Author: Artur Olesch
Cooperation is the key to success. Whether you want to keep up with market trends, establish new business partnerships, or pitch your ideas and solutions, joining one of the industry organizations can be very beneficial. I’ve selected leading international associations involved in digital healthcare.
The top digital health organizations, alliances, societes and hubs operating in Europe and globally:
- European Connected Health Alliance (ECHAlliance)
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
- Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA)
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health)
- International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISFTeH)
- Frontiers Health
EUROPEAN / GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS
European Connected Health Alliance (ECHAlliance)
The Global Connector for Digital Health, facilitating multi-stakeholder connections around ecosystems, driving sustainable change and disruption in the delivery of health and social care. The global network connects 78 countries (Europe, USA, Canada, China, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, and the Pacific). The ECHAlliance community of over 16,500 experts (government, health & social care providers, leading companies and startups, researchers, insurances, patients groups and citizens, and the investment community) connect through ecosystem meetings and international events and our online platform. Becoming a member of ECHAlliance will enable you to grow your networks, promote your organization, connect with innovators in Digital Health and collaborate globally to transform health and social care.
Website: www.echalliance.com
Comment: Brian O’Connor, Chair of the ECHAlliance is for me one of the most important leaders of digital transformation in healthcare.
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
HIMSS is a leading digital and the oldest (founded in 1961) health organization worldwide that supports the transformation of the health ecosystem through information and technology. HIMSS delivers key insights, education and engaging events to healthcare providers, governments and market suppliers, ensuring they have the right information at the point of decision. With headquarter in the USA, HIMSS also has its local chapters located in Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The network includes more than 80,000 individuals, 480 provider organizations, 470 non-profit partners and 650 health services organizations. In 2017, HIMSS acquired Health 2.0 conferences known for organizing an event that brings together startups, innovators and investors.
Website: www.himss.org
Comment: HIMSS Conferences are the best place to follow the latest trends, meet high-level experts, get inspired during keynotes, and meet digital health enthusiasts from around the world. Don’t miss their great media channels: Healthcare IT News, MobiHealth News, and HIMSS TV
Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA)
Founded in 2017, the Digital Therapeutics Alliance is a non-profit trade association of industry leaders and stakeholders engaged in the evidence-driven advancement of digital therapeutics. DTA maintains an international industry focus and is headquartered in the United States. DTA exists to broaden the understanding, adoption, and integration of clinically-evaluated digital therapeutics into healthcare through education, advocacy, and research. Alliance members work to enable expanded access to high quality, evidence-based digital therapeutics for patients, healthcare providers, and payers in order to improve clinical and health economic outcomes.
Website: www.dtxalliance.org
Comment: Although it’s one of the youngest organizations listed, it’s also the fastest-growing one. So if you are want to know more about DTx, follow Megan Coder and Jessica Shull on social media.
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health)
EIT Health is a network of best-in-class health innovators backed by the EU. Established in 2015 as a ‘knowledge and innovation community’ (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the organization comprises various KICs who each focus on a different sector, or area, of innovation around health and aging. EIT Health works across borders with approximately 150 partner organizations, bringing together the brightest minds in healthcare to answer some of the biggest health challenges facing Europe.
Website: www.eithealth.eu
Comment: It’s hard to follow the impressive number of projects and initiatives of EIT Health, but after my interview with the CEO, Jan Philipp Beck, I’m sure that every stakeholder can find its place there.
International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISFTeH)
Founded in 1993, ISfTeH is a non-profit society organization, facilitating the dissemination and exchange of knowledge and experience in Telemedicine and eHealth and providing access to recognized experts in the field worldwide. ISfTeH aims to promote and support the implementation of Telemedicine/eHealth activities and solutions worldwide. It functions as an umbrella organization for national Telemedicine and eHealth organizations, assists the startup of new national organizations, and enhances networking, partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders worldwide. The ISfTeH is recognized as an NGO in Official Relations with WHO (World Health Organization). The history of ISfTeH dates back to 1993.
Website: www.isfteh.org
Comment: ISfTeH annual conference is known for presenting digital health projects implemented by healthcare organizations and member countries. Focused primarily on telemedicine, the organization attracts the scientific and academic community.
European Health Telematics Association (EHTEL)
EHTEL is a pan-European multidisciplinary stakeholder organisation, which brings together corporate, institutional, and individual actors dedicated to the improvement of healthcare delivery through digital health.
EHTEL’s distinctive structure enables the exchange of ideas and information leading to innovation in the delivery of eHealth solutions and the transformation of health and social care. EHTEL facilitates interactions and sharing of knowledge among stakeholder groups. The association acts as a neutral forum, not as a lobbying group. EHTEL’s growing membership includes more than 50 organisations from all relevant stakeholder groups. The multitude of interests and viewpoints of its members enables EHTEL to take a holistic approach on the implementation of eHealth solutions.
Website: www.ehtel.eu
Comment: EHTEL supports European e-health initiatives and policies. It’s mostly focused on the regulatory framework and strategic development of digitalization.
Frontiers Health
Frontiers Health is a spin-off event of Frontiers Conferences, which designs and produces international conferences about technology and innovation since 2005. Conceived as a global platform, Frontiers Health catalyzes a unique mix of delegates from life science companies, health innovation hubs, insurance companies, investment funds and start-ups to discuss how innovations in their respective fields are converging to transform healthcare. Frontiers Health is chaired by global digital health expert Roberto Ascione, CEO of Healthware Group, event co-host.
