Description (short summary):
With this paper, the European Coordination Committee of the COCIR contributes to the European Commission’s Public consultation on the Europe 2020 strategy.

COCIR’s key recommendations to the European Commission are:

• Support investment in health infrastructure as a mechanism through which Europe can meet economic and social objectives. A measure for immediate consideration would be to postpone or temporarily suspend the need for partial financial commitment from Member States able to access EU Structural Funds;
• Encourage the development and adoption of integrated care pathways and processes for the benefit of improving healthcare efficiency and quality of care for patients;
• Place greater emphasis on developing and implementing policies that promote the use and uptake of healthcare IT and telemedicine. The age and life-style related increase in chronic diseases, merits more emphasis. This is an area in which technological innovation can drive solutions not only for improving outcomes in hospitals, but also to support independent living for people to be cared for in their own home;
• Nurture and promote an innovative business sector in healthcare IT, embracing many businesses and SMEs in Europe, as this will benefit the overall EU economy.

Number of pages: 4