The European Commission has recently published a Public consultation on Transformation of Health and Care in the Digital Single Market. Demographic change, increased longevity, the rise of chronic conditions and the re-emergence of infectious diseases combine into a major challenge for health care provision in Europe. Digital technologies can offer cost-effective tools to support the transition from a hospital-based health care model to a patient-centred and integrated model, improve access to care, and contribute to the sustainability and resilience of healthcare systems.

Therefore, the purpose of the consultation is to define the need and scope of policy measures that will promote digital innovation in improving people’s health, and address systemic challenges to healthcare systems.

The consultation seeks to collect information on:

  • Cross-border access and portability of personal health data
  • Sharing of resources that will accelerate research and advance prevention, treatment and personalised medicine.
  • Measures to ensure widespread uptake of digital innovations, enabling more patient centered and integrated healthcare, and allowing for feedback and interaction between patients and healthcare providers.

The consultation is aimed at several target groups including health and social care professionals and organisations, public authorities, organised civil society, hospitals, providers of health and social care, and citizens.

Submissions can be made in any EU language, and respondents are encouraged to use the online questionnaire which will remain open until 12th October 2017.

You can also send your answer via email with your reply attached as Word, PDF or ODF.

A short summary of the consultation results will be published within 1 month after the consultation closes. A synopsis report with a qualitative analysis of all consultation activities will be issued within 3 weeks of the closing data of the consultation.

You can find out more about the consultation on the European Commission website.