EU issues telemedicine update

The European Commission has published a new staff working paper on telemedicine which adds further detail to the ‘Communication’ on telemedicine published last November.

The new paper gives more detail of the consultation phase that was undertaken in preparation of the initiative, the policy context and the relevant legal aspects. The document also provides examples how wider deployment of telemedicine can affect individual patients, healthcare systems and society.

The November 2008 telemedicine communication proposed a set of actions aimed at enabling wider deployment of telemedicine services, focusing on three main priorities to build confidence and acceptance of telemedicine services, build legal clarity and encourage wider deployment.

At the end of June the European Economic and Social Committee gave strong support to the initiative when they encouraged EU states to integrate telemedicine into their health policies.

The telemedicine policy initiative was developed in the general context of European healthcare systems that are under increasing pressure from societal challenges and need to develop innovative responses.

Despite widespread support for telemedicine among EU states, and the relatively high level of maturity of different technologies, the sector is not, however, as well developed as it could be expected. The telemedicine communication aims to promote the wider use of telemedicine.

Link

Staff working paper – Telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society