Legal, Ethical, Financial, and Technological (LEFT) Considerations for eHealth Implementation in Europe: Developing a Roadmap

The developments in eHealth technology have driven a significant shift towards increased digitalization in healthcare, transforming eHealth from standalone tools into intricate infrastructures of multiple interconnected data systems. These infrastructures introduce multifaceted challenges in legal, ethical, financial, and technological (LEFT) domains, highlighting the critical need for a comprehensive framework to navigate the complexities within these domains and facilitate successful implementation. This viewpoint paper presents version 1.0 of a roadmap for eHealth implementation concerning LEFT domains and provides a preliminary overview of key preconditions essential for successful implementation. The roadmap is constructed based on the LEFT barriers and facilitators identified in an earlier study, systematically translating these insights into specific preconditions for successful implementation. Legal preconditions emphasize the necessity of effective data privacy and security measures, along with a comprehensive regulatory compliance framework. Ethical preconditions focus on facilitating patient understanding and control, enhancing consent processes, and implementing robust validations mechanisms for eHealth technologies. Financial preconditions advocate for fostering public-private stakeholder collaboration, establishing a financially sustainable business model, and developing eHealth reimbursement strategies. Technological preconditions include promoting interoperability between different data systems, enhancing data and system quality, and improving usability and accessibility of eHealth technologies. While this paper introduces version 1.0 of the roadmap and outlines the LEFT preconditions for eHealth implementation, effective implementation also requires collaborative decision-making among multidisciplinary stakeholders. Recognizing the need for a holistic approach, these preconditions necessitate careful consideration and systematic planning, with the roadmap serving as guidance to address the challenges of creating a successful eHealth infrastructure.