e-Health

The Information Society offers new possibilities for improving almost every aspect of healthcare, from making medical systems more powerful to providing better health information to everyone.
European Challenges
Setting the Targets
Additional Links, Further Reading
eHealth: Commission calls for better use of technologies that empower patients, improve healthcare and save lives
“e-Health is today’s tool for substantial productivity gains, while providing tomorrow’s instrument for restructured, citizen-centred health care systems and, at the same time, respecting the diversity of Europe’s multi-cultural, multi-lingual health care traditions. There are many examples of successful e-Health developments including health information networks, electronic health records, telemedicine services, wearable and portable monitoring systems, and health portals.” - This is the view of e-Health developed in the 2004 e-Health Communication “e-Health refers to the use of modern information and communication technologies to meet needs of citizens, patients, healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, as well as policy makers.”
- This definition of e-Health was first developed in the
e-Health Ministerial Declaration,
22 May 2003, and made during the 2003
e-Health Ministerial Conference.

The impact of e-Health is, therefore, is as diverse as the sector itself, encompassing the quality of health-related Web content, patient data security, 'telemedicine' technologies, tackling administrative headaches for hospital staff, doctors and patients, and much more.
European Challenges
Realising these benefits, however, is complex and long-term. Healthcare systems are immensely complicated, both in terms of organisation and technologies. Health data is also particularly sensitive, so individuals' health information must be protected. Indeed, this is a very data-intensive sector.
Many of these issues, such as data privacy and public health, have a European dimension. Health authorities throughout Europe are now learning actively from each others' experience, sharing in building roadmaps and action plans. Co-ordinating research and development across Europe is helping accelerate the development of new e-Health technologies.
Meeting the eEurope goal of getting modern e-health services online by 2005 - as described in the eEurope 2005 Action Plan - requires top-level political commitment. This has been experienced both in the series of European Ministerial Conferences and in the ongoing commitment to the e-Health Action Plan. The first conference took place in Brussels, Belgium, in July 2003. The second conference took place in Ireland in May 2004. The third conference took place in Norway on 23-24 May 2005 (Conference conclusions). At all the conferences there were exhibitions held at which providers of Europe's best e-Health solutions exhibited, with the most outstanding receiving eEurope for
e-Health Awards. Now, identification of good practice continues to be approached through various benchmarking exercises and a number of studies.


Setting the Targets
In addition to these Conferences, the eEurope 2005 Action Plan sets out a number of policies and targets for both the European Commission and EU Member States. The success of this ambitious goal is achieved through:
Electronic Health Cards: The European health insurance card is to be adopted in 2008, replacing the paper-based forms citizens need for health treatment when in other Member States. The eEurope 2005 target is to build upon this, using Commission proposals for a common approach to patient identifiers and electronic health record architecture, and create a European electronic health card.
In June 2004, new regulations simplified procedures so that the electronic health insurance card will replace all the paper forms used while on a temporary stay (students, job seekers, workers posted abroad, sailors, truck drivers, travellers and tourists). Pilot activities and implementations are starting. Through DG Social Affairs and Employment, activities are underway to survey the number of electronic health insurance cards available throughout Europe.
Such cards could feature added functionalities, such as medical emergency data and secure access to personal health information. Combined with other developments, this could bring greater efficiency to health information management, continuity of care across Europe, and greater security and control for users over their health data.
Online Services: eEurope 2005 states that by the end of 2005 Commission and Member States will ensure that online health services are provided to citizens. Applications to be implemented by Member States include simple information provision services (e.g. healthy living advice) as well as clinical tools such as tele-consultation and administrative tools such as e-reimbursement.
The Commission services are monitoring the Member States' activities in both making health information accessible and implementing these quality criteria. A call for proposals on webseals has been launched as part of the 2005 work programme of the Public Health Programme. Other activities involve the development of health-related online services (e.g. air and water quality information) at the European level through the eTEN programme. A public health portal to improve the public health information in the EU will be implemented by the end of 2005, focusing on the kinds of health-related data of use to governments and also to citizens.
Health Information Networks: Health Information Networks aim to speed the flow of health information through the healthcare system, so they range in nature from local hospital-doctor-patient networks through to Europe-wide systems for spotting emerging health threats. They are, therefore, a crucial infrastructure for e-Health.
Under the eEurope 2005 action plan, Member States are to develop these networks between points of care (hospitals, laboratories and homes), rolling out broadband connectivity where required. The Commission is working in parallel at the European level, focusing on public health data and co-ordinating actions for Europe-wide rapid reactions to health threats.
Please see here for the
action plan for the European health area.


