The Development of Digital Health and Welfare Services in Estonia, Finland and Latvia

Abstract

Electronic health, referred to as eHealth, is an emerging field that intersects medical informatics, public health and business sciences. eHealth also refers to health and welfare services delivered or enhanced with digital technologies [1] and has been several decades in the making. eHealth has been a priority for the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2005, with an aim at cost-effective and secure use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in support of health and health-related fields [2]. Finland is taking on a leadership role in Europe with the development of client-centred health and welfare services that are effective and equally accessible to everyone. A precondition for these services is the multi-professional cooperation between different actors when developing and using health and welfare [3]. The European Union (EU) Commission is strategically enhancing the digital single market throughout Europe; however, it is even more necessary to have functional cross-border digital health and welfare systems in the Baltic region [4]. There are functional cross-border co-operations on many levels of society, from citizens relocating to macro region strategies, where the Baltic Sea region has been an EU testing ground for international cooperation [5].

Healthcare systems across Europe are facing new challenges with increased budgetary pressure in combination with the ageing population (both cited as key challenges). This raises the need for new and cost-efficient solutions. The impact of new technology on improving the health and well-being of individuals and populations is unprecedented, which speaks for a digital revolution in healthcare [6]. This digital revolution offers an opportunity to transform healthcare and empower citizens in taking charge of their own health [7]. Digitalisation of health and welfare services is also essential in order to improve care and to increase the level of patients’ engagement in their own care. Digitalisation is also essential in order to arrange quality health services with universal access and to create a sustainable financial ground for health care systems [3, 8, 9]. The use of ICT in healthcare has the potential to increase the efficiency of services as well as to improve quality of life and unlock innovation in health markets [10]. This is also emphasized in the strategies of the EU, as noted within the European eHealth action plan, that aim to improve healthcare with a patient-centred approach and reduce costs by developing the use of digital tools and services for health related matters.

This rise of digital health and welfare brings about a demand for specialized skills and competencies. The changes that technology brings will call for a different type of employee. To be able to fully utilize the potential of eHealth, professionals in the health and welfare sector need to have proficient digital competencies to serve citizens and to take part in the development of new eHealth services. These shifts also require a new or an enhanced set of knowledge, skills and attitudes with renewed focus on the individual [11]. These revolution-like changes bring about a need for a new kind of educational setting, for both professionals in working-life and in the education of future professionals in health and welfare. The development of the DeDiWe project aimed at responding to these challenges and needs.