Website: www.frontiers.health
Comment: Frontiers Health conferences are a meeting place for startups, investors and industry leaders. You’ll be impressed by the creative formula and spirit of success, plus you have a good chance to meet a future business partner.
European mHealth Innovation and Knowledge Hub (mHealth Hub)
The European mHealth Innovation and Knowledge Hub was established to collect and share national experiences on mHealth and to support countries and regions in setting up large-scale mHealth programmes. At a high level, the proposed mHealth Hub will have a dual focus on knowledge management & innovation, and on practical implementation (supporting EU member states to launch large-scale mHealth interventions).
Website: www.mhealth-hub.org
Comment: The Hub brings together institutional partners and is a joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Andalusian Regional Ministry of Health.
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Barcelona Health Hub (Spain)
The mission of the Barcelona Health Hub association is to promote innovation in digital health and its transfer to the sector, linking startups, health organizations, companies and investors. BHH is a private non-profit association whose purpose is: generate innovation in health through IT; promote startups of the health environment so that they reach the public and/or private healthcare reality; foster the interaction between startups, health corporations and investors for activate the digital change such in health.
Website: www.barcelonahealthhub.com
Comment: This regional digital health hub organizes insightful virtual events. If you are a startup, connect with Aline Noizet, Chief International Officer and the digital health connector by heart.
mHealth Israel
mHealth Israel is a community of entrepreneurs, investors, developers and healthcare professionals applying IT, mobile and healthcare expertise toward digital healthcare innovation. Monthly events, roadshows, and the annual mHealth Israel conference connects Israel’s digital health community with key global players from the healthcare industry value chain. mHealth Israel is a forum for thought-leadership in the digital health field.
Website (LinkedIn group): www.linkedin.com/groups/6929224/
Comment: mHealth Israel offers regular meet-ups with digital health leaders, organized by Levi Shapiro. To check upcoming events, please visit www.meetup.com/mHealth-Israel
Digital Health Malta
Digital Health Malta aims to drive the transformation of the Maltese healthcare sector through digital health. The NGO organizes meet-ups, supports innovators on the Maltese Islands and offers digital health expertise where required. Malta’s first-ever, young, but dynamic digital health alliance!
Website: www.digitalhealthmalta.com
Comment: Co-Founder at Digital Health Malta, Stefan Buttigieg, is a public health specialist and digital health enthusiast and changemaker. His enthusiasm and knowledge make Digital Health Malta a facilitator of transformation in European health care.
FreshBlood (Romania)
FreshBlood is an organization aiming to support new startups in healthcare by merging medical knowledge with technology. This group of engineers and doctors, full of enthusiasm and passion for innovation, drives digital transformation in Romania, offering workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Website: www.freshblood.ro
Comment: The name FreshBlood refers to the new energy brought by startups into healthcare. Be aware of the second meaning: FreshBlood is based in Cluj-Napoca, a city in northwestern Romania, the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region…
The DigiHUB (Belgium)
The DigiHUB is the place to be for companies and organizations active in Digital Health and e-Health. The DigiHUB provides both office spaces and experimental facilities (dry labs). It’s the ideal place to meet with like-minded people, exchange knowledge, meet & partner-up and invite potential clients to this hotspot for Digital Health. The hub is more than just a physical work and meeting place. It is also a virtual Digital Health community that digitally and physically immerses itself in the latest application, from AI and wearables to IoT. project and call for the new members.
Website: www.bioville.be/en
Comment: At BioVille you will find specialized infrastructure such as laboratories, digilabs and experimental spaces for research and development.
OuluHealth (Finland)
Oulu Health is a network of stakeholders that form the innovative ecosystem in Finland. The organization is aiming to transform healthcare on a global scale and, as a result, improve people’s lives. The main goals are to accelerate the implementation of health innovations, boost the health-tech business and create better solutions for the benefit of citizens. It’s an environment to conduct research, introduce innovations and develop businesses.
Website: www.ouluhealth.fi
Comment: Have a look on one of the projects – Future Hospital 2030. The main idea is to modernise Oulu University Hospital (OYS) in such a way that it becomes the smartest hospital in the world, utilising the most advanced technologies and provding personalised and effective healthcare services.
Galen Growth (Singapore & Switzerland)
Founded in late 2015 by HealthTech innovators, Galen Growth operates at the epicenter of HealthTech innovation, aka digital health. Its mission is to solve healthcare system pain points and create significant financial and social value. Based in Singapore, Galen Growth is the global leader in digital health intelligence, analytics and matchmaking, empowering global Fortune 500 companies and institutional investors to fast track their growth strategies.
Website: www.galengrowth.com
Comment: Read my interview with Julien de Salaberry, Founder and CEO of Galen Growth. He illustrates the Asian digital health scene, guiding through the opportunities and traps.
ANDHealth (Australia)
ANDHealth is Australia’s only organisation dedicated to providing programs designed specifically to address the unique commercialisation challenges faced by digital health companies. It was incorporated to address an identified gap in the Australian Innovation landscape: to provide programs and support to digital health companies specific to the challenges of commercialising in this new and emerging sector. By forming a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary membership and working collaboratively across Australia, ANDHealth brings proven expertise to our innovators and investors.
Websitel: www.andhealth.com.au
Comment: ANDHealth+ program assists digital health companies in navigating the commercialization pathway to institutional investment and international market entry.
