A delegation of the Region of Crete led by the Center for eHealth Applications and Services of the Institute of Computer Science of the Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas (ICS-FORTH), carried out a Twinning program with the Health Services Research Institute Biosistemak (formerly Kronikgune) and focused on the management of polypharmacy in chronic patients applied in the Basque Country, Spain.
The representatives of the ITE and the Region of Crete with the Director of Health Research and Innovation of the Basque Government, Marian Ibarrondo, the Director of Biosistemak (formerly Kronikgune), Ane Fullaondo, and the Scientific Coordinator of Bioef, Lorea Mendoza, at the offices of Biosistemak (formerly Kronikgune) in the Bilbao Exhibition Centre BEC. The purpose of this meeting was to present the Reference Site of Crete and its quadruple helix ecosystem. Presentations were made about the Healthcare Region of Crete, the RIS3 strategy, the Hellenic Digital Health Cluster, and the Centre for eHealth Applications and Services of FORTH. The meeting also served to present the Basque health system and health ecosystem as well as the innovation and research ecosystem. The meeting focused on identifying potential synergies for the collaboration of the two regions in future projects and initiatives.
In the context of the meetings, the representatives of the Region of Crete had the opportunity to learn about the policy and organization of the health system as well as the innovation, research and development actions of the Basque Country. A meeting was also held with the General Health Directorate of the Basque Country, Osakidetza, where the heads of health services presented the strategy of integrated care and the digital tools used in the health system, such as the electronic health record, electronic prescribing, and chronic management patients with polypharmacy.
The representatives from both regions found this activity very important, valuable and of high-quality that provided an opportunity to share knowledge and identify opportunities for cooperation.
The representatives of the Region of Crete were Dr. Angelina Kouroubali, coordinator of the program and coordinator of the FORTH 4 star Reference Site for Active and Healthy Aging, Dr. Antonios Papadakis, hygienist, head of Public Health and Environmental Hygiene Department, Directorate of Public Health, Region of Crete, representative of the Reference Center of the Region of Crete for Active and Healthy Aging, Aimilia Magkanaraki, head of Health Policies Directorate, Administration of the Healthcare Region of Crete, Dimitrios Katehakis, head of the Centre for eHealth Applications and Services, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas and Director of the Hellenic Digital Health Cluster, and Dr. Maria Makridaki, head of innovation and business development of the Center for Applications and Services of Electronic Health.
The visit to the Basque Country was funded under the Twinning program of the European project Gatekeeper, in collaboration with the Reference Site Collaborative Network (RSCN).
For more information you may contact the program coordinator Dr. Angelina Kouroubali at kouroub@ics.forth.gr.
