Data obtained from public sources. Data sent for review to country expert(s), although not all data has been reviewed by country experts.
For questions and feedback write an email to ecan@goeg.at
Last Update: November 12, 2024
COUNTRY INFORMATION – STRATEGIES / POLICIES
AUSTRIA
Austria has both national and regional eHealth strategies defined in the Federal Target Management Contract for Health. Its National Cancer Plan (2014) includes the implementation of digital health in cancer care and an Austrian eHealth strategy is under development. In addition, there are other eHealth initiatives in the country, such as eSMART (remote monitoring system for oncology patients at the Medical University of Vienna). So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for the implementation of eHealth in cancer care.
BELGIUM
Belgium counts with national and regional eHealth Strategies, including strategies that explicitly address eHealth cancer care. Belgium does not have a National Cancer Plan but has a Cancer Policy approach aligned with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. Furthermore, other stakeholders than policy makers and public authorities drive eHealth initiatives for cancer care. Currently, there is no monitoring plan in place for the implementation of eHealth in cancer care.
BULGARIA
Bulgaria’s National Health Strategy (2020) emphasises eHealth, but lacks a national regulation and strategy for telemedicine, as required by the EHDS. The National Cancer Plan is not aligning with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the European Cancer Mission to modernise cancer care. Non-governmental initiatives like “Mission 3.0. Tele-oncology” address digital health but lack government support. No monitoring plan exists for eHealth in cancer care, highlighting the need for further regulatory and strategic advancements.
CROATIA
Croatia counts with a national eHealth strategy and its National Strategic Framework against Cancer until 2030 (nacionalni strateški okvir protiv raka do 2030) refers to plans for eHealth cancer care solutions. The country does not provide information about regional eHealth strategies, eHealth progress monitoring or stakeholder driven initiatives.
CYPRUS
Cyprus has a national eHealth strategy and a National Cancer Plan (2019) based on EU guidelines. There is no further information on indicators in place to monitor the progress of its implementation nor on discussions to develop eHealth initiatives by stakeholders.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic has a national eHealth strategy and an action plan (2016-2020). In addition, the Czech National Plan for Cancer Control 2030 sets targets for prevention and improving the quality of life of cancer patients. The country does not have any regional eHealth strategies or plans in place for monitoring the implementation of eHealth in cancer care. Furthermore, other stakeholders than policy makers and public authorities drive eHealth initiatives for cancer care in the country.
DENMARK
Denmark counts with national and regional eHealth Strategies and a national cancer plan. However, the latter does not refer specifically to eHealth. The country does not have indicators for measuring the progress of the use of eHealth in cancer care but other stakeholders than policy makers and public authorities drive eHealth initiatives for the topic in the country.
ESTONIA
The eHealth Strategic Development Plan for 2021-2025 is the current national eHealth strategy in Estonia and its Cancer Control Plan 2021-2030 identifies nine priorities aligned with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. There is an Estonian Health System Performance Assessment Framework that measures the progress of the use of eHealth in cancer care. In addition, other stakeholders than policy makers and public authorities drive eHealth initiatives for the topic in the country like the Estonian Biobank project.
FINLAND
There is a national eHealth and eSocial Strategy 2020 and a document on ‘eHealth and eWelfare of Finland: Check Point 2022‘. The country has also regional strategies for digital health services. While Finland does not have a national cancer plan, there are plans to develop one. The country has indicators for the assessment of the impact of eHealth policy in general as well as stakeholder driven eHealth cancer initiatives like the eCare for Me project.
FRANCE
France counts with a national eHealth strategy (eHealth Acceleration Strategy 2021-2026) that is also implemented on regional and local levels. Besides that, France has a National Cancer Plan that refers to eHealth included in the 2020-2030 France Ten-Year Cancer-Control Strategy. There is no information about monitoring plans in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care or stakeholder driven eHealth cancer initiatives.
GERMANY
Germany has a national eHealth strategy in place and several provinces have their regional eHealth strategy as well. The German National Cancer Plan (NCP) was initiated in June 2008 and is still ongoing, but it does not include eHealth for cancer care. There is no information about plans for monitoring the implementation in place of eHealth in the field of cancer, but other stakeholders than policy makers and public authorities drive eHealth initiatives for the topic in the country like Digital gegen den Krebs.
GREECE
The Design and Implementation of the Greek National eHealth Interoperability Framework is the country’s national eHealth strategy, which is developing a new cancer plan aligned with EU guidelines after the most recent one became outdated in 2015. Greece does not provide further information about plans in place for monitoring the implementation of eHealth in the field of cancer nor about other stakeholders than policy makers and public authorities that drive eHealth initiatives.
HUNGARY
Hungary counts with a national eHealth strategy and a national cancer plan, the Magyar Nemzeti Rákellenes Program 2018-2030 (MNREP). There are stakeholder driven eHealth cancer initiatives as well as eHealth progress monitoring. The country has not adopted regional eHealth strategies yet.
IRELAND
The eHealth Strategy for Ireland from the Department of Health was last updated in 2020 and its national cancer strategy 2017-2026 includes information on eHealth and cancer data. The country does not have plans in place for monitoring eHealth progress and does not provide information about regional eHealth strategies. There are stakeholder driven eHealth cancer initiatives like the eHealth Cancer Hub.
ITALY
Italy does not have a National eHealth Strategy. However, the Strategy for Digital Growth and the Three-Year Plan for Information Technology in Public Administration define actions related to digital health. In some regions there are regional eHealth strategies, although they do not explicitly refer to cancer care. On the other hand, there is a National Cancer Plan 2022-2027 that addresses eHealth. Besides that, there are some initiatives focused on cancer care, such as the RAI and Fondazione AIRC campaign. There is no information about monitoring plans in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care.
