The debate was about eHealth and an aging population, and was held at Oslo Innovation Center by Oslo Teknopol in cooperation with the other capital cities in Scandinavia, the Baltics and Germany in the framework of two EU projects, BaSIC and JOSEFIN, co-funded by the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013.

The opposition leader also stressed the need for technology, management, and increased opportunities for patients to choose. "Choice requires information. As recently as last week the Technology Council presented a report which showed that free choice of hospital is not a reality, because there are no good quality indicators or transparency about the results. Transparency about results is key to the individual choice of health care," said Ms Solberg.

Out in the cloud?
The debate continued with representatives of Google, Microsoft, hospitals, research and municipalities.

Google, with its business model to use cloud computing, says there are three barriers to more eHealth: Confidence in the internet, patent rights (which might not create innovation and might hang on to old rights), and an open internet without monopolies.

Microsoft shared their visions for the future through a film about how health solutions can be, with seamless interaction between patients and their many care-givers. They also drew attention to Abilias Memo Planner, which helps people with dementia to keep track of the day and their lives so they can stay longer at home.

Google and Microsoft, however, agreed that the developed services will need a bigger market. So each country cannot take on everything alone.

After lunch, B2B meetings were organised with companies from around the Baltic Sea area, as well as workshops for smaller groups. The day concluded with a reception at the Oslo City Hall and a delegate dinner.

Presentations and pictures

 
Find more pictures like this on Oslo ICT Network