Brussels, 14/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Irish Presidency of the EU Council is, from 13 to 15 May, celebrating the “eHealth Week” in order to attract attention to the advantages provided by new technologies for improving healthcare and benefits for patients. The commissioner for the digital agenda, Neelie Kroes, pointed out when speaking at the high level conference in Dublin on 13 May as part of this event that Europe would, in coming decades, experience a major rise in the number of older people among its population. This poses a real challenge for healthcare systems in Europe, which are already affected by the economic crisis. “Our healthcare model is under pressure, in a world where there's more chronic and degenerative conditions. And yet those same health systems, like so much else at the moment, face up to a lack of resources. There's a huge potential in eHealth”, Kroes said. In December 2012, the European Commission adopted an eHealth action plan that covers solutions for improving European Union health systems (see EUROPE 10747). “Now we need to implement the actions identified in the eHealth action plan”, Kroes went on to say. On this occasion, the commissioner also awarded eHealth prizes to Finnish, German, Italian, Dutch, Swiss and British projects. EHealth trophies support and reward those who work with a view to developing solutions and applications in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) for health. The competition was organised in collaboration with TICBioMed and the winners were selected from a shortlist of 15 finalists. “Your inspiring ideas show us how eHealth tools can help patients to take control of their health and support doctors and health and care professionals”, Kroes said. (IL/transl.jl)