Cross-border data transfer of eHealth data in the Baltic Sea Region

Time:        14th June, 13.45 – 15.15
Venue:      Stresemann-Saal

Description:
A “connectivity” of eHealth in the Baltic Sea Region via cross-border exchange of electronic health data could create value for the BSR by opening new possibilities for patients, healthcare service providers, businesses, governments and the wider public through research and development.¹

Speakers, panelists, moderator:

Panelists:

• Piret Hirv, MA, Advisor for E-services and Innovation at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Estonia
• Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hoffmann (BFCC-Partner, Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany)
• Jaanus Pikani (Chairman of Scanbalt fmba, Tartu Biotechnology Park, Estonia)
• Thomas Karopka (BioCon Valley GmbH, Greifswald, Germany)
• PhD Lars Lindsköld (eHealth Unit, Department of Region Health, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden)

Speakers:

• Dr. Gudrun Mernitz (BioCon Valley GmbH, Greifswald, Germany)

Short comments by:

• Dr. Marek Maciejowski (NDPHS Secretariat) about “The EUSBSR Policy Area “Health” coordinated by the NDPHS”.
• Joakim Wernberg, PhD Candidate, Lund University about “Open Data exchange in the BS

Moderator:

• Prof. Dr. Roland Trill (eHealth for Regions Network, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany)

Organiser(s) & contact details:

• Life Science Nord Management GmbH
  Dr. Anna-Winona Struck, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  +49 431 9088 5828
• Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme Project “Baltic Fracture Competence Centre - BFCC” (www.bfcc-project.eu, Lead Partner: Life Science Nord Management GmbH)
• ScanBalt fmba (scanbalt.org)
• eHealth for regions Network (http://www.ehealthforregions.net).

Elaboration:

On EU level the topic of electronic health data is of great priority. The Commission, in eGovernment Action Plan, has declared its support to Member States in the development of eHealth services that also enable cross-border exchange of e prescriptions, telemedicine and tele-monitoring solutions.²

It is important to have a common eHealth strategy for the Baltic Sea Region member states as the BSR holds a high potential to become a role model for the rest of Europe in eHealth and electronic health data transfer. In the BSR is a discrepancy between the member states in the behaviour towards eHealth and cross-border data exchange. Electronic data does not flow freely between most of the BSR member states due to different barriers like lack of awareness, lack of trust and lack of legal clarity.

The comparison between different panellists will be used to identify best practise in the transfer of eHealth data which can be used later on for policy recommendations.

A “connectivity” of eHealth in the Baltic Sea Region via cross-border exchange of electronic health data could create value for the BSR by opening new possibilities for patients, healthcare service providers, businesses, governments and the wider public through research and development.³

A common approach across all BSR countries would be needed to establish the BSR as a front runner in eHealth which will contribute to the wellbeing and health of its citizens. The results of the workshop will be used to overcome the barriers that stop the free flow of eHealth data.

^1. http://www.bdforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/OPEN-DATA-2017-WEB-A4_22-12.pdf
^2. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/communication-eu-egovernment-action-plan-2016-2020-accelerating-digital-transformation.
^3. http://www.bdforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/OPEN-DATA-2017-WEB-A4_22-12.pdf