Business Models for eHealth

Deadline: 18 August 2008

The study will analyse successful business models for innovative eHealth applications, focusing on financing, longer term sustainability, incentives of all the stakeholders and on the role of procurers. Particular attention should be given to ICT applications for chronic diseases management, with reference to the research carried out in this field that the European Commission has funded (FP6, FP7).

There is a need to investigate methodologies of assessment and ideal scenarios for business models for innovative eHealth applications, focusing on financing, longer term sustainability, incentives for all the stakeholders and on the role of procurers

(04/06/2008) The objectives of this study are to contribute to the Health Action Plan, in particular those activities that deal with the collection, analysis and eventual dissemination of best practices, as well as the Lead Market Initiative for eHealth that aims to accelerate the development of the eHealth market.

The study will focus on business models for eHealth. The specific goals of the study are:

1. To review the state of the art evaluation methodologies and approaches focusing on efficiency, sustainability and economic benefits of eHealth systems;
2. To consider the current demand for eHealth systems and tools in the four defined market areas with a view to evaluating the existing and potential eHealth market size;
3. To identify eHealth business models within the four market areas outlined above that represent best practices in a range of Member States, analyse and present the findings.
4. To describe a vision of sustainable eHealth systems for each of the four market areas. This will include proposed business models presuming that some seed funding was available to roll out a service on a wide scale.

The study should consider business models for eHealth in the 27 member states of the EU, plus Norway and Iceland.

The activities covered by the study will be based on a common methodological approach which takes into account the specificities of each of the four types of eHealth market.

The study will complement the analysis of the state of the art in assessment methodology of eHealth applications carried out by previous European Commission-funded studies, in particular on "Economic and productivity impact of eHealth" , "Economic Impact of electronic health records" and "Financing and boosting investment on eHealth". The study should not cover overlapping ground that has been assessed in the aforementioned studies.

The study will gather all available information about successful business models for eHealth systems. The choice of a method to measure the successful business case of these eHealth applications must be motivated in the adequate context. Consideration should be given to business models that sustain or reduce health delivery costs for regional/national health care authorities while improving health care delivery service, and that create profit for insurers and other industry stakeholders.

The study will use participant questionnaire surveys and workshops to complement available information and to collect information from the sites selected by the contractor with the European Commission's approval. Also, the analysis may be complemented with stakeholders’ interviews, case studies on specific projects or clusters of projects/participants, as well as other data gathering and analysis methods, subject to approval by the Commission services.

A consultation group of relevant stakeholders, including representatives from national and regional health authorities, industry groups including medical technology companies and telemedicine service providers, insurers (responsible for health care reimbursement), procurers, users and professional organisations could help to verify an appropriate approach to the analysis of business models, and focus groups with health practitioners should ensure the acceptability of any proposed business model innovations.

Official Journal 04.06.2008 - 2008/S 107-142553 - SMART 2008-0062

Pre-Information Notice O.J. 2008/S 53-071336

Further clarifications regarding the Tender Specifications or the Service Contract can be requested at infso-h1@ec.europa.eu. A F.A.Q. will then be published in this website and updated regularly.

• CORRIGENDUM (19/06/2008) - SMART 2008-0062 (23 Kb)
• Draft Service Contract - SMART 2008-0062 (76 Kb)
• Frequently Asked Questions (19/06/2008) - SMART 2008/0062 (34 Kb)
• Invitation to tender - Smart 2008/0062 (22 Kb)
• Service contract Contract notice 142553-2008 - SMART 2008/0062 (61 Kb)
• Tender Specifications - SMART 2008-0062 (202 Kb)

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See also: ICT for Health - Studies

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