Continua Health Alliance brings together Information Communication Technology (ICT) companies, health devices, fitness and pharmaceutical companies, in order to enable the seamless transfer of patient data.

This alliance sets out to "foster independence by establishing a system of interoperable personal tele-health solutions that empower people and organizations to manage health and wellness better."

The general aim is to allow patient monitoring at home and to prevent certain diseases by regular monitoring. With modern technology sick people will not be forced to go to hospital but may benefit from distance reviewing of their condition.

It aims to develop:

• Open standards and interoperability. These are important to make sure that single companies don't dominate sub-sectors of the e-health market, which could potentially spoil the whole sector's growth potential. In particular Small and Medium-sized Enterprises depend on open standards to integrate with bigger companies' infrastructure.

• Certification. Devices respecting the standards and tying in with other compatible hardware and software will carry the Continua logo, as a signal to consumers and health professionals.

• A friendly regulatory environment. Some regulations already apply to health services in the US and the EU. Industry's interest is mostly that regulations across the world are harmonised in order to make technical modifications unnecessary when designing equipment for different destinations.

• Awareness with the public and policy makers; advocacy.  

Although designed to meet the needs of patients (or patients “to be”) at home, no doubt the tools, devices and instruments that will be developed will benefit hospitals, which will be able to access the data collected much more easily in future. The technology the industries involved in the project will create will probably be transferable for hospital use.

Despite the fact that the project raises serious questions about protection of personal data (and access to it), about financing, accessibility and inclusion, the EAHP will follow the activities of the alliance, keeping an eye on the potential over-influence of one industry on another.

Links:
•    EU e-health action plan
•    Continua Health Alliance