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G-7 : Global healthcare network perspectives
Michel Richonnier
Director
European Commission, DGXIII.C.
Brussels, Belgium
mri@dg13.cec.be
On February 25th, the G-7 took the opportunity offered by the Ministerial
Conference to identify some selected projects where international
co-operation could be an asset. These projects would aim at
demonstrating the potential of the Information Society and stimulate its
deployment. The projects will be initially undertaken by the G7 partners
but are meant to be open to other partners including international
organisations.
Eleven projects have been selected and, for each of them, an
operational co-ordinator has been proposed:
- Global Inventory (EC,J);
- Global Interoperability for Broadband Networks (CND, J, DE, GB);
- Cross-cultural Education and Training (FR, DE);
- Electronic Libraries (J, FR);
- Electronic Museums and Galleries (IT,FR);
- Environment and Natural Resources Management (USA);
- Global Emergency Management (USA);
- Global Healthcare Applications (EC, FR, DE, IT);
- Government on Line (GB, CND);
- Global Market Place for SME (EC, J, USA);
- Maritime Information Systems (EC, CND).
The objectives of the Global Healthcare Applications project are to
improve existing international co-operation through the development of
modern cost effective and user friendly multimedia telematics
applications and to demonstrate that they can contribute to better health
for citizens. Interoperable solutions that protect the confidentiality of
patient information will be prerequisite.
The project itself is split in 6 sub-projects:
- GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK
The EU and WHO/Copenhagen are strongly committed. Two main areas
are identified: Communicable diseases and vital statistics. The feasibility
studies for interconnection of the various national databanks and the
CDC/Wonder are in progress. A meeting is scheduled on 8th September
in London in this regard.
- CANCER NETWORK
The main databanks selected for interconnection are: Best medical
practice and recommended protocols, bone marrow-donors, technical
assessment of medical technologies and procedures used for diagnosis
and treatment.
- CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES NETWORK
The main topics concern epidemiological data and clinical protocols.
- A 24-HOUR MULTILINGUAL TELEMEDICINE SURVEILLANCE AND
EMERGENCY SERVICE
Is the 4th sub-project. An international meeting is scheduled for next
November in Toulouse as a starting point for future collaboration. Many
states including Australia are interested by this topic.
- THE INTERNATIONAL HARMONISATION OF DATA CARDS IN
HEALTHCARE
Is a key international issue for the future because the cards are one of
the entry-points of the Health Care Information System.
- THE ENABLING MECHANISMS
Sub-projects cover harmonisation with respect to health nomenclature,
standards, privacy and security of data, development of user friendly
access tools and on-line translation services.
All these six sub-projects are now in progress. A global report is
planned in December 1995 with detailed plan for starting implementation
during 1996.
A first common element appears now: A very strong request comes
from the healthcare professionals: they need a world-wide, updated,
qualified information system including transfer of images; this request
imposes new multimedia facilities, including broadband communication
and interoperable devices.
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Last modified:
Wed Mar 12 1997
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