In order to improve take-up and effectiveness of telemedicine, advanced ICT infrastructures are needed to guarantee access to suitable services in any given location.

Satellite communications, being accessible from virtually any site and quickly adaptable to specific communications needs, has great potential for the development of telemedicine.

From the mid 1990s’, a number of activities have been initiated in Europe by national and international organisations with the purpose of demonstrating and promoting the use of satcom in the field of telemedicine.

Through such projects it has been possible to demonstrate the technical feasibility of several satellite based telemedicine systems, and to raise awareness among potential users.

Use of satellite based ICT for telemedicine is progressing from an exploratory phase towards a more operational profile, in which integration into existing healthcare systems and quick attainment of self-sustainability is essential.

Bringing together ICT specialists and health professionals, this Symposium aims to review the current status of satellite-based telemedicine services and technologies and to converge on common requirements of direct relevance for future telemedicine services via satellite. During the two-day event, guidelines for defining future programmatic actions for the further development and promotion of telemedicine via satellite will also be identified.

Key topics covered:

The following themes of Telemedicine via satellite will be covered during the Symposium, each with a dedicated Working Group:

• Telemedicine for elderly people
• Telemedicine for disaster relief and emergency applications
• Telemedicine for hospitals in remote areas
• Teleconsulting, second opinion and regulatory aspects
• Telemedicine, medical education and clinical research
• Telemedicine technology development in satcom
• Economical impacts of telemedicine.

A comprehensive Programme for the Symposium will be available end of February 2003.