Public eHealth is an inclusive term that encompasses all of the possible applications of ICTs for public health, from the traditional ones, such as information management systems, databases, and data sharing networks, which are usually classified under the term public health informatics, to more recent and innovative applications supported by Web 2.0 solutions. ICTs can support solutions related to all the different aspects of public health, including: epidemiological surveillance; health promotion and disease prevention; environmental health; social epidemiology; behavioural health; occupational health; disaster preparedness and relief; quality assurance; the support of intersectoral partnerships for health; human resources training and management; and research and development activities.
Carefully selected, highly trained young professionals will spearhead the development of a regional community of interest focusing on Public eHealth. This community will also provide an encouraging environment for innovation and a responsive atmosphere ready to receive and use successfully developed solutions.