The center is expected to become operational early next year and will serve as a focal point for medical research and practice. Doctors, for example, will be able to test telehealth applications, and there will be opportunities for continuing education in this area. In an era of healthcare staff shortages and long distances to doctors’ offices in rural areas, telehealth offers the possibility of providing healthcare digitally in certain cases using modern technical solutions. WeCare and its partners used the “Apolda Declaration on Telehealth in Thuringia” to emphasize the growing importance of telehealth for patient care, especially in rural areas. The goal of WeCare is to bring together all relevant stakeholders to develop practical telehealth applications. The activities are receiving eight million euros in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Research as part of the federal “WIR! - Change through Innovation in the Region” competition over six years until 2027.
