The Innovation Procurement Policies and the Development of e‑health in the EU Member States: What Can Be Learnt?

The article presents findings of research on e ‑ health development in four European Union (EU) Member States in the context of public procurement of innovation (PPI). EU policies attempt to make public procurement leverage for innovation by introducing a number of new tender procedures. Policies and practices in PPI, including e ‑ health, were investigated for Denmark, Great Britain, Spain and Poland. For various reasons, all four countries struggle with the introduction of the European PPI procedures, and with making a transition to outcome ‑ based tenders. Though they all introduced policies implementing these procedures, Denmark and Great Britain seem to have achieved better results, having well ‑ established public ‑ private collaboration. This correlates with a more efficient adoption of e ‑ health solutions in those countries. With some minor successes, Spain, and particularly Poland, display attachment to traditional procedures despite changes in the public procurement regulations.