E-Health has long been identified by the European Commission as one of the drivers of future of economic growth across Europe.

The European Union launched 27 e-health projects in 2010, following a call under the EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7), with an investment of up to €50 billion. This program includes e-health projects, spanning personal health systems, patient safety and virtual physiological human projects.

European eHealth market was estimated at EUR14.269 million in 2008 and is projected to reach EUR15.619 million by 2012, with a compounded annual growth rate of 2.9%. Market size varies geographically, but the real differences reside in the market size of the four specific markets identified by the European lead market Initiative5: Clinical Information Systems (CIS), Secondary Usage Non-Clinical Systems (SUNCS), Telemedicine, and Integrated Health Clinical Information Networks (IHCIN).

With the introduction of eHealth several benefits are being experiences such as doctors being able to access patients’ medical records more easily, get immediate access to test results from the laboratory, and deliver prescriptions directly to pharmacists. Patients with heart problems can carry monitors which alert their doctor if their condition changes, yet allow them to continue with their daily business.

At a broader EU level, the introduction of eHealth services is facilitating access to healthcare across geographical locations, thanks to innovative telemedicine and personal health systems. eHealth is also breaking down barriers, enabling health service providers (public authorities, hospitals) from different Member States to work more closely together. If a particular treatment can be provided to a patient more effectively in another country, eHealth systems make it simpler to organise and carry out treatment abroad. Suppliers of eHealth tools – such as databases for patient records, mobile monitors which transmit data automatically, or handling systems for patient call centres – also benefit from the development of a European market in the sector, which has enabled them to build a strong base from which they can tackle the global market.

NewCreationIT offers its solutions and services to technology organizations, small medical practices, large hospitals and government agencies across Europe to support the European eHealth initiatives.