EC says patients should be given access to their health data — by 2015-2020

European Commission Digital Agenda for Europe

Action 75: Give Europeans secure online access to their medical health data and achieve widespread telemedicine deployment

"Undertake pilot actions to equip Europeans with secure online access to their medical health data by 2015 and to achieve by 2020 widespread deployment of telemedicine services

What is the problem? Sustainability of healthcare systems is at stake

Increasing demands from patients, a rising spread of chronic diseases, the impact of an ageing population, together with scarcer human and financial resources are putting sustainability of healthcare systems at risk.

Why is EU action needed? Patients' empowerment and deployment of telemedicine services are key to ensuring the sustainability of healthcare systems

Patients' access to their healthcare data increases empowerment, participation and responsibility, makes relationships with healthcare services more effective and enables mobility. As active players, patients gain in autonomy, quality and safety of care, and can improve their lifestyles.

Telemedicine services are crucial to taking better care of chronic diseases patients, including elderly patients and of people in remote areas and to respond to the shortage of healthcare professionals and lack of financial resources.

DAE action 75 will also contribute to the delivery of the European Innovation Partnership in the field of active and healthy ageing, proposed under the Innovation Union flagship."

For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/pillar-vii-ict-enabled-benefits-eu-society/action-75-give-europeans-secure-online-access-their