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Tech key to vital healthcare savings
Joined up systems will curb ballooning budgets

By Nick Heath

Published: Wednesday 09 January 2008

Technology will be key to tackling Europe's burgeoning health service spending.

EU countries need to look to IT systems to deliver "tools for health authorities" and "personalised health systems for patients", according to a European Commission (EC) report.

Forecasting budget-breaking growth in EU health costs, from nine per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) today rising to 16 per cent by 2020 - fuelled by an ageing population - the EC's Lead Market Initiative report says savings delivered by e-health will be crucial.

But it claims European e-health systems are lagging behind other service sectors, despite substantial research and development investment.

The report suggests different systems on the market need to be joined up through "standardisation of various exchange formats, certifications of systems and large-scale demonstration projects".

An EC spokesman for enterprise and industry, said: "The intention is to develop e-health through modern policy that will drive innovation in the area."

The report states: "European citizens would greatly benefit from cost reductions, coupled with better efficiency of the healthcare systems through the wider development of e-health."

In a related measure, the first hospital staff across England to gain access to GP records via the national summary care record system (SRC) will do so within a matter of weeks.

The NHS says only 0.6 per cent of people approached have so far opted out of the SCR system, despite revelations last year patient information had been lost by nine NHS trusts.