Brussels, 04/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Europe must do better to rationalise its healthcare costs, given the developing democratic challenge. This objective is possible because the technological instruments required for improving national systems at lower costs exist. This is the message launched by Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, at the conference on the European partnership for active and healthy ageing on 3 April. The commissioner stated: “We need a whole new way of operating, to turn this into an opportunity, to turn costs into investments…we do not need to invent or develop it: it's there. The technology exists. This is no longer the issue. It's about culture, organisation, legal frameworks, reimbursement, and so on.” She then congratulated the initiatives taken by certain member states, particularly the United Kingdom, which are adopting increasing numbers of initiatives in telehealth.
The European Commission will continue to support change in health care and provide a framework for encouraging new initiatives and collaborating with appropriate stakeholders. It will closely monitor all action taken within the European partnership for innovation, so as to assess its impact and encourage other actors to participate in these initiatives. In November 2012, a conference will be held that will bring all the different partners together. This will help evaluate the action already taken and analyse what possible changes need to be undertaken in the future. The Commission will also continue to introduce regulation by proposing new legislative provisions and continuing standardisation exercises, in addition to encouraging good practices and providing appropriate stakeholders with existing funding. (IL/transl.fl)