In order to take better advantage of the potential of electronic health services, the Federal Council assigned to the Federal Department of Home Affairs - FDHA (Département fédéral de l'intérieur - DFI) the drafting of a preliminary report on the legal principles governing the eHealth Strategy, accompanied by an explanatory report.
The Swiss health system uses the resources offered by the new information technologies and communication, although the connection between electronic service systems for health has not yet reached an optimal level. Moreover, the online information is not coordinated and not controlled in terms of quality. The systematic use of electronic processes can contribute to improve the quality of medical care, data on patients being immediately available. In addition, eHealth can facilitate more efficient processes in the health system. New technologies also help people to develop a better knowledge about health.
These are some major reasons why the Federal Council decided to give the FDHA the green light to further continue with the implementation of the "eHealth Strategy" in Switzerland. Therefore, the FDHA was asked to submit by the end of 2010, a report on the legal principles that need to be enacted in this area. These databases must provide all players involved with a unified and general framework for data protection, rights of access to decentralized data, accountability and funding.
The creation of a portal devoted to health is also part of the measures for the further implementation of the eHealth Strategy. It will provide access to quality information on the subject as well as services, such as access to electronic patient record. The next steps will involve basic and continuous training of health professionals.