EU sets e-health map for 2009 - Ilias Iakovidis on Telemedicine and VPH priorities
From E-Health Europe News:
"Ilias Iakovidis and Michael Palmer, of the European Commission’s ICT for health unit, tell E-Health Europe’s Outi Alapekkala how e-health will develop in 2009 and far beyond.
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“In 2009 our priorities are interoperability and telemedicine,” Ilias Iakovidis, the deputy head of unit, told E-Health Europe. However, these are far from being one-year plans, he said. Iakovidis said interoperability, which has been under development for the last 15 years, and telemedicine is set to occupy the scene at least the coming five years.
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Commenting on the likely impact of the deteriorating European economy, Iakovidis and Palmer say the current economic crisis could offer a huge opportunity to invest in e-health to stimulate jobs and economic growth.
Major investments in e-health infrastructure like Géant-type wireless network between hospitals and linking patients through ADSL with telemedicine centres is “a type of investment that will pay off”, said Iakovidis. He predicts a surge of new businesses creating jobs and new services around such infrastructure."
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