The European project arises from the Italian cooperation expertise between public (Federsanita ANCI) and private (DS MediGroup) entities that have together created the Atlas of Health” as well as the most important online health operator s community (more than 500.000 healthcare professionals) known as WelfareLink.IT.
The Italian expertise in creating the Atlas of Health in Italy (database that comprehends peculiar data of all active healthcare institutions in Italy as well as all data relative to healthcare practitioners, approximately 1.500.000 healthcare professionals), has been used as a model in Europe for the creation of analogous projects, applied to all countries that are members of the union.
The identification of public and private partners, that will ensure quality and compliance to local privacy regulations as well as the implementation of the EU HEALTH KNOWLEDGE BASE upon existing digital platforms, is currently being undergone. In every member country, the formalisation of a technical commission that will encompass all professions related to healthcare is being establishedand coordinated by EMA that will construct and maintain this archive.
Atlas of Health in Italy
Online Health Operator s Community
The project, with its online WELFARELINK.EU community will enable:
European citizens to:
- Research and select, within EU countries, the most suitable establishment for ones illness; the best mode to access healthcare assistance in another country and the reimbursement conditions once returned in the country of residence;
- Compare healthcare systems of countries adhering to the European Union through homogeneous criteria related to establishments and to the scientific value of professionals that operate within them;
- Research and consult information related to ones illness, derived from a qualified and reliable source, to therapeutical treatments, to diagnostic examinations, to advice enhancing ones compliance and to therapies and prevention indications.
- Consult local information provided by patient associations
- Research and compare the healthcare insurance offered by every EU country as well as the available offeramongst multiple countries.
Healthcare operators to:
- Access information reserved to them, through individual access keys (User Id and Password);
- Follow formation and updating courses (CME -Continuing Medical Education) provided by training organisations, enabling the obtaining of creditials, necessary on EU territory.
- Be informed and have access to job opportunities across EU territory.
Governments, Ministries of Health, Governmental Agencies, Universities and organs representing healthcare professions to:
- Have access to up-to-date informative tools in order to plan the healthcare expense, compare it to every country s best practice allowing the making of aware decisions in terms of healthcare programming and management.
- Planning access to Universities and specialisation courses of healthcare operators based upon the real need of individual countries
- Communicate information and notifications relevant to professional healthcare communities
HEALTH GUIDELINES
WHO guidelines approved by the Guidelines Review Committee
The development of global guidelines ensuring the appropriate use of evidence represents one of the core functions of WHO. Recommendations that can impact upon health policies or clinical interventions are considered guidelines for WHO purposes. Below are some of the most recent guidelines.
EMA – European Medicines Agency Scientific Guidelines
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) prepares scientific guidelines in consultation with regulatory authorities in the European Union (EU) Member States, to help applicants prepare marketing-authorisation applications for human medicines. Guidelines provide a basis for practical harmonisation of how the EU Member States and the Agency interpret and apply the detailed requirements for the demonstration of quality, safety and efficacy that are in the Community directives.
DS MediGroup
The protagonists of innovation in Medicine and Health Share holding company, checks and attends companies in the area of IT Health Care. Coordinates the activity and supporting the operational companies in different areas as R & D, infrastructure, logistics and administrative, internal continuous educational process, new communication tools setup and deployment for the targeting activities and the community. The national and international research institutes and university clinics collaboration enables searches and developments of the technological innovation in the sanitary management and clinical medicine applications. The head office is located in Milano with branches in Rome and Naples.
Medical Devices and Safety
The role of medical devices is essential to the healthcare of EU citizens. The diversity and innovativeness of this sector contributes significantly to the enhancement of both the quality and efficacy of healthcare in the EU. Covering a wide range of products, from simple bandages to the most sophisticated life-support equipment, the medical devices sector plays a crucial role in the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring and treatment of diseases. It also helps improve the quality of life of those with disabilities. The medical devices sector helps save lives by providing innovative health care solutions regarding diagnosis, prevention and treatment. The sector has become increasingly important for the healthcare of EU citizens and an influencer on expenditure:
- The medical devices industry is a major employer in Europe, employing 575.000 people in the EU
- Total sales amount to €100 billion
- The sector represents some 25.000 companies, of which 95% are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
The medical devices sector faces many challenges at national, European and international level, which may have an impact on their innovation capacity and overall competitiveness:
Public Health Systems: In particular, emerging needs such as developing a shared understanding of healthcare goals, overcoming health inequalities, an ageing society and exploiting the potential of e-health technologies
Finding the balance between patient s needs and financial sustainability: Ensuring that the sector can enhance better access for patients to devices whilst simultaneously ensuring that pricing and reimbursement policies are effective
Competitiveness and innovation: Challenges related to R&D, emerging technologies and the green economy, as well as issues related to the EU s trade and regulatory cooperation globally. SMEs in particular face challenges in this regard