mHealth will strenghten patients's position

On Wednesday, September 25, 2013 was held a workshop in the European Parliament dedicated to one of the areas of eHealth, to the mHealth. As this term is very recent, most of the languages stick to the English version without any translation. Considering that eHealth represents a use of information and communication technologies, tools and services in health care, we can also claim that mHealth represents a use of mobile technology in health care, especially of phones and tablets.

In recent years mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. Without any exaggeration, we can assume that majority of people possesses a mobile phone and they actively use it. Moreover we can notice recently a continuous growth in sales of smart phones which enable diverse usage due to its applications.

Use of mobile technologies could provide patients with better access to information about health care, about diseases and their indications, alternatives how to prevent them and also their possible treatments. People can actively participate in their healthcare while having access to information. Moreover they might have a possibility to control the use of funds of their health insurance in more efficient way.

During a meeting, which I chaired, there was a speech given by Joan Cornet, Barcelona, director of the mHealth Competence Center, and Paul Buchanan from the UK. Whereas Joan Cornet described possible usage of mobile technologies in healthcare, Paul Buchanan, an active diabetic, showed particular examples how chronically ill individuals can make use of such devices and he also demonstrated possible obstacles which might occur.

Especially to chronically ill patients, cell phones bring improvement in quality of their life. They allow to monitor a wide range of bodily functions and to share patient's information with his physician. Mobile technologies have a particular importance especially to elderly. It provides them with great security and an opportunity to call emergency services at any time. For instance in case of patients suffering from dementia there is even a possibility to locate them - this option is certainly used only in compliance with all rules of privacy protection.

Mobile technologies, including cell phones as well as tablets, can play an important role. People could have an access to the key information about their disease and treatment, examination results but also to have an overview of the reported health care directly in their electronic health records on their tablets. A use of mobile technologies will be also appreciated after introduction of electronic prescriptions and electronic statements of sick leave.

Part of the discussion held in Brussels was focused on the topic how to support the usage of mobile technologies in healthcare. It is the responsibility of governments and NGOs to explain to people, patients, how to benefit from mHealth and also to pluck up the courage and persuade health professionals to share information with their patients.