World of Health IT to join with eHealth Ministerial Conference in 2010

Save the date: The Next WoHIT will take place in Barcelona in 2010

Published: 11/04/2008

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - (HealthTech Wire / News) - The European Commission, HIMSS Europe, the Ministry of Health and Consumption of Spain, and the Government of Catalonia are delighted to announce that the next World of Health IT conference and exhibition will be held in conjunction with the European Union’s annual High Level eHealth Ministerial Conference in Barcelona on March 15-18, 2010.

The joint event, which coincides with Spain’s presidency of the EU in the first half of 2010 will join together for the first time, the premier meeting of European policy makers with Europe’s premier Health IT conference and exhibition event. The result will be a unique confluence of stakeholders that together will advance eHealth in Europe.

“We have received very strong support from all of our partners in the European Union and we are delighted that we can create such a positive multi-lateral partnership to coordinate both the World of Health IT and the High Level eHealth Ministerial. Over the past three years, the World of Health IT has established itself as Europe’s pre-eminent forum for all stakeholders in the European eHealth community. In this new collaboration, we are creating the leading platform for eHealth in Europe,” said Steve Lieber, President and CEO, HIMSS.

“We believe that there is a benefit in bringing together the constituency of this event with that of the eHealth Ministerial event. This idea is shared by all the parties involved in the organisation of both events, and I have the pleasure to invite you to a joint event that will take place in March of 2010 in Barcelona,” commented Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media.

“We are very excited about organizing the eHealth Conference 2010 in Barcelona, because of our strong commitment with eHealth. We are especially proud of the European Commission’s invitation to host this important high level conference just four years after the successful experience of the eHealth Conference 2006 in Málaga. eHealth is at a very exciting juncture in Europe and we look forward to playing an active role in shaping this debate in 2010 and beyond,” said Mr Pablo Rivero”, Director General for Quality of the National Health System, Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, Spain.

"The World of Health IT provides a valuable platform for governmental leaders, such as myself, to share our experiences in ICT for health and to learn from the experiences of others. We, the Department of Health, Government of Catalonia in collaboration with TicSalut, extend a warm welcome to colleagues and friends from around the world to join us again in Barcelona, Spain for the next World of Health IT conference in 2010,” said Dr Joan Guanyabens, Secretary of Strategy and Coordination, Department of Health, Catalonia.