The overall aim of the first ECHIM project was to lay a solid foundation for the implementation of ECHI indicators in all selleck compound MSs and to initiate the implementation. The long-term vision of ECHIM 2005 is valid also for the Joint Action: Relevant, valid and comparable health data will be available in the EU and in most Member States The data are transformed into valid indicators and information, which has been interpreted to meet the needs of health policy and public health In more detail the aims and achievements of the ECHIM project (2005�C2008) were the following: Further development of health indicators; Work on the definitions of indicators; Review of the availability and comparability of health indicators in international data sources (Eurostat, OECD, WHO); Assessment of the availability of indicators and health data sources; and finally, paving the way for a permanent EU Health Information System.

The main outcome of ECHIM was a thorough description of the state of affairs concerning national health information systems, health data sources and the availability of the ECHI �C shortlist indicators in each of the 31 European countries. Recently, the findings were analysed in depth [13] to assess the availability of the ECHI indicators in all European countries. The main findings were that whereas some indicators such as mortality and causes of death were universally available many other indicators were not. Many or most countries did not have national data on health determinants (including risk factors), chronic diseases and functional limitations.

Therefore, many countries did not have any basis for evidence based health policy. Examples of two topics with limited data availability were Quality of health care and Health promotion. In regard of health care quality indicators 75% of the countries had data for cancer survival rates, 69% for surgical wound infections, and only 38% for diabetes control. Only half of the countries reported that they had data on equity of access. Information on the health promotion indicators comprising e.g. policies on environmental tobacco smoke and those on healthy life styles was even poorer. Data for several of the ECHI health promotion indicators were not available. Many new developments are needed to enhance policy relevance, availability and comparability of the data sources and the indicators in the above areas. This assessment showed that in addition to flaws at large the gathering of data and the provision of indicators in two very important areas had been almost completely neglected. Joint Action for ECHIM �C the first three years A joint action in practice In Commission theory Brefeldin_A a Joint Action is an action by the Member States, which also finance 50% of its costs.