Joint eHealth Actions in EU for the next three years

The purpose of this work is to present the actions concerning alignment of eHealth policy issues between Member States in EU in the framework of the third EU Health Programme 2014-2020 and the Greek role. On the EU level the eHealth Network (eHN) is the central political platform to coordinate and prepare the respective actions. Those actions are technically designing and supporting by the body of the Member States who participating in the 6th Joint Action: Support of eHealth Network (eHN JA). The eHN JA body has the intention to act as the main preparatory body for the eHealth Network (eHN). eHealth policy is rolling out large-scale eHealth investments to cross-border eHealth services. Having the experience of programs concerning eHealth services, now the interest shifts to eHealth services to support cross-border exchange of health data. Citizens in EU are crossing borders more often as labor migrants, tourists or as patients to have special care, the transferability of health data across borders is important to guarantee coordination and continuity of health services provided by different health care providers in different countries. Aspects of organizational, technical, semantic and legal interoperability of ICT in health are a prerequisite that this cross border transactions of health data can actually be implemented. Following the adoption of “Guidelines on a Minimum Patient Summary Dataset for Electronic Exchange” the next step is the eHealth policy in EU level is the adoption of “Guidelines supporting Member States in developing the interoperability of ePrescription” and to put in place Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding for shared eHealth services. This work presents the main tasks and actions designing by the JA in the context mentioned above and the role of Greek participation in the Joint Action.