LATVIA
Latvia has a national eHealth strategy (Digital Health Strategy till 2029) approved in 2023. At the same time, the country has not identified a need to develop regional eHealth strategies. Healthcare services have an improvement plan in the field of oncology in place until 2024. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care or stakeholder driven initiatives for digital health.
LITHUANIA
Lithuania has a national eHealth strategy, which is called the eHealth Development Programme 2017-2025. Its national cancer control 2014-2025 programme refers to improving the quality of healthcare services, increasing efficiency, and ensuring accessibility for all citizens. In addition, the eHealth System in Lithuania sets out several KPIs to measure the progress of eHealth initiatives. The private sector has fostered this kind of activities, mainly apps for smartphones.
LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg is developing a new eHealth strategy after its eHealth Action Plan of 2006 got outdated. There is a national Cancer Plan (2020-2024) in place and there are stakeholder driven eHealth cancer initiatives like the RELIANCE study, carried out by the Luxembourg Institute of Health. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care.
MALTA
Malta is developing a new Digital Health and Health Data Strategy 2030. The National Cancer Plan (2017-2021) is still being used in the country and there are stakeholder driven eHealth cancer initiatives like Cancer Care Pathways as well as monitoring plans for eHealth implementation in cancer care.
NETHERLANDS
The National Health Care Institute has developed an action plan to promote the use of eHealth services, which is being used as a national eHealth strategy. The Netherlands has also a National Cancer Plan and there are stakeholder-driven eHealth cancer initiatives, such as Kanker.nl of the Dutch Cancer Society. The Dutch National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) includes a set of indicators related to the use of eHealth technologies.
NORWAY
There is a national eHealth strategy (Nasional e-helsestrategi in Norvegian) in place for Norway as well as four regional strategies that include eHealth. The country has a national cancer strategy that includes eHealth cancer care (extended until 2023), and a new one is being developed. There are stakeholder driven eHealth cancer initiatives as well. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care.
POLAND
The eHealth Development Programme (Program Rozwoju e-Zdrowia) is the national strategy for eHealth in Poland. There is a National Oncology Strategy of the Ministry of Health for 2020-2030 as well as stakeholder-driven eHealth initiatives for cancer, such as the National Oncology Portal. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for the implementation of eHealth in cancer care.
PORTUGAL
Portugal has a National Strategic Telehealth Plan 2019-2022 (PENTS) that is also implemented on regional and local levels, but it does not refer to cancer care. However, there is a National Cancer Control Strategy 2021-2030 that refers to eHealth. Besides that, there are several initiatives focused on digital health and cancer care, such as Portugal eHealth Summit. So far, there is no information about monitoring plans in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care.
ROMANIA
Romania does not have national or regional eHealth strategies nor tools in place to monitor the progressing of eHealth in the country. The National Cancer Control Plan of 2022 identifies the development and implementation of eHealth solutions as a priority in improving cancer care delivery and outcomes. There are stakeholder-driven eHealth initiatives for eHealth in the country.
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
The Slovak Republic has a national strategy on eHealth, but it’s outdated, and there is a National Cancer Plan in place with plans to update it in 2024-2025. There are several projects focused on digital health and cancer care like the National OnkoAsist Project. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care.
SLOVENIA
The Slovenia – e-health strategy for a healthier society (2022) is the national eHealth strategy of the country. On the other hand, its National Cancer Plan refers to the introduction of an e-order form for cytopathology laboratories, patho-histology laboratories and cancer registry information system. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care or stakeholder driven initiatives for digital health.
SPAIN
Spain has a national eHealth Strategy, as well as regional strategies for eHealth that rely on the national one. In addition, the country has a National Cancer Plan (2021) that integrates Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. There are other eHealth initiatives, such as the Barcelona Health Digital Hub (BHH), which promotes and supports eHealth companies. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for the implementation of eHealth in cancer care.
SWEDEN
Sweden has national and regional eHealth strategies as well as a national cancer plan, but it does not address digital health. So far, there is no monitoring plan in place for eHealth implementation in cancer care or stakeholder driven initiatives for digital health.
SWITZERLAND
The ‘Strategy eHealth Switzerland 2.0’ is the country’s national eHealth strategy. Switzerland has no regional eHealth strategies and its National Cancer Plan is outdated, but there are plans to develop a new one. In addition, stakeholders other than policy makers and public authorities are driving eHealth initiatives for cancer care. The implementation of eHealth in cancer care is monitored by eHealth Suisse in annual reports.
OUR X
➡️ After so many testimonies of the HCPs that have participated in our pilot projects, it's time to collect some take-home messages! 📣
The fourth (and final) episode of our podcast 🎧, #eCANBites, is out now.
#EU4Health #HealthUnion
The #EPH Conference has been the best setting to showcase how we envision the integration of telemedicine 📱 in European Healthcare Systems.
You can have a look at all our resources here ➡️ https://ecanja.eu/
#HealthUnion #EU4Health
@ecan_ja @sciensano @iMedPhysAUTH @NIO_PIB I am pleased that the results of our work package will be presented to the public [digital + cancer] health crowd tomorrow.
See you there!!
@goeg_at @euphadhai @PHMRsection @EU_Health @ecan_ja @ECHoS_CMH
💬 "According to #cancer patients and policy experts, #telemedicine is seen as a useful complementary tool, but not as a replacement for in-person services."
@SchmittTugce, presenting the results of the @ecan_ja foresight study at @EPHconference. #EPH2024 https://ecanja.eu/
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