eGovernment: Some Thoughts on Public Health and the EU

Using eGovernment to improve healthcare provision is important in boosting accountability to citizens, modernising organisations and lowering costs.

The Internet’s potential as a giant portal to greater and more useful information creates unprecedented opportunity for patients to improve their input into public policy decisions and make decisions on their choice of care. Citizens can be made aware of the latest healthcare developments, such as the UK’s Darzi Review or be able to do research to search for the cheapest price of private healthcare insurance or even research into the benefits of non-critical treatment in other European countries.

eGovernment practices can be effective at improving quality of service and reducing the cost of provision. Firstly, modern communication tools result in EU agencies and organisations working more effectively together, breaking down the ‘silo culture’ of existing organisational procedures and encouraging joined up and more integrated EU health initiatives. Secondly, the costs involved in non-ICT based communications are significant, as the administrative and logistical costs can be huge. For example, modern electronic patient referrals in Denmark are now currently saving 1m a year.