Consumer eHealth
The Council defines consumer eHealth as information and communication technologies offered directly on the market to consumers without the intermediary of care providers, the aim of which is to support or improve users’ health.
Developments in consumer eHealth are occurring rapidly and they could have profound consequences for the supply of and demand for healthcare in its current usual form.
Consumer eHealth responds directly to people’s wishes and offers people solicited and unsolicited possibilities. The regular healthcare services are inadequately prepared for the developments that lie ahead and this problem will not solve itself. Measures must be taken to ensure that consumer eHealth is safe and useful for people and society.