| Question J/16 - Multimedia framework for e-health applications |
(New Question approved 30 January 2004 - TSB
Circular 217 )
Motivation
The evolution of advanced digital telecommunication techniques has enabled the development
of MM-systems to support e-health applications, in particular in the area of Telemedicine.
E-health designates the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) means to support
health needs, while Telemedicine is considered as that part of e-health where telecommunication
systems allow interconnecting remote locations and to access distant resources. Examples of
Telemedicine applications are teleconsulting, teleradiology, telesurgery, etc. (See note below
for the definitions from the World Health Organization.)
This question focuses on standardization of Multimedia Systems to support e-health applications.
In order to allow a wide deployment of e-health applications (with an initial focus on Telemedicine
applications), in particular in developing countries, it is important to achieve interoperability
among systems and to reduce the cost of devices through economies of scale. Consequently, the
development of global international standards with the involvement of the major players (governments,
inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, medical institutions, doctors, etc.)
is a key factor to achieve these objectives.
Considering the fact that many organisations are already active in this field with which ITU has
existing cooperation agreements and that in addition to technical issues, there are a number of
other aspect to be considered (e.g. legal, ethical, cultural, economics, regional), it is considered
that ITU-T can provide the right environment to harmonize and coordinate the development of a set of
open global standards for e-health applications.
In the framework of this generic question, Study Group 16, as lead study group for Multimedia Terminals,
Applications and Services, will coordinate the technical standardisation of Multimedia systems and
capabilities for e-health applications in ITU-T and will develop corresponding Recommendations.
The improvements and additions to the specific characteristics of Multimedia Systems and Terminals
will be addressed within the relevant equipment related questions of Study Group 16.
Note: According to the World Health Organization, Telemedicine is “the use of information and
communication technology to deliver medical services and information from one location to
another", while e-health is “a new term used to describe the combined use of electronic Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) in the health sector”.
Study items
- Identification of users' requirements
- Multimedia framework (including overall concept) for e-health applications (and Telemedicine, in particular)
- Roadmap for e-health (including Telemedicine) standards
- Generic Architecture for e-health applications (and Telemedicine, in particular)
- Specific system characteristics for e-health applications
(e.g. video and still picture coding, audio coding, security, directory architecture, etc).
Tasks
Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Inventory of existing e-health / Telemedicine standards
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2004 |
- Creating and maintaining a high-visibility web page documenting the progress of the question
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Ongoing |
- Roadmap for e-health / Telemedicine standards, compiling and analysing standardisation
requirements from e-health stakeholders and identifying standardisation items with priorities
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2004 |
- Develop a Recommendation "Generic Architecture for Multimedia Telemedicine Applications"
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2005 |
- Provide inputs for extension and improvement of existing Recommendations on MM-Systems
(e.g. H.323, H.264, V.18, ...)
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2005 |
- Develop new Recommendations if necessary
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2005 |
An up-to-date status of work under this Question is contained in the SG 16 Work Program
(http://www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-t/com16/workprog/01-04).
Relationships
Recommendations:
- H.300-series, H.260-series, V.18, T.80-series, T.800-series.
Questions:
- A/16, B/16, C/16, D/16, E/16, F/16, G/16, H/16, I/16, K/16, 1/16, 2/16, 3/16, 4/16, 6/16.
Study Groups:
- ITU-T/SG 9, SG 12, SG 17, SSG;
- ITU-D/SG 2;
- ITU-R/SG 8, SG 9.
Other bodies:
- e-Health Standardization Coordination Group (eHSCG);
- ISO, IEC, CEN, ETSI, IETF, IEEE and other relevant standardization bodies;
- HL7, DICOM and other relevant forums and consortia.
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