Telefónica opens global e-health unit

Telefónica has opened a new global e-health unit, which will see it create a number of products and services to help provide a patient centered, sustainable and efficient healthcare model.

The unit is based at the company’s head office in Madrid, Spain and will cover the 11 countries that Telefónica already operates in, including five in Europe and six in Latin America.

It was officially opened by the Spanish minister for health, Trinidada Jimenez, and the chairman of Telefónica, César Alierta, who said he wants Telefónica to become a benchmark and major player in the healthcare of the future.

Alierta added: “This global unit has a transversal character, and already has local units in Spain, Europe and Latin America, composed of professionals which define the strategy and planning of services and their industrialisation, operation and support.

"It aims to become a standard bearer in the areas of products, pilot projects and know-how.”

According to the company, it will sell services to local health organisations and to carers.

Products already developed include a sign language translation service, to link deaf people to call centres and other services, and systems to help people rehabilitate after surgery.

It says that integrated services networks and remote access to such services will increase efficiency and modernise the sector.

Telefónica is already working with Intel and Cisco on health projects and is a member of the Continua Health Alliance.

The company is also participating in more than 80 projects in telemedicine and telecare in nine countries.

Link: Telfonica