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by | May 7, 2012 | Uncategorized

eHealth week– pursuing better accessibility and expanded literacy

Hosted by the Danish presidency, the eHealth week 2012 is taking place during this week in Copenhagen. The three-days long (May 7 to 9) series of high-level conferences, seminars and workshops are run under the motto “Smart Health, Better Lives.”

This years’ eHealth week focuses on enhancing the continuity of care and patient-centric health services by applying innovative eHealth solutions in two fronts: fostering cross-border healthcare; and managing chronic diseases to enhance patient empowerment and prevention. Participants in Copenhagen are also discussing ways to meet demographic challenges in the context of the European Commission’s Strategic Implementation Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Healthy and Active Ageing.

Against this background, EPHA strongly believes that patient empowerment is invariably linked to access – e.g. through the inclusion of non-traditional digital users such as the elderly, and the disabled. Technology holds an enormous potential to help all population groups make informed health choices. Nevertheless, it requires a robust interconnection between health literacy and digital literacy.

While eHealth can enable patients to play a more active part in managing their own health, it may also increase existing health inequalities. Only those able to afford the necessary tools and gain the right skills are equipped to navigate online. Until the eHealth playing field is not levelled, threats such as misinterpretation of information, abuse of patient data, and advertising targeting vulnerable groups loom large.

eHealth is a precious tool for patients and health professionals. It can serve many purposes – from raising awareness and fostering training to improve the quality and continuity of care. Nevertheless, up to 150 million Europeans (30 percent of the total population) have never been online. In addition, there are vast differences in uptake of eHealth solutions between different European countries, regions, and social groups. As more and more aspects of our lives happen online, eHealth emerges as a complementary way forward. Yet, Europe’s digital divide hinders the vast advantages that the still-nascent eHealth paradigm offers.

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