The Norwegian government has the great pleasure, in conjunction with the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission, to host the third, high-level, Ministerial eHealth 2005 Conference. The Conference will also be organised in close collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate of Health and Social Affairs and the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine.
This Conference focuses on important health issues, and the way in which they can be supported by eHealth, and to make major advances that benefit the people of Europe. Citizens need healthcare and health services together with a wide range of health information during their lifetime. There is an increasing globalisation of health information, goods and services. Health is an extremely relevant area for cross border cooperation.
The annual eHealth Conference is an excellent opportunity to share eHealth experiences on both national and international levels and to set the focus for each and everyone in the years to come. Health policy-makers in all countries have a clear responsibility to pursue the needed orientation in relation to eHealth: We can't all be captains of all ships, but the Conference can provide all those involved with the lighthouses with incentives, initiatives, and ideas.
It is against this background that Norway, in conjunction with the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission is organising the eHealth 2005 Conference and Exhibition in Tromsø in Norway on 23 May and 24 May 2005.
Among the areas to be covered at this eHealth event are:
- Reviewing the launch, the intermediate results, and
the upcoming year's activities of the eHealth Action Plan
- Facilitating mobility within and between countries -
meeting the challenges of increased mobility through interoperability and
integration
- Supporting more responsive health services and
creating greater public awareness through better health information -
including in times of crisis
- Improving access to and quality of care, patient safety, and productivity
The Exhibition will provide examples of eHealth applications and services that are at the forefront of development, are already in use, or are about to be introduced to the market. There will be real life eHealth demonstrations and examples with the potential to change our habitual thinking about healthcare provision. The use of eHealth in an arctic environment will also be covered.
The Conference will provide a forum for Ministers and all those involved in eHealth to discuss and contribute to outline initiatives in the creation of a better eHealth policy, both at a national and at a European level. The Conference takes place at a time when the European Union, the EFTA states and other European nations are placing a strong focus on the use of information and communication technologies in healthcare. This approach can facilitate the provision of cross-border healthcare to the advantage of European citizens as well as improving the use of resources.
I look forward to being part of the invaluable effort from each and every country in Europe - and beyond - involved in making this Conference a success, and to welcoming all our guests to the Land of the Midnight Sun.
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