At the EPSCO meeting were identified
areas for closer collaboration among Member States and possible EU level
actions to overcome the main challenges of data-driven digital innovation in
health. This could be relevant as the EPSCO
urges that digital technologies must support the overall health policy goals.
Possible
areas of further cooperation include:
- A better
alignment of regulatory and data governance approaches when implementing
the new EU Data Protection Regulation,
- Extending
the cross-border health data exchange
- Building
common data platforms to facilitate reuse of data for research and
innovation.
- Better
prevention and treatment of diseases Digital Europe and free movement of
data is one of the overall priorities of the Estonian presidency. With the
spread of digital technologies, large amounts of data are produced in
health sector, which could be used for advanced data analytics to support
prevention and treatment of diseases and to contribute to the research and
innovation.
- To
support the implementation of digital solutions, the EU funding mechanisms
were found to play an important role in leveraging Member State
investments in ICT solutions and eHealth.
- Empowering
patients, keeping health care systems sustainable European 21 for Health
and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis outlined the Commission's latest
initiative in this area – the Communication on Digital Health and
announced that a public
consultation on the communication on digital health will be launched (see
above)
- Based
on the discussions the Estonian Presidency plans to propose Council
Conclusions to be adopted at Employment, Social Policy, Health and
Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting in December in Brussels.
Background:
The EPSCO Council brings together ministers
responsible for employment, social affairs, health and consumer policy from all
EU member states. Relevant European Commissioners also participate in meetings. There are four EPSCO meetings a year. Two of the
meetings are generally devoted exclusively to employment and social policy
topics.
