Health for all: European mobile health hub
The rise in the ageing population comes in hand with an increase in healthcare needs to address chronic diseases. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions help to diagnose these conditions earlier and empower patients towards self-management. With respect to non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, mobile technologies help to raise awareness of risk factors, as well as track and manage the disease at home.
A European mHealth hub
The mission of the EU-funded WHO ITU mHealth project was to introduce mHealth solutions to healthcare systems across Europe and ensure that they benefit from them. The consortium developed national mHealth interventions in selected EU Member States and also founded a centralised ‘Knowledge and Innovations Hub for mHealth’ to monitor and enable mHealth adoption and innovation. “The European mHealth Knowledge and Innovations Hub will become a strategic resource in the development of safe and accessible health solutions for everyone,” emphasises project coordinator Simona Pestina.
Introduction of knowledge tools
To reach this goal, the consortium produced knowledge tools with a focus on the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. The purpose of the health apps assessment frameworks tool is to guide software developers on safety, quality, reliability and effectiveness criteria to improve mHealth apps. “This tool also offers an overview of the 25 health apps assessment frameworks and 22 repositories currently in Europe and will provide the basis for common assessment components to be used or adopted across different countries,” explains Arturs Mietulis from WHO. The intervention-specific mHealth programme for type 2 diabetes tool addresses the medical challenges of diabetes, which affects both adults and children across Europe. It integrates the available knowledge on the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, supported by mobile solutions in a person-centred approach. The introduction of algorithms allows the identification of the right solution available on the market depending on individual needs. The integration of mHealth in health systems tool represents a comprehensive collection of relevant experiences and approaches to implementing mHealth solutions in existing healthcare systems. This tool focuses on lessons learnt and success factors, aiming to support people-centred health services.
Common European mHealth policies
WHO-ITU-mHealth worked closely with national policymakers in target countries to provide tailored support and co-create strategies as well as country roadmaps and frameworks. “The Hub did not only analyse the different needs and expectations of the different stakeholders in this entire ecosystem but made them work together in a complementary way,” outlines Belen Sotillos from Andalusia Ministry of Health. The interoperability and standardisation of sharing health information across European countries has the potential to implement the common mHealth policies proposed by the consortium. To ensure Hub sustainability beyond the project duration, a service portfolio has been created. This offers a comprehensive view of mHealth in Europe and can be tailored to meet a country’s needs. Project deliverables were disseminated through 46 events, including workshops and Hub talks that offer a continuous discussion around mHealth topics of interest to the community. The digital magazine summarises the project’s activities and promotes the broad uptake of mHealth solutions.
Keywords
WHO-ITU-mHealth, mHealth, hub, tool, diabetes, mobile health, healthcare system, mHealth policies