Boosting eHealth: New EU Action Plan

Boosting eHealth: New EU Action Plan
Managing your health and wellbeing with the help of digital and online tools is set to become easier and more commonplace following the adoption of a second EU Action Plan for eHealth. This Action Plan - which runs from 2012 to 2020 - aims to make healthcare more efficient, cost-effective and patient oriented. In 2014, the Commission will also present ideas to boost Mobile Health, e.g. real-time monitoring of patients' vital signs via mobile telemedicine.


Plan targets five key areas:

  • Awareness and skills, to make better use of eHealth;
  • Proactive patient management of personal health;
  • Improved interoperability of different healthcare systems;
  • A clearer legal framework;
  • Support for eHealth start-up businesses, including free legal advice and funding.

Studies show that eHealth can have significant economic advantages: in Italy alone the introduction of digital technologies in the health sector is estimated to save over €12 billion. It also has the potential to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary medical appointments and hospital stays.

"eHealth brings healthcare closer to people," said Commissioner Tonio Borg, who presented the proposals alongside Neelie Kroes, Commission Vice-President responsible for the Digital Agenda. "The Action Plan will help turn the eHealth potential into better care for our citizens."

Download: Boosting eHealth: New EU Action Plan (.pdf, 114 KB).

Download from eHealthNews.eu Portal's mirror: Boosting eHealth: New EU Action Plan (.pdf, 114 KB).

Most Popular Now

AI Tools Help Predict Severe Asthma Risk…

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed artificial intelligence (AI) tools that help identify which children with asthma face the highest risk of serious asthma exacerbation and acute respiratory infections. The study...

ChatGPT 4o Therapeutic Chatbot 'Ama…

One of the first randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of a large language model (LLM) chatbot 'Amanda' for relationship support shows that a single session of chatbot therapy...

AI Distinguishes Glioblastoma from Look-…

A Harvard Medical School–led research team has developed an AI tool that can reliably tell apart two look-alike cancers found in the brain but with different origins, behaviors, and treatments. The...

Overcoming the AI Applicability Crisis a…

Opinion Article by Harry Lykostratis, Chief Executive, Open Medical. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan makes a lot of the potential of AI-software to support clinical decision making, improve productivity, and...

Smart Device Uses AI and Bioelectronics …

As a wound heals, it goes through several stages: clotting to stop bleeding, immune system response, scabbing, and scarring. A wearable device called "a-Heal," designed by engineers at the University...

Dartford and Gravesham Implements Clinis…

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has taken a significant step towards a more digital future by rolling out electronic test ordering using Clinisys ICE. The trust deployed the order communications...

AI Body Composition Measurements can Pre…

Adiposity - or the accumulation of excess fat in the body - is a known driver of cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease...