eHealth

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Based on this World Health Organisation (WHO) definition, health systems across the world are increasingly subscribing to the paradigm of

citizen and patient-centred health services.

At the same time, all health services are faced with similar issues, such as:

• improving the quality of services and medical outcomes,
• better and more equal access for all,
• optimal allocation of scarce resources,
• greater emphasis on public health issues, such as disease control and prevention,
• investing in health education, medical research, and  bio-medical & ICT knowledge.

eHealth is the application of information and communications technologies (ICT) in support of health provision. It can have a great impact on health care delivery, public health and health-related activities, and benefits for both low- and high-income countries. eHealth infostructures and networks, applications and services can help to master national health system challenges and extend their reach to other countries, supporting the growing mobility of their citizens.