1. EESC Public Hearing 30-Jan-2019
Digital Health Literacy EESC Public Hearing
Aimad Torqui
Director Global Regulatory Policy MSD
EESC Public Hearing 30-Jan-2019

2. Digital health and care: empowering patients
Potential of digital health and care to innovate and improve access to care, quality of care, and to increase the overall efficiency of the health sector.
Empowerment of patients: as they could manage their health more actively, living more independent lives in their own home environment.
Health Literacy is a key competence and a precondition for the success of digital health
Health literacy depends very much on the people’s engagement in lifelong education and learning, the responsibility for the improvement of health literacy lies also within systems (including health systems).

3. Broader perspective – case example
European Medicines Agency: Electronic product information
Patient and consumer organizations, health care professionals and user testers are skeptical about the overall quality of the patient leaflet. Additionally, the majority of health care professionals who participated in the study think that the PIL does not include sufficient information for the elderly and patients with more than one illness;
EMA workshop (Nov. 2018) explore how electronic formats can be used to improve citizens’ access to medicines' information.

4. Knowledge and treatment
Improved access and (digital) health literacy –
leads to patient health behaviors and outcomes
Prevention
Knowledge and treatment
Adherence
Utilization
Preventive care/screening: enter healthcare system earlier
Ability to ask questions:
better knowledge of conditions / optimal management
Better understanding why and how to take medicines
Prevention of hospital admissions / emergency department visits
Nielsen-Bohlman, L., Panzer, A. M., & Kindig, D. A. (Eds.). (2004). Health literacy: A prescription to end confusion. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Weiss BD. Health Literacy: Health literacy and patient safety: Help patients understand. The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation and the AMA. May 2007.
Wilson IR, et al. “Physician-Patient Communication About Prescription Medication Nonadherence: A 50-State Study of America’s Seniors.” JGIM. January 2007;22(1):6-12.

5. Innovations ahead will make healthcare more personalized, patient-centered
In healthcare debate we know the key challenges: an ageing population, increased prevalence of chronic conditions and multi-morbidities, literacy etc
How do we leverage on even greater opportunities:
high and growing access to internet and mobile devices, and use of Electronic Health Records and e-prescriptions;
a vibrant eco-system of teaching hospitals, research institutes;
start-ups and big and small life science enterprises where world-class research and development is being performed;
solid experience of positive public-private collaboration;
a high general education level, which is an important condition for health literacy and digital tools.

6. Unleash potential of digital health (literacy)
Ongoing programmes to enhance the technical infrastructure and allow cross-border interactions. This should be further fostered in order to further develop Digital Health.
Complemented with comprehensive European health literacy strategy:
Digital health literacy combines digital with health. Both capabilities require specific education and trainings.
Strategy and implementation plan needed.
Public private partnerships:
Data generation / proof of concept of user-centric healthcare information solutions that can transform how citizens across Europe understand their health and care

7. Thank you