EC consults on mobile health

Healthcare systems in Europe will have to open up to receiving data from patients, collected via mobile apps, the European Commission has said.

As part of its ‘Digital Agenda for Europe- A Europe 2020 initiative’, the EC has launched a green paper on the potential of mobile health.

The paper will become part of a broad stakeholder consultation with digital companies and others on “existing barriers and issues” related to mobile health deployments in the EU.

It says that mobile health apps can help overcome patients’ reluctance to seek help and improve the way they interact with health and care professionals.

“The healthcare workforce could be used more efficiently, supported by real-time communication with patients, e.g. via the exchange of app users data,” says the paper.

The green paper poses several questions to its readers, such as which security safeguards could support mobile health apps and what policy action could be appropriate at EU and national level to support mobile access to healthcare.

It also raises concerns around interoperability, safety and regulation.

“There are also legitimate concerns about the security of individuals’ health data when using mobile health technologies as their personal data could be accidentally exposed or easily leaked to unauthorised parties,” it says.

“This could be the case when healthcare professionals access health information from a mobile device or when patients store personal data on a personal health record application.”

The EC wants to know how it can support and make a difference to uptake of mobile health across the EU, including how to improve the safety of health apps, address concerns over data misuse, improving interoperability, and enhance the understanding of legal requirements for wellness apps.

It says that the rise of mobile apps means a change is needed in the role of healthcare professionals who “may have to remotely monitor patients and more often interact with them via emails.”

However it adds that mobile health apps “are not meant to replace doctors.”

“Safety concerns arise when citizens can use the results of an m-health solution or app to take decisions on their own which can potentially endanger their health,” says the paper.

In the UK there is currently no specific regulation in place for health apps used by medical professionals and patients.

Here in the UK, EHI reported last month that NHS England is working on a guidance document for UK health apps.The EC says that that based on the responses to the green paper, it may take steps at EU level to support mobile health deployments.

EC vice president Neelie Kroes, who is responsible for the Digital Agenda, said that mobile health will "reduce costly visits to hospitals, help citizens take charge of their own health and wellbeing, and move towards prevention rather than cure. It is also a great opportunity for the booming app economy and for entrepreneurs.”

The EC hopes the stakeholder consultation will help identify ways to encourage and regulate mobile health.

The deadline for comments and responses to the consultation is 3 July, and the organisation expects the consultation to inform policy decisions to be announced during 2015.

The Handi Digital Health Spring Symposium, part of the EHI Digital Health Festival, is taking place on 14 May at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London.

Full details of the Digital Health Festival are on its website. Don’t forget about the EHI Pub Quiz, which takes place in King’s Cross, London, on 14 May; we look forward to seeing you there!