site.btaEU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel Opens Second High-Level Round Table on eHealth in Brussels

107 POLITICS - EU - HEALTH - RECORDS

EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
Opens Second High-Level Round Table
on eHealth in Brussels


Sofia /Brussels, July 11 (BTA) - European Commissioner for Digital Economy and MG Society, Mariya Gabriel, opened the second high-level round table on eHealth and technology development in Brussels on Wednesday. Representatives of the European Commission (EC), of the pharmaceutical, biotechnological and medical industries, experts, academics and non-governmental organizations participated in the forum, said the EC Representation in Bulgaria.

Gabriel brought attention to three subjects: the EC Recommendation on a European Electronic Health Record exchange format, the creation of a common health records database and financial support for these reforms.

"Citizens are at the heart of these efforts. They need to feel safe in order to trust. It is important that they have control over their health data and be sure that no one can use that information without their permission," said the Bulgarian commissioner. Health data also covers the results of laboratory tests, epicrises, medical tests and electronic prescriptions.

Gabriel also emphasized the need to coordinate efforts among Member States in order to create a pan-European health records database.