How is the EU healthcare sector preparing for the digital revolution?

Technology plays a central role in medical activities. However, the healthcare technology industry is fragmented in Europe, especially when it comes to rules, terminology and operational standards across the continent.

The consequence? Businesses selling the machinery have a limited ability to operate as part of a single market.

'Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise' is among the initiatives helping health sector to better connect with the market. IHE helps provide specifications and information that allow clinicians, industry and patients to share information with each other.

The main objective of IHE is not to develop core standards, but to standardise the adoption of the core standards most commonly used in healthcare.

In Montreux, Switzerland, an international event called Connectathon, gathered various different actors from the health sector to discuss common challenges they face and test their health products.

Their experiences and feedback are also taken into account when development and implementation stages for the upcoming European Health Data Space.

"The industry, through its products, acts as a bridge between legislation and the users of clinical data, whether they are patients or doctors. Synergy happens when institutions adopt interoperability frameworks based on international standards " explains Dedalus Global Interoperability Product Strategist, Lapo Bertini.

But there are several challenges facing European national healthcare systems.

For example, there is a patient who regularly undergoes cardiac check-ups at one clinic. The issue arises if they need a check-up at another centre. The results and information pertaining to that patient's health are often not shared between the different healthcare centres.

IHE