The EU has issued recommendations to Italy to enhance digital health data and services in order to achieve complete access to electronic health records by 2030. Italy is currently one of the top 12 ‘fast trackers’ in e-health maturity with a score of 83%. E-health encompasses various digital services.
E-health signifies employing information and communication technologies- ICT within healthcare. This encompasses a broad spectrum of digital services and tools designed to enhance healthcare’s efficiency, accessibility, and quality. Key elements include:
- Telemedicine: Remote health services via video conferencing, online consultations, and remote monitoring.
- Electronic Health Records- EHR: Digital systems for recording, storing, and sharing patient health data.
- Mobile Health Applications- mHealth: Smartphone apps aid in personal health management, such as tracking physical activities, managing medications, and controlling chronic conditions.
- Clinical Decision Support Tools: Software providing clinicians with data-driven insights and recommendations to enhance diagnosis and treatment.
- Hospital Management Systems: ICT solutions for managing hospital operations, including resource planning, personnel management, and cost control.
- Patient Portals: Online platforms enable patients to book appointments, access medical records, as well as communicate with healthcare providers.
- Health Big Data Analysis: Utilizing big data to identify trends, advance medical research, and personalize treatments.
E-health strives to boost care quality, reduce healthcare costs, and make healthcare services more accessible and convenient for patients.
EU Recommendations to Italy:
1. Ensure the availability of medical image data through online access services in all regions.
2. Guarantee timely availability of all types of data.
3. Provide a mobile application for citizens in all regions to access their electronic medical records.
4. Increase the supply of health data by involving more categories of health service providers.
5. Implement technical functionalities to ensure access opportunities for legal guardians, authorized persons, and disadvantaged groups.
Italy’s Performance:
Italy’s e-health maturity rose to 83% in 2023 from 71% in 2022, positioning the country among the top 12 in Europe for electronic health record access. However, there is a critical need for improvement in the maturity score of 57% for medical records summary data.
Regional Data as well as Access:
In 2023, Italy provided data for all of its 21 health regions. While medical image data is largely unavailable in most regions, other types of data, such as allergies and medication, are available but not in a timely manner. More than half of the regions offer access to these data via online portals or mobile applications, but some regions do not have a mobile application yet.
European Progress along with Maturity:
The overall e-health maturity score of the EU rose from 72% to 79% in 2023, with 22 Member States showing improvement. Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland rank among the most mature countries.
Areas where to Improve:
- Ensuring universal access to health data.
- Involvement of private health service providers in data provision.
- Availability of specific types of data, such as medical images in only 26% of cases and medical devices/implants in 52%.
