Towards a sustainable EU health information system infrastructure: A consensus driven approach
BRIDGE Hlth Bogaert,Petronille van Oers,J.A.M. Van Oyen,Herman
BRIDGE Hlth
Bogaert,Petronille
van Oers,J.A.M.
Van Oyen,Herman
Abstract
Background: Health information in the EU is characterised by diversity and fragmentation of health information infrastructures. A well-defined and sustainable EU health information system infrastructure is lacking. The potential of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium on Health Information for Research and Evidence-based Policy (HIREP-ERIC) to take up this role is investigated. Methods: Two working groups, a BRIDGE Health Steering Committee and the European Commission's Drafting Group of the Expert Group on Health Information, discussed the technical and scientific description of the HIREP-ERIC through a consensus-driven modified Delphi technique. Results: Consensus was reached on three aspects of the HIREP-ERIC. First, it was defined as an infrastructure that facilitates interaction of networks and experts in health information by providing central governance and a more permanent collaboration. Second, the infrastructure should be distributed, with a central hub coordinating the operation of distributed networks. Third, it should provide easy access to high quality and comparable data for purposes of research and policy making, and focus its activities around generating, managing, exchanging and translating health information. Conclusion: A momentum has been created where representatives from 16 European countries agreed on the HIREP-ERIC as a pragmatic bottom-up approach to strengthen the current EU health information landscape. A Member States' commitment is needed at senior political level to make this consensus operational. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Description
Date
2018
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Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Keywords
European Union, Health information system, Health and health system monitoring, BRIDGE health, Joint Action on Health Information, InfAct, DELPHI, SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
Citation
BRIDGE Hlth, Bogaert, P, van Oers, J A M & Van Oyen, H 2018, 'Towards a sustainable EU health information system infrastructure : A consensus driven approach', Health Policy, vol. 122, no. 12, pp. 1340-1347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.10.009