ACTIVITIES :: ICT for Health :: Telemedicine for the benefit of patient, healthcare systems and society
Telemedicine works
Telemedicine is the
delivery of healthcare services through the use of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) in a situation where the actors are not at the same location.
The actors can either be two health care
professionals (for example in
teleradiology) or a health care
professional and a patient (for example in
telemonitoring of patients with diabetes).
Telemedicine works. It has the potential to improves life of patients and empower them, supports doctors in their work, improves quality of care and patient safety.
Literature and case studies of already-implemented or piloted telemedicine applications, including many EC-funded projects report proven benefits at different levels.
Market growth of telemedicine systems and services has a major potential for growth.
In the context of an ageing population, increased burden of chronic diseases, active participation of more demanding patients and ever increasing health expenditures, the deployment of telemedicine services is important and urgent.
The Commission has issued on 2 November 2008 a communication to support Member States in their efforts to deploy "Telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society". This policy document includes a 10-point action plan.
- Full text in all languages are available on EurLex.
 |
| Last update by the Editor (ehealth(AT)ec.europa.eu): 18/11/10 |
