Opportunities of the demographic change

Innovation in Integrated Care, opportunities of

the demographic change

Interview with Horst Krämer, Programme Officer - EU policies, European Commission DG for Communications Networks, Content and Technology

Why do we need innovation in health and care?

Demographic change and ageing societies are widely accepted as major challenges facing Europe on an unprecedented scale. With regard to health and care systems, there is evidence that today's healthcare systems are not sustainable: More people will be dependent on others to care for them, fewer people will be productive and active in the economy. We expect a shortage of 20 million care-workers in the EU by 2020. The costs of care are expected to go up by 4 to 8 percent of our European GDP by 2025. The costs of chronic care will probably more than double. We cannot solve this by austerity measures or pension reform.

However, there are also great opportunities for innovation in demographic change, and developments in digitalisation and new models of integration of health and social care are good examples of a promising way forward.

What are these opportunities?

Digital transformation, especially Digital Health Technology, can be a driving force for better quality of care leading to increased levels of quality of life, more efficient provision of health and social care, as well as new markets and investment opportunities. The latter is an important element of Europe's growing Silver Economy which covers new market opportunities arising from both public and consumer expenditures related to the needs and demands of the population 50+.

Examples of EU activities and priorities that can contribute to and benefit from the Silver Economy include Smart Homes, Mobility, data-driven health and care models, robotics, tourism, construction and technology, medical devices, long term care and labour inclusion, smart specialisation strategies and innovation for health and ageing.

It goes without saying that accommodating the needs and preferences of the individual must be the guiding principle. Digital innovation can enable, improve, support, augment, empower – but will not replace – human communication and relationships.

How can we get there?

We need a common understanding and commitment from industry, policy makers, innovators, professionals and user communities.

We need to understand better and stimulate more demand-side innovation (e.g. health and social care providers, regional authorities, insurance organisations) to ensure that the innovation is actually adoptable.

There are a number of barriers that need to be overcome. In doing this can draw on expertise, commitment and experience in a range of initiatives. They include research and innovation under Horizon 2020, the Active and Assisted Living Programme with Member States, the EIT-KIC on healthy living and active ageing, the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), the eHealth Action Plan, the Member States' Joint Programming Initiative "More Years, Better Lives" and the EU Silver Economy strategy.

Enablers towards successful transformation of health and care include training and skills development for the workforce, digital health literacy and skills for informal carers and recipients of care, data-driven economic models that take into account privacy and security, better coordination between health and social care systems, patient access to medical and social care information, as well as clarity on applicable regulation and interoperability (through standards, where necessary).

All these will be elements of a "shared vision" we are currently defining jointly with stakeholders: Under the headline "Blueprint of Digital Transformation of Health and Care for the Ageing Society", this vision will be discussed at the second European Summit on Innovation for Active and Healthy Ageing (5-8 December 2016), an event organised by the European Commission in partnership with the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions. It will bring together over 1500 participants engaged in developing, investing in and deploying digital innovation for active and healthy ageing.