Projects
INFOBIOMED - 1st Training Challenge
The First INFOBIOMED Training Challenge is now launched. This innovative training experience organized by INFOBIOMED will take place in Viladrau (Barcelona, Spain) from the 12th to the 16th of September 2005...
More on ICT for Health webpage.


Additional Links, Further Reading
European Research: The European Commission has been supporting R&D into health telematics for some 15 years through the IST programme and its predecessors. Results include integrated regional health information networks, standardised electronic health records, reliable and effective telemedicine services (teleconsultation and home telemonitoring), as well as personal systems for citizens to support and manage their health status. For specific information on the work of the 'ICT for Health' Unit in the research and development area, please visit the e-Health website;
Other important activities already underway include improving the use of health information systems and services in the community pharmaceutical regulatory system, such as Eudravigilance (medicine safety), the Europharm Database and e-submission between regulatory authorities and industry. State-of-the-art development of innovative medicines, supported by use of information technologies, are also envisaged.
A number of benchmarking activities are encouraged within the eEurope initiative. Some associated reports with a health-related content include (but not limited to):
www.seniorwatch.de
www.sibis-eu.org
www.sibis-eu.org/sibis/handbook/handbook.htm
www.ebusiness-watch.org
www.einclusion-eu.org
www.biser-eu.com
www.euser-eu.org
Study on the use of advanced telecommunications services by health care establishments and possible implications for telecommunications regulatory policy of the European Union
IST Impact Study: Microelectronics & Microsystems, Health, Mobile Communications - see here for further information and the final report.
For general information on what is happening in e-Health in the ICT for Health Unit, please follow the links on our 'Information can save your life' page.

e-Learning

In a world increasingly based on knowledge and information, education and training are put at the core of the European agenda.
e-Learning: People and Technology
European Targets and Initiatives
Additional Links, Further Reading
eLearning Conference 2005
Europe's future economy and society are being formed in the classrooms of today. Students need to be both well educated in their chosen field and digitally literate if they are to to take part effectively in tomorrow's knowledge society. e-Learning - the integration of advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) into the education system - achieves both aims.
Europe also needs to make learning a lifelong endeavour, with people of all ages continuously developing their skills. Here too, e-Learning can make a significant contribution, with both workers and organisations transforming the way they learn, interact and work. Moreover, e-Learning can promote social integration and inclusion, opening access to learning for people with special needs and those living in difficult circumstances (marginalised groups, migrants, single parents, etc. ). See Skills for the Information Society.
Only about 27% of the EU workforce has received job-related computer training. Key skills include digital literacy and higher-order skills such as teamwork, problem solving and project management.
eLearning: People and Technology
Early attempts at computer-based training, however, were not successful, which is why e-Learning is about much more than just advanced technology. But what, exactly, is it?
"e-Learning: the use of new multimedia technologies and the Internet to improve the quality of learning by facilitating access to resources and services as well as remote exchanges and collaboration."
The eLearning Action Plan: Designing tomorrow's education,
2001 Modern e-learning solutions recognise the importance of learning as a social process, offering possibilities for collaboration with other learners, for interaction with the content and for guidance from teachers, trainers and tutors.
These learner-centred approaches put the learners back in command, with a wealth of learning resources at their fingertips, customised to their individual needs. Teachers and trainers, however, continue to play a central role, using virtual and traditional face-to-face interactions with their students in a 'blended' approach.


European Targets and Initiatives
Several EU initiatives aim to create a 'critical mass' of resources to leverage e-Learning development and use.
e-Learning was a priority within the original eEurope 2002 Action Plan. The eEurope 2002 Benchmarking Report
showed that the initial eEurope target of connecting all schools to Internet had been all but achieved by 2002, and that attention must therefore shift to better connections and wider educational use.
The eEurope 2005 Action Plan therefore set the following targets:
From e-Learning Initiative to Programme:
the eLearning Initiative has been supporting the co-ordination of European e-learning efforts at both European and national level since 2001. Under eEurope 2005, the Commission will:
Launch the e-Learning Programme (2004-2006) to continue this work and support priority areas, including the deployment of virtual campuses (below). The programme was proposed on December 2002, to be adopted in the Education Council of November 2003.
Analyse the European market for e-learning, including the private sector, to identify obstacles and propose remedies;
Virtual campuses for all students. All universities should offer on-line access for students and researchers to maximise the quality and efficiency of learning processes and activities by end 2005.
The e-Learning Initiative has already launched several pilot projects, which it will soon begin clustering together, and is publishing a study on virtual campus deployment. The e-Learning programme will continue this work in 2004;
Broadband connections: All schools and universities, as well as other institutions that play a key role in e-learning (museums, libraries, archives), should have broadband Internet access for educational and research purposes by end 2005 (see eEurope 2005/Broadband);
Grids for e-Learning: the Commission should launch, by end 2003, research and pilot projects in using advanced distributed computing systems ("GRIDs") and broadband networks to provide high quality learning facilities.
e-learning is also among the objectives of the Information Society Technologies (IST) programme, which is part of the EU Research Framework Programme. The focus of research in this area is on applications of technologies for user-centred learning, building on the concept of ubiquitous computing and on sound pedagogical principles. More:
Learning and Cultural Heritage.
Re-skilling for the knowledge society: while over 70% of the EU workforce think computer skills are important for employment, only about 27% has received job-related computer training. By end 2003, the Member States, where appropriate using Structural Funds and with Commission support, should launch actions to provide adults the key skills they need.
Reskilling is therefore be an important topic within the e-Learning Initiative's preparatory actions and will be picked up by the e-Learning Programme under the heading of Promoting Digital Literacy.


