The Minister of Innovation and Growth participated in a demonstration day for healthcare innovation in the European Parliament
Innovations are changing the way healthcare is delivered from treatment to care and bring hope. They have a critical role to play in addressing some of the most pressing challenges in the global health sector. The incorporation of technology into healthcare will lead to a leap in access, personalized approach and prevention. This was stated by the Minister of Innovation and Growth, Milena Stoycheva, during a demonstration day for innovations in healthcare at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Its purpose is to promote the development and implementation of innovations in health care and to support the entrepreneurial approach to health care in the European Union. The Italian MEP Nicola Procaccini, the Bulgarian MEPs Radan Kanev, Petar Vitanov and Tsvetelina Penkova, as well as representatives of start-up companies from the health sector and the largest organization for entrepreneurship and education in Europe, JA Europe, also took part in it.
„The global pandemic of COVID-19 has tested the resilience of health systems around the world. It also demonstrates the incredible capacity of human ingenuity to respond quickly and effectively to unprecedented challenges. This only shows the importance of innovations in health care,“ Stoycheva pointed out. According to her, the challenges in the sector require joint efforts from all stakeholders, and innovation can be the thread that connects them.
„Innovation fosters cooperation not only within nations but also across their borders. The policy for developing innovations is horizontal because they affect all sectors. Innovative solutions can remove barriers to access to health care, ensuring that everyone receives health care,” the minister pointed out.
Stoycheva gave the example of data transfer, artificial intelligence and machine learning as technologies that are transforming healthcare by providing information on disease patterns, treatment effectiveness and population health. This data can inform better decision-making at all levels, she added.
“Innovation in the healthcare sector will change the way healthcare is delivered. I firmly believe that digital literacy in healthcare is an absolute must and that understanding the role of innovation will lead to easier and faster solutions to improve the sector,” the Minister of Innovation emphasized.
She also pointed out that Europe needs closer cooperation with international educational institutions with a focus on students’ skills and qualifications in digital literacy. Europe can strengthen its competitiveness if it invests heavily in entrepreneurial solutions in the health sector. “Bulgaria can play a leading role in establishing deep technologies and Southeastern Europe as an innovation hub,” Stoycheva said.
