Health Information and Knowledge

EU Public Health Portal

E Health conference24 May 2005 Trömso

John F. RyanHead of Unit

Unit C2 – Health InformationLuxembourg, 16.5.2005

EU Public Health Activities

EU Treaties call for a high level of health protection in all EU policies. Community action, which shall complement national policies, is directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness, through health information and education, for example

How the Community actsThe main arm of Community action is through the EU Public Health Programme 2003-2008, annual budget of +/- 60M€Three main strands-

Health informationHealth threats including bioterrorismHealth determinants

Health Information SourcesMany EU projects developed health monitoring, especially in the former health monitoring programme, but also in the cancer, rare diseases, pollution related diseases and injury prevention programmesEurostat works on mortality and morbidity statistics.WHO, OECD and agencies such as Lisbon (drugs) or Copenhagen (environment) also have monitoring activities, as will the Stockholm centre (communicable diseases).The challenge is to bring these elements together to facilitate access to reliable, up-to-date and comparable information.

Main information Outputs of the Programme Information Strand

Health indicators and reports:THE SHORT LIST OF COMMUNITY HEALTH INDICATORSTHE ‘HEALTHY LIFE YEARS’ INDICATORHEALTH REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONSCONFERENCES AND EVENTSMultinational projects and networks

Which is the audience

Mostly professionals, academics, NGO’s, industry and governmentSome public information campaigns

Tobacco fund multimedia campaignsCancer, nutrition, drugs and AIDS campaignsRare diseases, mental health and CVD information activities, for example

Health in other policies

Internal market (Tobacco labelling/tax)Product authorisation (medicines)Services (regulated professions)Agriculture (food policy, quality)Development (health-aid, investment)Research (health research)Employment (health and safety at work, disability)

Diffusion

The Internet is the main diffusion methodThe Commission EUROPA server contains information on public health but also on other policies with a health impact

Public health website

As an example, the public health website alone has over 500000 hits per monthContains project reports, news on events, proposals for legislationGenerally an administrative site

The concept of a Health portal

Linking the broad spread of information sources with health interest at EU levelReverse the current lack of focus on presenting material in a way attractive/accessible to citizensA Portal can provide an attractive single entry-point and improve synergies with Member States, regional levels and civil society giving a better overview

Implementation planEditorial board representatives from Member States and different Commission directorate generals and civil societyBrainstorming on regrouping health topics under a small number of themesBuilding visual concept

Content

Under a small number of themes:A short introduction Links to EU policy areas concernedLinks to Member State websitesLinks to Regional authority websitesLinks to Non-governmental organisations websitesLinks to other web resources

Budget

Development funded by Interchange of Data Between Administrations ProgrammeLong term maintenance to be funded by EU Public health programme

Timelines

Development work begun in 2004Final test version available mid 2005Roll out end 2005

Theme structure

Screen design: Green version

Screen design: Green version

Pre-test - ResultsMain findings

Both design approaches basically meet the taste of the test groupsAvoid overload of informationAvoid provocative but take “healthy” picturesClear structure is demandedNews section is appreciated (green version)Search tool is appreciatedDifferent opinions depending on countryGroup discussion: Green version was appreciated as a fresh young and promotional approachGroup discussion: Blue version was appreciated because of the structure and subdivision

EUROPA ADDRESS

http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_information/information_en.htm