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| Electronic records before man on Mars |
Ilias Iakovodis, the deputy head of European Commission’s e-health unit, says that a long-term sustained effort over the next two decades is needed to ensure that all citizens get the benefits of electronic health records and other e-health services.
In an exclusive extended interview with E-Health Europe, Ilias Iakovidis and Michael Palmer, of the European Commission’s ICT for health unit, set out how they believe e-health will develop in 2009 and far beyond.
He suggests that achieving full implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems across Europe, may take another 15-30 more years to achieve. “However, my bet is to be there before we go to Mars,” says Iakovidis, referring to the mission slated for 2033.
By the time man walks on Mars he believes that it should be within the reach of all EU member states to have a shareable EHR that “ideally” allows cross-border sharing of patient information.
A key step on this interoperability journey started in earnest in 2009 with the start of epSOS, the €22m joint shared, cross border electronic records pilot by the Commission and 12 EU member states and industry players.
The key enabling areas of interoperability and telemedicine are set to remain the European Commission’s priority areas for 2009, and are set to top the agenda for the next five years.
More immediately, Palmer explains that following the Commission’s November 2008 communication on telemedicine, the main aim of the ICT for health unit is to keep momentum building on developing a solid legal framework for telemedicine in Europe.
Palmer says work will also continue on the e-health lead market initiative, launched in January 2008 this is pursuing standardisation efforts. Parallel work on systems accreditation, led by Eurorec, is also gathering momentum.
“We need this, because currently it is ‘the Wild West’ regarding who uses open or closed systems and which standards,” says Iakovidis.
Commenting on the likely impact of the deteriorating European economy, Iakovidis and Palmer say the current economic crisis could offer a huge opportunity to invest in e-health to stimulate jobs and economic growth. E-Health, they suggest, may prove a key to the future health of the European economy.
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