Collaborating for Digital Health and Care in Europe

The Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic is the central authority responsible for health care administration, public health protection, health research, drug management, and health information systems. The National Center for Electronic Healthcare (NCEZ) secures the agenda of the National Contact Point for eHealth, ensuring the operation and interoperability of the national electronic healthcare network. This network includes representatives from relevant national and regional authorities, focusing on electronic health record interoperability, network security, and personal data protection.

In digital health, the NCEZ develops and implements electronic healthcare standards, supports the creation of new IT services, and manages centrally built IT infrastructures. It focuses on promoting interoperability, harmonization, and security of health information systems, while coordinating the development and innovation of digital health standards. The NCEZ also engages in international cooperation, offering training programs for healthcare workers, and conducting information campaigns to support the electronification of health care.

Contact person: Hynek Kružík

The National Health Service (NHS) is an administrative institution under the Ministry of Health, established to implement state health policies, manage state healthcare funds, and ensure effective use of these funds.

NHS focuses on digital health through the e-Health programme, including projects like electronic health records, e-booking, and e-prescriptions. It develops healthcare financing models, approves and registers medical technologies, maintains a medical technology database, and creates clinical guidelines. NHS also promotes rational pharmacotherapy and collaborates with international institutions, exchanging information and ensuring compliance with global health standards. Additionally, the NHS informs the public about available healthcare services and advises residents on their healthcare rights.

Contact person: Edgars Goba

Nictiz is the Dutch national competence centre dedicated to the electronic exchange of health and care information. It is renowned for its unique knowledge and expertise in developing and managing information standards that enable clear and structured digital information exchange in healthcare. Nictiz not only focuses on the Netherlands but also keeps an eye on international developments, responding to current legislation such as Wegiz, EHDS, and the AI Act. Through national and international collaborations, Nictiz strives to improve health outcomes by ensuring the availability and clarity of healthcare data.

Nictiz's key activities include developing a vision for healthcare information systems, managing national standards, and advising and sharing knowledge about digital information provision in healthcare. By participating in interoperability projects, both nationally and internationally, Nictiz facilitates the structured and unambiguous recording of healthcare information, benefiting patients and healthcare professionals alike. This approach enhances diagnosis, patient safety, and reduces the registration burden through data reuse.

Contact person: Esther Peelen

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The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) plays a critical role in promoting the well-being and health of Finland's population through research, data collection, and expert insights. As an independent agency under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, THL focuses on areas such as sustainability of the welfare society, reducing inequality, and addressing changing disease patterns. It provides vital expertise and support to government bodies, healthcare providers, and the public, aiming to enhance quality of life in a fair and dynamic welfare environment.

In digital health, THL is actively involved in advancing information management functionalities for health and social care systems. It contributes to the development of Kanta, a personal health account service, which facilitates seamless access to client and patient data across different organizations. These efforts are aimed at improving the efficiency of healthcare professionals and enhancing the overall effectiveness of health and social care services in Finland.

Contact person: Heidi  Peltotalo

NSBproject s.r.l (formerly NeroSuBianco) is an Italian consulting company focused on process and product innovation-oriented R&D projects. Its EU Department specializes in smart industry, smart agriculture, biobased economy, and digital health. The company guides organizations in understanding technology trends before making any direct investment and supports planning and delivering innovations to market. NSBproject has four branches (healthcare, manufacturing, agri-food, and bio & circular businesses) and has a team of business, process, and IT engineers.

In 2020, NSB organized an informal network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) focused on digital solutions, connecting technology providers and healthcare system end users across 19 EU countries. Its healthcare department focuses on data-driven innovations, robotics, and medical devices, covering prevention, treatment, and clinical effects. It supports hospitals in identifying digital solutions, assists technology providers in reaching customers, and works with DIHs. A dedicated unit evaluates digital platforms and assists healthcare platform owners.

Contact person: Andrea Jester

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The Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, established in 2016, advances e-health through multidisciplinary research and knowledge sharing. It aims to enhance healthcare services for citizens and achieve the national goal of patient-centric healthcare. The centre conducts independent research, collaborates with national and international partners, and shares findings openly to ensure practical application of knowledge. Its vision is "Knowledge for better health services."

The centre focuses on digital health initiatives, researching national digital health services, integrated patient pathways, and the use of health data for disease prediction and treatment. It also examines personal e-health technologies to support elderly patients and those with chronic conditions, ensuring privacy and standardisation in digital solutions.

Contact person: Maria Ostensson

AReSS Puglia supports the Puglian Regional Government in defining and experimenting with sustainable integrated care models, emphasizing the introduction of teleservices to improve citizen quality of life and reduce costs. The agency promotes health innovation and the internationalization of health systems, representing the Apulia region in various interregional and European health groups. It has been recognized for its expertise in integrated care models for chronic patients and the digitization of health systems.

In digital health, AReSS Puglia focuses on the thoughtful implementation of eHealth to enhance health outcomes. Telemedicine is a key tool, utilizing smartphones, email, video calls, and wireless technologies to provide clinical solutions and improve accessibility by reducing distance barriers. The COReHealth  solution enables home patient management through video call monitoring, representing an innovative approach to remote healthcare services via digital devices and new communication technologies.

Contact person: Vito Petrarolo

Sorsix is a health technology company headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with a main development office in Skopje, Northern Macedonia. Its SaaS technology "Pinga" serves as the national EHR and workflow orchestration system in North Macedonia and Serbia. Pinga functions as a central interoperability gateway for these health systems, effectively becoming a "health operating system" that facilitates the interconnection of health systems. Pinga provides specific subsets of health system functionality, including online booking and patient engagement, electronic referrals, telehealth, claims and payments, customer relationship management (CRM) functionality, clinic management, and other features.

Sorsix strongly believes in the potential of technology to improve healthcare delivery and system capabilities. As an active participant in the global healthcare ecosystem, Sorsix supports effective regulation to protect consumers (e.g., GDPR), robust interoperability standardisation, and the provision of effective APIs and integrations to the market. The company is a strong advocate for SMART Health Cards and empowering patients to manage and engage in their care.

Contact person: Dalibor Frtunik

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SUNDHED is a public internet-based portal that collects and distributes healthcare information between citizens and healthcare professionals. It is unique in that it brings together the entire Danish healthcare sector on the internet and provides an accessible framework for citizens and healthcare professionals to meet and exchange information effectively. All Danish citizens have access to sundhed.dk, which enables patients to communicate and patients and their families to have an overview of correct and up-to-date information on healthcare, making healthcare services seem close, open and familiar. Sundhed.dk has about 500,000 visitors each month and is the most used application by healthcare professionals in Denmark.

Sundhed.dk is mainly interested in knowledge exchange, networking activities and collaboration in relation to participation in EU programmes.

Contact person: Claus Duedal Pedersen, Trine Albertsen

The University of Bologna (UNIBO), founded in 1088, is not only Europe's oldest university but also one of its largest and most influential. With extensive research capabilities, UNIBO engages actively in national and European projects, securing substantial funding and playing a leading role in international collaborations.

In digital health, UNIBO excels in managing large datasets and interdisciplinary research, focusing on aging, cognitive disorders, and musculoskeletal health. Their expertise spans virtual/augmented reality, digital diagnostics, health informatics, and mobile technologies. Research includes innovative diagnostic systems, robot-assisted surgery, wearable systems for motion analysis, and eHealth/mHealth solutions. UNIBO is a pioneer of platforms for neurological rehabilitation and home care, using the Internet of Things (IoT), biomedical signal processing, and AI for intelligent healthcare solutions.

Contact person: Lorenzo Chiari | Gastone Castellani