On 13 May 2013, the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, delivered a speech recognising the role and potential of eHealth in order to face the challenges of an ageing population and lack of resources.
The remaining challenges for eHealth addressed by the Commission eHealth Action Plan, adopted in December (i.e., Interoperability, research and development, deployment, improving digital skills and health literacy, international cooperation), are according to Mr. Kroes the relevant issues in the pursuit of the general objective, i.e., to encourage eHealth to be deployed and used more widely, and more effectively.
In order to implement the actions identified in the eHealth Action Plan Kroes announces that:
Having Commissioner Kroes pushing for adequate funding for eHealth under the EU funding framework programmes is particularly positive for VPH.
