Brussels, 20/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Last week in Washington, Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Digital Strategy, and Kathleen Sebelius, US Secretary of State for Health and Social Affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding to promote a joint approach on the interoperability of electronic health records and on education programmes for information technology and health professionals. Common standards and interoperability stand to create huge growth opportunities for the eHealth industry as well as having a positive impact on the safety and quality of care. A skilled health IT workforce is necessary to make the benefits of eHealth services available to patients. This agreement aims to boost the potential of the eHealth market for EU companies wishing to do business in the US and vice versa. Promoting the use of eHealth technologies, with a view to improving the quality of health care, reducing medical costs and fostering independent living, including in remote places, is a key objective of the Digital Agenda for Europe, the Commission explained. Neelie Kroes declared: “I warmly welcome today's agreement. It is an excellent basis for the Commission and the US authorities to expand our cooperation on promoting the overall benefits of eHealth for patients, health systems and companies.” The commission explained that this partnership between the two world leaders in eHealth (the EU and US) sends out a clear message to all stakeholders because it emphasises that common standards and interoperability will help develop a global approach to the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and the market. (I.L./transl.fl)