eHealth:

Lessons from Europe

eHealth:

Lessons from Europe

AARP conference, Washington, D.C.23rd March, 2006

John O’Toole, Health John O’Toole, Health CounsellorCounsellor,,

Permanent Representation of Ireland to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the

EUEU

john.otoole@dfa.iejohn.otoole@dfa.ie

European UnionEuropean Union••25 Member States 450m people25 Member States 450m people

• (Bel, CZ, DK, DE, Est, GR, Esp, FR, IE, IT, Cyp, Lat, Lit, Lux, Hun, Mal, NL, Ost, Pol, PT, SI, SK, FIN, SE, UK)

••20 official languages20 official languages

••Health Europe Health Europe -- public sectorpublic sector

••Commission Parliament Commission Parliament Council of MinistersCouncil of Ministers

European Health SystemsEuropean Health SystemsTwo main challenges:Two main challenges:

••Costs: explosion in costs of Costs: explosion in costs of provision provision –– need to find need to find affordable ways to provideaffordable ways to provide

••Viability: sustainability to Viability: sustainability to cope with demographic cope with demographic change, demand crises, & change, demand crises, & growth in expectationsgrowth in expectations

• Cost explosion• Fragmented delivery • Rigid structures • Resource mis-management • Information overload

Well known fact:Well known fact: HHealth challenges

• Ageing population • Unequal access• Patient dis-satisfaction• Unsatisfactory outcomes• Vested interests

Well known fact:Well known fact: HHealth challenges

Less known fact:Less known fact: eeHealth can help to:

•Empower Patients with Information•Reduce Gaps remote/at risk groups•Enable continuity of care •Help information management •Support autonomy & mobility

Less known fact:Less known fact: eeHealth can help to:

• Be cost-effective• Improve productivity• Facilitate exchange of best practice• Improve communication• Facilitate patient mobility

Support reform and organisation:

- Integrated Regional Health Information Network with

- Electronic health records,

-e-prescriptions, e-referrals

- Telemedicine services

Vision:Person-centred health systems

- Information infrastructure for research & clinical care

Empower patientsPersonal health systems (wearable, implantable)

Keep people healthyInformation for disease preventionLifestyle management

Provide tools to health ProfessionalsDecision supportPortable med. imaging

Research areas and achievements to date:

*ACCESS *QUALITY *COST *EQUITY*ACCESS *QUALITY *COST *EQUITY••To strengthen: electronic health records, To strengthen: electronic health records, healthcardshealthcards, telemedicine, medical imaging, , telemedicine, medical imaging, ePrescriptionePrescription

••To stimulate investment & deployment in EU To stimulate investment & deployment in EU

••To accelerate awareness of To accelerate awareness of eHealtheHealth benefitsbenefits

••To provide Health Information Space & To provide Health Information Space & interoperability (by 2008)interoperability (by 2008)

Commission Action Plan 2004Commission Action Plan 2004

Action plan for a EU e-Health AreaAction plan for a EU e-Health Area

3 activities3 activities::

••Addressing common challenges Addressing common challenges

••Pilot action: accelerate actions & Pilot action: accelerate actions & implementationimplementation

••Encouraging good/best practiceEncouraging good/best practice

Tools: EC Tools: EC ProgrammesProgrammes, EC Promotion initiatives, , EC Promotion initiatives, regional funds, national fundsregional funds, national funds

eHealtheHealth 2006 Ministerial Conference, Malaga, 2006 Ministerial Conference, Malaga, Spain, 10Spain, 10--12 May12 May

Action Plan - examplesAction Plan - examples

•• Best practices collection Best practices collection

•• National/regional roadmapsNational/regional roadmaps

•• Common EU patient identifier Common EU patient identifier

•• Interoperability EHR & Interoperability EHR & messagesmessages

•• Boost investmentBoost investment

European Health Insurance European Health Insurance Card Card

Work on multiWork on multi--application single application single smart cards as a secure personal smart cards as a secure personal identification system to access & identification system to access & store medical & health insurance store medical & health insurance datadata

Research activities & Research activities & achievementsachievements

* Personal health support * Personal health support systems for monitoring systems for monitoring

* Assisting in: * Assisting in: -- Prevention Prevention -- Autonomy Autonomy -- Patient educationPatient education-- Lifestyle managementLifestyle management

CustomisedCustomised information & treatmentinformation & treatment

Bringing advances in genomics to health:Bringing advances in genomics to health:

•• Support new imaging technologies Support new imaging technologies

•• Improved understanding of Improved understanding of

health determinants health determinants

•• ModellingModelling and simulation: and simulation:

•Biological processes, diseases•eCell, eOrgan Virtual Human

Future research activitiesFuture research activities

ICT Research

EUROPE: € 80 per capita

U S: €350 per capita

Brakes on eHealth in Europe

• Structural Rigidities• Language/System/Standard• Fragmented Service Markets• National Competitive Tendencies• Inflexible Labour Markets• Heavy Regulation/Red Tape• Lack of Competition

Added Value EU eHealth

• Exchange Best/Good Practice• Ensure Minimum Conditions• Act Regulatory issues together• Data Protection & Privacy• Allows stakeholders joint action

MESSAGE FROM EUROPE

• Does IT Work in Health Sector?

•Yes, it does, but the roll-out is taking place very slowly!

Thank you for your attention!