to achieve success

13 Annual event: eHealth Week Programme, Satellite meetings, Exhibition, Networking, Social events, etc: History of the eHealth Ministerial conferences since 2003:

14 Thank you! For further information: INFSO ICT for Health Policy & Research: eHealth Weeks (ministerial + WoHIT) Interactive Portal/Examples: