Committees

Digital Health Advisory Group for Europe

The Digital Health Advisory Group for Europe (DHAGE) is a thought leadership platform for key decision-makers in Europe and the focus is placed on strengthening European cooperation and facilitating synergies between the work of the European Union, the World Health Organization, their Member States, HIMSS, and key stakeholders in European health and care. The Group is the new forum for discussing digital health between high-ranking officials from international organisations and national governments. It brings them together in a confidential environment that is conducive to lateral thinking and bringing up new ideas on how to transform European health and care with the better use of information and technology.

DHAGE is supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health in Portugal and HIMSS. .

Participation in this group is by invitation only so is not included in the open call for volunteers.

Previous DHAGE meetings

2019 – 1st Annual Meeting: DHAGE identified five underlying priorities for its member countries’ health systems.

Those were: integrate health and social data; create interoperability governance; utilize data to create new services and increase product marketability; expand AI-empowered healthcare; and increase digital skills in the workforce, patients and citizens.

2020 – 2nd Annual eMeeting: DHAGE focused on the theme of building the common European response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By: nurturing the ongoing digital transformation of healthcare sped up by the crisis; creating digital tools for managing the pandemic and preparing for future health threats; and creating a framework for cross-border exchange of health and social data post-COVID-19.

2021 – 3rd Annual Meeting: DHAGE focused on European cooperation solutions to promote digital inclusion and increase the resilience of society.

Areas in focus were: access to digital health for everyone, everywhere (health equity); a digitally enabled workforce of the future; international solidarity and interoperability.

2022 – 4th Annual Meeting: DHAGE focused on the topic trust.

With three main conclusions: a supported legislative framework of the EHDS; collaboration for accepted digital therapeutics; develop environments to discuss failures.

2023 – 5th Annual Meeting: DHAGE identified the Priorities for the Decade of Digital Health, discussing on the new landscape in Europe.

Focusing on: people and professionals; governance and interoperability; and innovation and solutions.

2024 – 6th Annual Meeting: DHAGE focused on analysing the profound economic impact of integrating digital health solutions into Healthcare Systems.

The discussions were focused on financial frameworks, funding models and assessing the overall impact of digital health on healthcare systems, with 8 clear conclusions and recommendations.

Access the full reports from the meetings below.

Reports

Chairs

Päivi Sillanaukee
Päivi Sillanaukee
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing
Nuno Costa
Nuno Costa
Vice-Chair of Administration Board
Shared Services for the Ministry of Health of Portugal
Ronan O'Connor
Ronan O’Connor
Vice President and Managing Director
HIMSS International

Participating Countries:

  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Scotland
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Wales

International Organisations:

  • European Commission
  • Nordic Council of Ministers
  • Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
  • The Observatory (the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies)
  • United Nations (UN)
  • World Health Organisation (WHO)

Contact

Loida Lleonart, Associate Director, Strategic Relations, EMEA.

Jukka Lähesmaa, Senior Adviser, Permanent Secretary’s Cabinet, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland.

Organising Partners

Insights from DHAGE Leadership

We are pleased to share an exclusive interview with the DHAGE 2024 High-Level meeting moderators, Tapani Piha and Cátia Sousa Pinto, discussing the key initiatives and strategic direction of the DHAGE group.

Learn about their perspectives on the group's priorities and how DHAGE is contributing to the advancement of digital health in Europe.

Watch the full interview here: HIMSS gathers European officials yearly to discuss healthcare issues - HIMSS TV Homepage (brightcovegallery.com)