The continued growth of ehealth has received the backing of the Swedish Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund.
Speaking at a press conference during an informal ministerial meeting, Hägglund spoke of the need to improve accessibility and efficiency in healthcare through investment in modern IT systems. “We can free up millions of hospital beds and avoid millions of incorrect prescriptions. There is an enormous potential in eHealth.”
Other topics discussed during the during the meeting, which took place in Jönköping on 7 July, were antibiotic resistance, preparedness for pandemic influenza, patients’ rights when seeking healthcare in other EU countries and prevention of alcohol related harm.
“There has been a very good atmosphere. Attendance has been much better than we could have hoped for,” commented Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund. “We have been able to clarify our agenda well.”
