Mobile cloud for enabling the EU eHealth sector Regulatory issues and opportunities

Mobile cloud computing technologies can help the growth of the EU eHealth sector by enabling patient data portability, seamless accessibility, lowering related public expenses, and enhancing IT capabilities and performance. This paper will: (a) briefly analyse the main benefits of deploying mobile cloud computing technology to the eHealth sector; (ii) single out the main legal issues related to data security and privacy; (iii) stress the possible contribution that mobile cloud computing services can provide, to achieve EU specific objectives, such as cross-boarder interoperability, better data protection and data security compliance; and (iv) recommend the way forward focusing on the critical success factors: clear workable rules from Europe, privacy sensitive Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), investing in and promoting robust network and mobile broadband to move data.