Norms for telematics in health care: priorities in Belgium.

A Commission has been established by Royal Decree in order to make recommendations to Ministers of Social Affairs and Public Health in matters related to standards in telematics for the health care sector in Belgium. The present strategic plan has three priorities: (1) To obtain coherent information systems allowing uniform data transfer between hospital and ambulatory care, using quality labels supported financially and taking in account long-term archiving. (2) To develop secure and standardised communication systems using electronic signature and standard messages in XML. The implementation of health professionals and patient identifiers is in progress. (3) To reinforce collaboration between health care services by using a health network prototype linked both to general practitioners and hospital institutions.