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Document 52009XG1212(03)
Council conclusions of 1 December 2009 on a safe and efficient healthcare through eHealth
Council conclusions of 1 December 2009 on a safe and efficient healthcare through eHealth
Council conclusions of 1 December 2009 on a safe and efficient healthcare through eHealth
SL C 302, 12.12.2009, p. 12–14
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
12.12.2009 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 302/12 |
Council conclusions of 1 December 2009 on a safe and efficient healthcare through eHealth
2009/C 302/06
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
1. |
RECALLS that Article 152 of the Treaty states that a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities, and that the Community shall encourage cooperation between the Member States in the areas referred to in this Article and, if necessary, lend support to their action. Any action at Community level shall fully respect the Member States’ responsibility to organise and deliver healthcare; |
2. |
RECALLS that one of the objectives of the Community health strategy (2008-2013) (1) is to support dynamic health systems and new technologies, recognising that new technologies can improve disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, facilitate patient safety and improve health systems’ coordination, use of resources and sustainability; |
3. |
RECALLS that European Union Member States’ representatives issued a Declaration (20 February 2009) at the Prague 2009 eHealth Ministerial Conference (2), recognising the benefits of eHealth for a safer and more efficient health sector, calling for action on building an eHealth area for European citizens, and initiating a process for coordinated action and governance in the field of eHealth; |
4. |
RECALLS European Union initiatives relevant to eHealth, including:
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5. |
WELCOMES recent collaboration between a number of Member States:
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6. |
WELCOMES the Swedish Presidency’s Report eHealth for a Healthier Europe (11), presented at the informal meeting of Ministers for Health in Jönköping on 6 and 7 July 2009, which gives an example of how political goals for healthcare can be realised through eHealth investments; |
7. |
RECOGNISES the importance of eHealth as a tool to improve quality and patient safety, to modernise national healthcare systems, to increase their effectiveness and make them more accessible to all and better adapted to meet the individual needs of patients, health professionals and the challenges of an ageing society; |
8. |
RECOGNISES the need for further political leadership and to integrate eHealth into health policy in order to develop eHealth services on the basis of public health needs; |
9. |
CALLS UPON the Member States to conceive and implement initiatives aimed at enabling the deployment and use of eHealth services, in particular to:
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10. |
CALLS UPON the Commission to:
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11. |
CALLS UPON Member States and the Commission to:
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(1) White paper — Together for health: a strategic approach for the EU 2008-2013 (COM(2007) 630).
(2) http://www.ehealth2009.cz/Pages/108-Prague-Declaration.html
(3) COM(2004) 356.
(4) 9628/04.
(5) COM(2007) 860.
(6) COM(2008) 3282.
(7) COM(2008) 689.
(8) Smart Open Services for European Patients — co-funded by the EC under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) ICT PSP: http://www.epsos.eu
(9) Call for Interoperability, funded by the EC under the CIP ICT PSP: http://www.calliope-network.eu
(10) eHealth Interoperability Standards Mandate (M/403): http://www.ehealth-interop.nen.nl
(11) eHealth for a Healthier Europe — opportunities for a better use of healthcare resources http://www.se2009.eu