The term “eHealth” as defined by the European Commission covers a wide range of information and communication technology-based tools aimed at better prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and management of health and lifestyle.

eHealth involves collaboration between patients and health service providers, the exchange of data between them and communication between patients or health professionals, it also includes health information networks, electronic health registers, telemedicine services and personalised wearable and wearable communication systems to monitor and support patients.

E-health tools provide, for example, access to life-saving health information, which is particularly important given the increasing cross-border movement of citizens and patients. eHealth can bring significant benefits to society as a whole, improving access to and quality of care. It also contributes to the development of citizen-oriented health systems and the overall effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the health sector.

The European Union is promoting the creation of a “European eHealth Area” by coordinating actions and facilitating synergies between relevant policies and stakeholders to find better solutions, avoid market fragmentation and disseminate good practices. Its specific objectives are the creation of a system of electronic health registers to support information exchange and standardisation, the development of health information exchange networks between care providers to coordinate actions in case of public health risk, the provision of online health services such as information on healthy living and disease prevention.

Finally, the development of teleconsultation, ePrescribing, eReferral and eReimbursement systems.

For this to be a success, the needs of citizens, patients and health professionals must be taken into account, while ensuring their involvement in the implementation of relevant plans and strategies.

The European Union has envisioned and promotes the creation of a “European eHealth Area”, coordinating actions and facilitating synergy between relevant policies and stakeholders to find better solutions, avoid market fragmentation and disseminate good practices.

The National eHealth Authority has the mission to ensure the realization of the above vision by integrating and aligning eHealth with the national strategic objectives of health policy. eHealth should not be the target of a stand-alone strategy, but should be fully integrated into the overall health policy. For example, political priorities related to health and society should guide the further development of eHealth both at national level and across Europe and its cross-border contracting states.