WHO Centre

With the whole world as their workplace. From left: Kirsten Eriksen, Vegard Johansen, Vibeke Flytkjær, Niklas Andersson, Tove Sørensen, Undine Knarvik (from Bergen by videoconference) and Line Linstad.

Collaboration with WHO

In 2002 the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine (NST)) in Tromsø was designated as a Collaborating Centre for the World Health Organization, currently the only such centre within this discipline in the world.

The designation as a WHO Centre was made on the basis of collaboration with WHO since 1997. This agreement was renewed in 2006 and remains in effect until August 2010.

As a Collaborating Centre in telemedicine and eHealth, we assist WHO and its member states in the establishment, development, follow-up and evaluation of telemedicine projects and services, including distance education.

This means that the NST acts for, and on behalf of, WHO in issues and assignments related to telemedicine and eHealth.

For the period 2007-2008, this involves the following, among other activities:

• Supporting WHO's work with the “Global eHealth Observatory”
• Offering training in telemedicine and eHealth for WHO staff and others
• Developing information about telemedicine and eHealth for WHO
• Undertaking needs analysis and consulting in Albania (2007) and Bulgaria (2008)

Some examples of the NST's involvement as a WHO Centre:

Telemedicine/eHealth in combating HIV/AIDS

After the first initiative for an international workshop during the 46664 Arctic (Mandela) concert in Tromsø on 11 June 2005, the NST has worked together with South Africa and the organization The Constellation for AIDS Competence. The NST took part in a workshop with the Constellation in Thailand and has started the development of an Internet-based training programme for the coaches associated with the organization. In collaboration with Cell-Life / the University of Cape Town and the Medical Research Council in South Africa, the NST has contributed to the development of a concept for integrated ICT solutions in AIDS treatment, the eHealth Toolkit. This involves a review of eHealth in AIDS treatment and a needs analysis.

Telemedicine rehabilitation network in Palestine

Two years after the preparatory project ended, the NST, the Norwegian Association of the Disabled (http://www.nhf.no) and Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital (http://www.sunnaas.no) received support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a rehabilitation network in Palestine. Four rehabilitation centres are linked together with the help of ICT to improve collaboration between health staff and provide qualitatively better treatment for patients. The project was launched on 1 December 2006 and will continue for two years.

WHO/European survey on eHealth consumer trends (eHealth Trends)

In 2005 the project eHealth Trends began, a survey of the population's use of the Internet for health purposes. The project is funded in part by the European Commission, DG Sanco (the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs). Seven countries are taking part in the project, which is led by the NST. The first survey was conducted in October-November 2005, and the most recent one in April 2007. The results from 2005 have been published in eight articles, one from each country and a common article, http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-7-53.pdf. The project has its own home page, www.telemed.no/eHealthTrends.

Contact:

Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre, Tove Sørensen, telephone (+47) 911 956 96, e-mail: tove.sorensen@telemed.no.

Further information