Towards unlocking eHealth potential in Europe

Abstract

eHealth characterizes not only a technical development, but also a state-of-mind, a way of thinking, an attitude, and a commitment for networked, global thinking, to improve healthcare locally, regionally, and worldwide by using information and communication technology. This paper studies eHealth security from three interrelated angles: security as enabler of trust (empowering users and co-creating trust among EU-citizens); security as technological innovations (open security solutions); and security as regulatory mechanism (contribution towards a creation of a European open security systemic level nexus). To achieve the trust of users, measures of safety have to be taken into consideration in accordance with the "privacy by design" approach. This requires secure storage of information and guaranteeing safe exchange of data preventing unauthorized access, loss of data and cyber-attacks. From citizens’ point of view, eHealth is wholeness in which sectors of information security (availability/confidentiality/integrity) hold true. Present procedures emphasize confidentiality at the expense of integrity and availability, and regulations/instructions are used as an excuse not to change even vital information. The mental-picture of cyber security should turn from “threat, crime, attack” to “trust”. Creating confidence in safe digital future is truly needed in the integration of the digital and physical world’s leading to a new digital revolution.