Decision 1988/577 - 88/577/EEC: Council Decision of 4 November 1988 on a Community action in the field of information technology and telecommunications applied to health care - Advanced informatics in medicine (AIM) - Exploratory action - Main contents

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88/577/EEC: Council Decision of 4 November 1988 on a Community action in the field of information technology and telecommunications applied to health care - Advanced informatics in medicine (AIM) - Exploratory action

Official Journal L 314 , 22/11/1988 P. 0022 - 0030

COUNCIL DECISION of 4 November 1988 on a Community action in the field of information technology and telecommunications applied to health care - Advanced informatics in medicine (AIM) - Exploratory action (88/577/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 130Q (2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

In cooperation with the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Whereas the Community has as its task, by establishing a common market and progressively approximating the economic policies of Member States, inter alia, to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic activity and closer relations between the States belonging to it;

Whereas the Heads of State and Government emphasized the importance of health care as a major factor for economic growth and social development;

Whereas the European Parliament, in its assessment of the situation and development, stressed the role of cooperation in health care and related areas for the future political, social and economic development of the Community;

Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution on biotechnology in Europe and the need for an integrated policy (4), has stressed the importance of information technology and telecommunications applied to health care;

Whereas the Economic and Social Committee supports initiatives in this domain;

Whereas, with the emergence of advanced and mobile communication services and the progressive introduction of computing in health care and services, the conditions for major improvements for health care and possibilities for improved cost-effectiveness may be emerging;

Whereas it is important for increasing the quality, flexibility and accessibility of health care in the Community that there should be adequate consultation of organizations working in this field;

Whereas particular attention must be paid to questions of privacy, confidentiality and data protection and this can build on related work carried out in the framework of Esprit and RACE;

Whereas developments in health care will benefit the general public and the building of a competitive European industry for developing and sustaining advances in health services;

Whereas advances in health care will contribute to resolving pressing social needs associated with changing age structures in the Community, and to the earliest possible recognition of new diseases and health care problems;

Whereas concerted efforts in this domain will contribute to the creation of the internal market and prevent the formation of new internal frontiers to health care;

Whereas the development of common functional specifications for equipment and services will permit the less developed regions to benefit fully from the efforts of Member States piloting the improvements of health care, management and infrastructure developments in the Community;

Whereas the development of common functional specifications for equipment and services will enable the better targeting of effort and use of scarce resources;

Whereas the development of a European health care infrastructure technology will encourage and draw upon the best work in the Community and will ensure the passage of such work into the process of health care;

Whereas the development of health care infrastructure technology and services offers a wide range of opportunities for small- and medium-sized undertakings in the manufacture of equipment and in the provision of specialized services for the provision of health...

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