We know that the digital revolution is here to stay in the health sector, as in practically all other areas of modern life. In recent years, we have seen a real explosion in the development of electronic platforms that gradually offer improved health services and reflect the rapid development of technological advances. There are currently around 350,000 healthcare apps around the world (90,000 of them were added in 2020 alone) and they are growing rapidly, although they are not always of the right quality or expire quickly, posing a risk to potential users. may be susceptible to.
For many years, experts have warned that Big Data is not just a fad and has become an integral part of various industries. AndIt was only a matter of time before Big Data and its many practical applications took over and became part of the world of medicine and health.
As a clear indication that the medical profession cannot remain oblivious to this paradigm shift, digital transformation It is one of the axes of the Collegiate Medical Organization’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. We aim to respond to the needs of our associates in all areas that affect professional practice and daily life in health care settings, which means we are prepared to adapt our professional practice to the needs of the digital age.
We are fully aware of this need in the pandemic, which has forced us to serve patients by establishing new care environments and implementing new modalities to make healthcare services sustainable enough to meet the new challenges. forced to accelerate the digitization and digital transformation process. Health provision in the context of a major crisis such as a global health emergency.
The adaptive process to the new reality requires the active participation of the medical profession on the basis of some essential principles. first, Digital tools should be facilitators, not teachers, of our professional practice, Second, training in the use of these digital modalities is complex and requires time and preparation for physicians and other health professionals to develop into skilled and safe users. In conclusion, there are huge potential benefits for society and professionals from the use of advanced digital technologies, but there are actually huge risks that need to be recognized and mitigated.
In this sense, we wish to emphasize that we must always adhere to the essential values of our profession and, above all, we To be able to guarantee excellence in medical practice and the safety of our patients and the management of their dataIn any digital environment and through any platform, while complying with our Code of Medical Ethics.
It’s a big task, but we are not alone. Big Data applied to health is an important issue for all EU countries. hence, The European Health Data Space proposed by the European Commission will be a key element in giving citizens control of their health data and to facilitate its use towards better health care; ensuring interoperability and semantic, legal and technical security in data flows throughout the EU; and to provide us with a sound, safe and quality framework for research and development of health policies and regulations.
The proposal for this European Health Data Space is an opportunity for patients to be able to control their health data and make it available to professionals easily and efficiently, regardless of the time and place of healthcare provision. will also have the opportunity to To promote the safety of health and research, always under adequate regulation and rapid application -Despite the different digitization pace with which each EU member state moves forward – as well as the different attitudes of each society towards the digital skills of each health professional and the use and exchange of health data.
implies the capture and processing of large amounts of information More data will be available and so is the need for risk management and protection against potential use or misuse in favor of interests outside the health sector, The medical profession must be vigilant and safeguard the fair and ethically correct use of data.
Big data will transform medical care and the doctor-patient relationship. It is possible that in the near future, patients will arrive at the office with a device that will include a real-time coordinated database containing information related to their medical history, tests, genome, and more. All of this, linked to a computer that will give you answers about your best diagnostic and therapeutic options. Big data can transform the healthcare model and is critical to ensuring compliance with ethical requirements regarding the use of data in healthcare, such as the duty to obtain Involving patient consent or ethics committees that can rigorously and holistically assess complex and challenging scenarios.
In addition, it is imperative that Big Data does not lead to unequal access to healthcare and no patient feels compelled to share health data due to financial pressures or incentives or because, by sharing your data, you will have priority in receiving medical treatment. There should be no discriminatory treatment of patients who are not willing to share health data.
The digitization of societies as a whole also brings a paradigm shift in health care that we must adopt at the national and European level. The Big Data beast is here to stay, and with the right preparation and safeguards, it can be a valuable ally in our goal of improving healthcare.The safety of professional medical practice and the quality of care we provide to our patients is the ultimate aspiration of our business.
*Vassilios Papalois is the President of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and Tomas Kobo is the President of the General Council of Official Colleges of Physicians (Cgcom).
