BIOMed · New Horizons Biomedical Informatics Observatories in Mediterranean Region

The main strategic objective of BIOMed is to enhance the scientific collaboration between North-South Euro-Mediterranean countries. The purpose is to: 1) Initiate the establishment of national BioMedical Informatics (BMI) associations, aligned with IMIA, for remodelling the national strategies; 2) Structure the BMI Strategic Plans for MEDA; 3) Define the requirements for targeted BMI new projects and initiatives; 4) Encourage and support the establishment of Biomedical Informatics Centres of Excellence advising for Future reformation. BIOMed will synergistically apply up-to-date European and International methodologies & standards. The defined challenges are: integrating multiple segregated BMI initiatives and policies; overcoming obstructions- socio, political, economic; recommendation adaptation, assessing the current and proposed solutions; defining the national health systems real demands; identifying different European best practices.In 2004, the European eHealth Area action plan (COM 2004/ 356) focused on improving the healthcare services; defining best practices; and exchanging the knowledge between different health practitioners. eHealth’s central role in the European Union’s eEurope strategy is to improve the efficiency of the health system, the quality of the delivered services and accessibility of the medical data. These commission priorities are not only restricted to European citizens, but extended also to cover other neighbourhood regions- MPC. IMIA Strategic Plan (2007) plans to enhance the collaboration and to network biomedical informatics initiatives to maximize its impact world-wide. BIOMed intends to integrate different European expertise in BMI in a single Comprehensive FrameworkResults- BMI-MEDA Strategy Plan: developing BMI National and Regional Strategic Plans in EG & JO- BIOMed-BOARD (Strategic Planning): to initiate and sustain long-term partnerships- BIO (S&T Activities): Mobility aims to develop BMI Observatory for S&T improvements