High Level eHealth Conference 2015

Project Information

EHW15

Grant agreement ID: 685436

DOI

10.3030/685436

Project closed

EC signature date 5 May 2015

Start date 19 March 2015

End date 18 August 2015

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being

Total cost

€ 312 398,50

EU contribution

€ 300 000,00

Coordinated by

NACIONALAIS VESELIBAS DIENESTS
Latvia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EHW15 (High Level eHealth Conference 2015)

Reporting period: 2015-03-19 to 2015-08-18

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

High Level eHealth Conference 2015
Latvia took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2015. In order to emphasise the importance of the Digital Single Market and its opportunities as well as challenges related to the development of the Digital Single Market, the Latvian Presidency organised number of meetings, discussion and conferences that served as input to the political agenda and ongoing processes.
A vital role in patient-oriented healthcare and in raising citizens' involvement in the maintenance of their own health play eHealth and mHealth (mobile health) both of which were emphasised at the High Level eHealth Conference entitled “Me and my Health – Transcending Borders”. The conference underlined the need to introduce innovative and sustainable eHealth funding and payment mechanisms and to provide systematic training and other support mechanisms for medical personnel to promote efficiency and safe transition to an eHealth-based integrated healthcare model. The conference participants also stressed the need to improve citizens’ digital skills and knowledge about health in order for them to use eHealth solutions in the communication between the citizens and healthcare professionals, and to promote research in eHealth. Taking into consideration the results of the European Commission Public Consultation on the Green Paper on Mobile Health the conference also discussed further steps for promoting wider use and implementation of mHealth at EU, national and regional level.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The conference took place in Riga on 11–13 May under the “eHealth Week 2015” which is the largest annual eHealth event in Europe and was organised by the Ministry of Health of Latvia, the National Health Service, the European Commission and in cooperation with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

The Conference can be considered as a success in term of participation, high quality of the speakers and presentations and engagement of all players: politicians, experts, managers, health IT professionals, health care professionals and providers, patients and other stakeholders. A total of 1334 participants (including 280 Ministerial conference participants) and 81 exhibitors from across Europe gathered in the Conference to exchange knowledge and share best practices as part of the annual eHealth Week and exhibition.

Apart from the conference, the Presidency held high level discussion regarding patient empowerment during the Working Lunch on 11 May 2015. Representatives of High Level delegations from the EU member states came together in order to discuss on actions and practical steps needed, how can governments can influence patient empowerment, encourage and engagement using technologies, especially the potential of mHealth for patient empowerment, prevention and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare systems.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

"Based on the conference sessions and discussions held in the Working Lunch the conference conclusions have been made highlighting common issues and acknowledgements raised during the conference and a call of the participants of eHealth Week 2015 on practical steps that should be taken by Member States of the European Union and industry leaders. The Conference conclusions have been made publicly available in the home page of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia.
As Commissioner Andriukaitis highlighted in his speech during the conference opening ceremony: ""By coming together at events such as this and by sharing experiences in the Member States and at EU level, we will drive forward the case for eHealth"".
"

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