Innovative digital solutions a key component for Active and Healthy Ageing
The Conference of Partners of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) took place in Brussels on 27-28 February 2018. Funka, as coordinator of the EIP project WE4AHA, was one of the organisers. The conference focused on how large-scale deployment of innovative digital solutions could be a key component of the transformation of health and care, especially for an ageing population.
In the WE4AHA project, Funka is leading a highly interdisciplinary consortium to support digital transformation of health and care through the EIP on AHA-. The consortium coordinates the activity of the Partnership consisting of individuals, businesses, research and industry players, national and regional public authorities, governments, health and care organisations, policy-makers and the investment community to commit and engage themselves in responding to the addressed challenge of an ageing society and mobilising competences, resources and knowledge around this theme. In its role of project coordinator, Funka has been mandated by the European Commission to broadly disseminate the vision and strategy of the European partnership EIP on AHA for the period 2018-2020.
This years conference focused on how the Partnership could foster the large-scale deployment of innovative digital solutions as a key component of the transformation of health and care, thus enforcing the Digital Single Market strategy of the European Commission, a challenge which remain high on the EU \political agenda beyond 2020.
The Partnership has brought together relevant actors at EU, national and regional levels across different policy areas. It has also contributed to large-scale implementation of digital health and care solutions, and helped Member States, regional authorities and innovators to exchange lessons and experiences, accelerating deployment of digital innovation and reducing risks associated to investments in digital health technology.
The EIP on AHA is supporting implementation of digital tools that facilitate feedback and interaction between patients and healthcare providers. This contributes to prevention and citizen empowerment as well as quality and patient-centred care, and to a better understanding of the outcomes of healthcare systems.
“As members of this Innovation Partnership, your work in multi-stakeholder action groups - on issues such as integrated care, fragility, and independent living - directly addresses many issues facing ageing populations across Europe. Your insight and expertise are crucial. I encourage you to continue developing comprehensive strategies – ensuring that digital solutions are fully integrated into such strategies” says Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis.
The Digital Single Market strategy identifies three priority areas for the digital transformation of health and care: citizen's secure access to and sharing of health data across borders; better data to advance research, disease prevention and personalised medicine; and digital tools for citizen empowerment and person-centred care innovation.
“Stimulating further alignment of the Partnership's activities with the evolving policy priorities of the European Commission will be a key point for actions. WE4AHA will support this process fostering the dialogue amongst the EIP on AHA partners and between them and the European Commission, says Jose Usero, Funka project coordinator.
The WE4AHA project is funded by the programme Horizon 2020 and will continue its activities until 2020, corresponding to the end of the EIP on AHA mandate.
The Digital Single Market Strategy of the European Commission, opens in a new window