European healthcare systems are facing new challenges, such as population ageing and subsequent budget pressures. The use of mobile communication devices as well as mobile health applications has the potential to play moajor role in the transformation of healthcare and increase its quality and efficiency.

However, while mobile health solutions represent a solid approach to empower the patients and improve their quality of life, and help healthcare practitioners to deliver more accurate care, critical factors need to be addressed, such as privacy and security safeguards, interoperoperability and standards developments. This event will examine the right forward to unlocm the potential of mHealth in Europe.

Possible discussions points:

•  What are the implications of the upcoming medical device regulation for mHealth apps? (Medical Device Directive - EP position April 2014, Council approach October 2015, new regulation in 2016. Directive to be replaced by a regulation)
• General Data Protection Regulation: do we have clear modern rules for business?
• How can regulation assist without impeding innovation?
• What are the critical technology blocks and enablers 5G, Cloud, Big Data?
• State of play of the privacy code of conduct for mHealth apps
• Giving the sensitive nature of health data, how can lessen the security risks?
• Assessment of the vilidity & reliability of health apps generated data - what are the guidelines for common criteria in quality data to facilitate the link with the Electronics Health Record?
• What do we need to increase interoperability of mHealth solutions?

Speaker line-up:

Eva Kaili Member of the European Parliament

Carmen Laplaza Deputy Head of Unit of E-Health, Wellbeing, Ageing, DG CONNECT, European Union

Michael Seewald Vice President & WorldWide Head, Real World Evidence, Novartis

Giuseppe De Carlo EU Project Manager, EFA - European Federation of Allergies and Airways Diseases

Moderator: Paul Quinn Professor, Law Science Technology & Society, Vrije Universiteit Brussel