Additional Links, Further Reading
From the IST Research Programme:
Preparatory work in the field to prepare for the new research priority, and links to relevant initiatives in the previous programme:
Workshop, October 2003, between national experts and the Commission on building links to the Member States' e-learning research programmes;
Publications list:
From the e-Learning Initiative and Programme:
e-Learning Action Plan
e-Learning Programme proposal
The European e-Learning Portal
Education and Training
Other key policy documents:
Making a European Area of Lifelong Learning a Reality
The Concrete Future Objectives of Education and Training Systems
Key Organisations
PROMETEUS (Promoting Multimedia Access to Education and Training in European Society), a partnership involving over 400 organisations;
ISTC: Read the Final Report of the ISTC's Working Party on Education and Training;
ESDIS (the High level Group on the Employment and Social Dimension of the Information Society): supports the European Commission in analysing the impact of the information society on employment and social cohesion, identifying and disseminating best practices on issues such as e-Inclusion and on training for the knowledge society.
For further information on e-Learning, see here and here.

e-Business

The term 'e-business' covers both e-commerce (buying and selling online) and the restructuring of business processes to make the best use of digital technologies. It will profoundly affect all aspects of the European economy and the way people will work in the 21st Century, offering opportunities and posing challenges to companies and consumers across Europe.

eEurope 2005 e-Business Actions in Brief
Policy and information actions in the field of law
Interoperability and standards
Human resources
Awareness and support actions

Europe's Single Market was created by eliminating barriers for companies wanting to do business across the EU, providing a much larger 'home market', enabling an increasingly competitive, globalised economy.One barrier that European Single Market legislation could not eliminate, however, was that of distance. e-Business helps eliminate this barrier, allowing all companies to trade worldwide from a single website.
An 'eCommerce enabled' Single Market could, therefore, provide European firms with a critical boost to their competitiveness. This is particularly the case for Europe's Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which normally find it difficult to trade beyond their region or country, and can also face difficulties adopting new technologies.
A number of other obstacles stand in the way of e-Business fulfilling its promise, such as ensuring consumers' trust and confidence in trading on-line, ensuring users' privacy and consumer rights, interoperability issues and more.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) allow new forms of partnership between companies, suppliers and consumers, improving the way they work and the products and services they offer. This will require both new technologies and new sets of skills throughout the workforce.

eEurope 2005 e-Business Actions in Brief:

Europe has already made significant progress in all of the above areas, from the eCommerce Communication in 1997 to the creation of the future .eu domain in 2003 and the ongoing support to research, development and SMEs.
To reach the eEurope target of 'a dynamic e-Business environment by 2005', the Commission is pushing forward on a number of fronts:

Policy and Information Actions in the Field of Law:

Reviewing relevant European legislation preventing e-Business uptake, with a major e-business summit planned for February 2004 involving high-level business representatives;
Improving Trust and Confidence in e-Business through establishing a European on-line dispute resolution mechanism, information systems on legal issues, trustmark requirements, and more;

Interoperability and Standards:

Supporting the development of interoperable business solutions for transactions, security, signatures, procurements and mobile payments;

Human Resources:

Analysing "eSkills" supply and demand in Europe, and creating Europe-wide e-Skills definitions;

Awareness and Support Actions:

Establishing an e-Business support network to strengthen and coordinate SME e-Business support actions;
Raising awareness on the real benefits obtained by European SMEs by implementing advanced e-Business solutions in the context of the IST programme with showcases interchange and organisation of the e-Challenges annual conference;
Funding the e-Business Watch Function to provide a wealth of information on the impact and uptake of e-Business at sectoral level across the EU.
For further information on e-Business, see here.

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