The e-Health Governance Initiative (eHGI)
This EU Project, which has been running since 1 February 2011, is led by high level representatives of EU Member States and co-financed by the European Commission through two different instruments: Joint Action and Thematic Network. The eHGI is about making e-Health fit for practice and was presented as a political initiative aiming to support the political work of the e-Health governance structure of the EU Member States in developing strategies, priorities, recommendations and guidelines on how to develop e-Health in Europe.
In 2011, the EFN contributed to the project by attending two e-Health Governance Initiative (eHGI) Project Steering Committee Meetings in order to discuss the negotiation process, work package structure, progress made to date, and developments for the future. Particularly, the EFN has been working in close collaboration with the Member States within the work package on policy alignment and strategy development, starting with a description of the state of play of eHealth strategies and services implemented and in identifying remaining challenges to orient the future recommendations for political priorities. Specially appointed for evaluation purposes, EFN have been already deciding to what extend other actions under this initiative are appropriately achieved.
The eHealth Governance initiative, jointly supported by DG INFSO and DG SANCO, has been running since 1 February 2011, and is led by high level representatives of EU Member States and co-financed by the European Commission through two different instruments: Joint Action and Thematic Network. The eHGI is about making e-Health fit for practice and was presented as a political initiative aiming to support the political work of the e-Health governance structure of the EU Member States in developing strategies, priorities, recommendations and guidelines on how to develop e-Health in Europe. The aim of the project is to support the political work of the eHealth governance structure, in particular in developing strategies, priorities, recommendations and guidelines on how to develop eHealth in Europe in a coordinated way, involving stakeholders, especially health professionals and patients.
In 2011, the EFN, as associated partner, have contributed to the project so far by attending two e-Health Governance Initiative (eHGI) Project Steering Committee Meetings in order to discuss the negotiation process, work package structure, progress made to date, and developments for the future.
Work Packages:
- WP 1: Coordination (ATNA-Austria). In charge of internal and external coordination in the global framework of the eHGI, being the single interface with the EC and beneficiaries.
- WP 2: Dissemination (NHIC-Slovakia). Responsible for the communication from within the project with relevant interested parties. Dissemination strategy.
- WP 3: Evaluation (SDSD-Denmark). Responsible of ensuring that all the processes respond to good practice. Recommendations for improvements in the global governance structure.
- WP 4: Policy Alignment and Strategic Development (MSPS/SENA-Spain/Sweden). Analysis of relevant National and EU health strategies and eHealth policies.
- WP 5: Mainstreaming (FRNA-France). Responsible for proposing an EU eHealth Interoperability Strategy. In charge of producing Briefing Notes for the eHealth Governance Group.
- WP 6: Trust and Acceptability (PFS PH/eHUSG- Belgium/eHealth User Stakeholders Group). Responsible for identifying possible ways to enhance trust and acceptability. To describe how the needs of users shall be best taken into account in the developments of national strategies or EU initiatives.
- WP 7: Roadmapping (FRNA-France). Refining the existing Roadmap, resulted from CALLIOPE. The Roadmap will intend to establish the factual basis for decision making. In order to build on the richness of the Roadmap, it is needed to bring up the current developments on the ground.
- WP 8: Interoperability, Standardization and Market (DENA-Germany). To develop a European eHealth Interoperability Framework, involving security data protection, identification and authentication.
- WP 9: Legal and Protection of Personal Data (AUTH-Greece). To remove barriers in a European information health space for cross border data exchange.
For more information, please read the following document: Joint Action & SEHGovIA Thematic Network.