Although it represents a topic that has been discussed for many years in sector conferences, telemedicine was only translated into practice with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic which acted as a strong accelerator for the adoption of technological and digital solutions in the healthcare sector.
The diversity of the solutions adopted led to entrusting AGENAS – National Agency for regional health services, with the development of a National Telemedicine Platform (PNT).
The start with some pilot regions
Tested in recent months, The National Telemedicine Platform will start in the next few days with the collaboration of some pilot regions.
This further step represents a step forward towards the full operation of the technological infrastructure which will allow the national health system to take charge of it homogeneously and equally throughout the national territory and which sees AGENAS involved as the implementing body of one of the components of Mission 6 health of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (M6-C1 sub investment 1.2.3. Telemedicine).
Objectives and next steps
The goal we are aiming for is that of present the National Telemedicine Platform to all interested stakeholders as early as 1 October 2024.
The national platform will ensure interoperability both with the application architecture of the Electronic Health Record 2.0, and with the Health Status Ecosystem, with theobjective of allowing a homogeneous implementation of telemedicine paths throughout the national territory facilitating acute and chronic care by local healthcare providers, encouraging dehospitalization and enhancing the quality and safety of local care.
Furthermore, among the expected outcomes, fill the gap that still exists at a territorial level between the different areas of the country and offer greater integration between regional health services and national platforms through innovative solutions, codifications and terminological standards shared at national level; improve clinical quality and accessibility to patients’ healthcare services throughout the national territory; equip healthcare professionals with new validated tools in order to operate effectively in every process both individual and multi-disciplinary; facilitate the planning, governance and development of digital health.
