eHealth Week 2016 speakers announced

Dutch Minister and Secretary of State for Health, Welfare and Sport amongst keynote speakers

By eHealth Week

15 Apr 2016

15 April 2016, The Hague 

Today the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the European Commission and HIMSS Europe announced the first confirmed speakers who will be presenting at eHealth Week. 

Edith Schippers (Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport), Martin van Rijn (State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport), Vytenis Andriukaitis (Commissioner Health and Food Safety), Jeroen Tas (CEO Connected Care & Health Informatics, Philips) and Daan Dohmen (CEO Focus Cura) will be the keynote speakers. 

eHealth Week, now in its sixth edition, will address key topics around the development of eHealth in Europe during several educational sessions, with a particular focus on the increasingly important role of the patient. From 8 to 10 June, over 2,000 international experts in IT and healthcare, public institutions, professional and patient organisations are expected in Amsterdam. For more information: www.ehealthweek.org

Telemedicine and eMental Health amongst the most anticipated sessions

Mental health is one of the biggest health challenges of the century worldwide. The World Health Organization even predicts that by 2020 depression will be the second leading contributor to the global burden of disease across all ages. During the eMental Health session at eHealth Week, a focus will be placed on the online prevention and treatment for enhancement of care mental conditions. Speakers for this session include Katherine Martin Albello, Head of Programme I.COM at Trimbos Institute and Isabela Granic, Professor in Psychopathology at the renowned Radboud University Medical Centre.

Martin van Rijn, State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport: “I want technology to become as evident in healthcare as it is in normal life, to serve the people who need our care. The eHealth week will show a wide range of best practices of which I am sure they inspire all participants.”

In addition, speakers taking part in the ‘Telemedicine: connecting primary and secondary care’ session will be showcasing the advantages of telemedicine. The session will address questions such as: what are the major developments in telemedicine? How can we get our systems ready to implement the latest techniques for telemedicine? 

Shared decision making: Changing the relationship between health professionals and patients

eHealth Week will also focus on how Shared decision making (SDM) -a collaborative process that allows patients and their providers to make healthcare decisions together- can be supported to empower patients and enhance  the relationship between the patient and the provider. 

Christina Roosen, Vice-President of Public Affairs at HIMSS Europe, said: “The diversity of topics and themes that will be covered at eHealth Week this year in Amsterdam will ensure that every single person attending will take many valuable learnings home with them, many of which  they can apply the very next day. Our outstanding speakers will provide fruitful and insightful discussions at every level, which will significantly contribute to the betterment of healthcare through IT amongst our countries.” 

Markus Oei (E.N.T. specialist and director innovation Inforium) about the Shared Decision Making session: “Patient empowerment is all about understanding and getting a grip on the disease, treatment and making good choices. Providing patients with trustable, repeatable and shareable information is crucial. eHealth is potentially the biggest catalyst, but only if all involved parties are working together.