WRITTEN QUESTION E-0664/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 March 2003)

Subject: Telemedicine for remote Greek islands

Three helicopters used for airlifting patients from small Aegean islands have crashed over the last two years, killing 14 persons.

As a result, the system for airlifting patients by helicopter which was funded by the Commission has now broken down.

The only constant in the healthcare system on these islands is the Greek National Health System's telemedicine system. It has also received EU funding and links up 40 small hospitals, health centres and regional clinics to the programme's reference centre which is located in the Sismanogleio hospital in the prefecture of Attica.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

1. Can it confirm that the Greek State has assigned staff capable of meeting the demands of the network 24 hours a day to the telemedicine unit of Sismanogleio hospital?

2. Can it provide qualitative data on the services so far offered by the Sismanogleio telemedicine unit?

3. What appropriations have been made available for developing telemedicine under the telemedicine programme in Greece's Second CSF? In what programmes? What level of funding did the Sismanogleio telemedicine unit receive?

4. What appropriations are provided for in the Third CSF in this connection? What appropriations are earmarked for modernising and upgrading the telemedicine network of NHS based at Sismanogleio hospital?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2003)

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, the capacity of the telemedicine unit of the Sismanogleio hospital to operate on a 24-hour basis is currently being examined including the matter of a possible increase of its staff.

The same authorities have informed the Commission that the telemedicine unit of the Sismanogleio hospital has treated since 1992 some 8 000 cases of which 15-20 % were emergencies. In treating the cases directly, it has also managed to prevent the transfer of patients to other hospitals in the region or in Athens in some 50 % of the cases normally requiring such a transfer. Finally, a number of training programmes have been implemented through the telemedicine network, aiming at improving the delivery of health services through the reinforcement of the diagnostic and treatment capacity of local doctors and hospital staff by the specialists of the Sismanogleio hospital.

The only action relevant to telemedicine that was funded through the 1994-1999 Community Support Framework (CSF) for Greece, was a study on the development of telemedicine information systems. Its total cost was EUR 62 340.

During the present CSF for Greece (2000-2006), telemedicine actions are eligible under the operational programme Information Society. However, the design and preparation of such actions as well as their proposal to the Managing Authority of the programme (a body set up and run by the Member State) is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Up to now, no proposals regarding telemedicine actions have been submitted to the Managing Authority of the Information Society programme by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Numerous telemedicine projects involving Greek partners have been funded through successive European Research and Development Framework Programmes, starting with AIM (Advanced Informatics in Medicine) in 1988. A list of Telemedicine application projects financed under the Fifth Framework Programme (1998-2002), and involving Greek partners is presented in the annex which is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. It can be seen that there has been a constant support of the Commission for Telematics projects involving Greek partners and also that more then EUR 6,4 million have been allocated to Greek participants in these Telematics projects in the context of a total Community contribution of EUR 27 million.