Health systems are under pressure to respond to the challenges of an aging population, the increasing expectations of citizens in relation to these systems and the migration and mobility of patients and health professionals. As such, increasing emphasis is placed on preventative health. The bias of hospital care is shifting towards prevention and improving quality of life combined with a movement towards service products in order to provide an integrated and continuous offer in all aspects of health, not just a service in case of illness. Additionaly, PriceWaterhouseCoopers estimates that better use of digital devices to deliver health care could help Europe save almost €100 billion by 2017 and increase GDP by €93 billion. In other words, new needs open doors to new ways of doing business.
TICE.Healthy aims to offer new internet based products and services for "health and quality of life" markets. The project integrates companies, RTD institutions and health care providers and is carried out in cooperation with the HCP - Health Cluster Portugal. Its web platform (www.evida.pt) makes available products, services and ICT tools to help build relationships involving professional staff, end users and other entities. The aim is to develop a digital ecosystem for health and quality of life in which users, family members, health professionals and other entities can cooperate and network within a friendly technological environment leading to enhanced quality of life through improved health measures, exercise, eating habits, testing, medical records and other actions.