The Region of Murcia, propeller of the digital health transformation in Europe

When in February 2019, the European Committee of the Regions (CDR) approved the Murcia proposal to digitize health at European level, nothing suited the serious health crisis that a few months later would affect the whole of the world population.

Recall that, in February of last year, the opinion promoted by the Region of Murcia was unanimously approved to promote the digitalization of health systems at European level . This document, defended by the President of the Community, Fernando López Miras , the European Committee of the Regions, asked the European Commission to support the Member States to carry out a process through European, national and regional plans and strategies, and that would be sent to all the institutions of the European Union.

López Miras, he pointed out before the plenary session of the "important increase in life expectancy" of the population, which has caused "new demands that make a digital transformation of health essential"

This digital transformation focused on four fundamental areas:

· The creation and improvement of common databases that allow promoting prevention.

· Personalized research and medicine.

· Citizens' safe access to their health data.

· And the creation of digital tools that give power to patients and improve care -centered care.

The opinion also asked the legislators to increase the proposed budget for digital transformation in Europe for the 2021-2027 period , and suggested to the commission the creation of a unique European database format that can be shared by community countries.

This proposal emphasized the need to work for better coordination between the public and private sectors , including small and medium enterprises in the electronic health sector, research agencies and other agents involved in health.

Already then, the Region of Murcia pointed out that the digital transformation of health "is key" to carry out the necessary changes "to deal with the challenges facing Europe" , since it will facilitate access to new assistance models and allow the collection and application of scientific knowledge to advance in the prevention of disease to apply the proper treatment to each patient.

It is certain that if the digital transformation of the health system at the level, not only European but also worldwide, it would have been implemented a few years earlier, we were better prepared to face the very serious consequences that COVID-19 has caused and continues to cause the population today.