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- Ελληνικά
The informative workshop "European Health Union and the e-Health Roadmap in Cyprus", which took place on Friday, 28 June 2024, at the Hilton Hotel, was a success.
The workshop was organised by the National e-Health Authority (NHEA) in cooperation with the Office of the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety of the European Union (EU) and with the participation of all stakeholders and institutions.
The President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Christodoulides, in his address, delivered by the Minister of Health Mr. Michael Damianos, said that the European Commission is building a strong European Health Union, within which all EU countries prepare and deal together with health crises more effectively and with immediacy. "We therefore consider it our duty as a State to ensure the implementation of e-Health in Cyprus through the Roadmap of the Competent Authority by law, the EAHC. We remain committed to ensuring the provision of quality and specialised health services to citizens, as well as their timely access to them."
For her part, the European Union Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Ms Stella Kyriakidou said that the European Health Data Space is a bold, necessary step towards a more integrated and efficient healthcare system across Europe. "An ambitious project that, as an integral part of the European Health Union, will undoubtedly contribute to overcoming the challenges we face today." He added that "by harnessing the wealth of digital health data and working together at a pan-European level, we are confident that we can. For a healthier future for European citizens. Cyprus has been an active supporter and leader in this effort and has shown that it can lead and guide others on a pan-European level."
In his address, the Chairman of the Health Committee of the House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman of DISY Mr. Efthimios Diplaros stressed that as a state we should demonstrate the necessary will to regulate all the individual issues that could be potential obstacles, such as the difficulty of providers' compliance with regulations, insufficient education of the population, their familiarity with new technologies, etc. "It is at this point that the Authority's Roadmap will essentially serve as a basis for a reform plan tailored to national needs and especially depending on the digital maturity and potential of Cyprus."
The Chairman of the HAEA Board of Directors Professor Christos N. Schizas discussed the importance of the European Health Data Space, which is the main pillar of a strong European Health Union. "Serving the European citizen in Health matters, without geographical or other barriers, and the control of Health data by the citizen himself will be a milestone in the European events set by the current EU Presidency."
Mr. Schizas also highlighted the role played by the EHEA in Europe by coordinating the Joint Action of the EU Member States to define an integrated Electronic Health Record of the European citizen, which will lead us to the European Health Union.
He presented the Roadmap for the implementation of eHealth in Cyprus and Cyprus' path to a European Health Union, the building of the Health Ecosystem, and our cross-border connection with the rest of Europe.
During the workshop, EAHY's Actions were presented with reference to the National Citizen's Health Record, the Mobile Heath App, as well as reference to ten funded European and national projects coordinated by EAHY, entitled "Extended EHR@EU Data Space for Primary Use (Xt-EHR)" and "European Health Data Space for Secondary Use @CY", which are based on the new regulation governing the European Health Data Space (European Health Data Space), adopted by the European Parliament in April 2024. Under the new regulation, citizens will benefit from direct and simple access to their Health data when they are in the EU, regardless of their location. In addition, the National eHealth Contact Point was unveiled, facilitating cross-border access to Health Services.
Cyprus will be the 12th country to join the Cross-Border Health Services network, offering: a) the summary of the patient's medical history, b) e-prescribing and c) e-prescription.
This was followed by a discussion with the participation of the public and partner institutions and questions were answered on the timetable for the implementation and application of eHealth in Cyprus. As mentioned, we need to invest in the field of E-Health, which will not only help the citizen and the state in promoting Health, but will bring huge savings in Health expenditure.
(GA/EP)
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