Digital healthcare in Estonia

Key figures

1.3M

inhabitants

6.7% of GDP

destined for the healthcare sector in 2019

95%

data generated by hospitals and doctors are digitized
.

A centrally governed country

Hospitals are public and the state funds hospital care.General practitioners are the first gateway to the healthcare system.
The healthcare system is financed by social insurance contributions. A single health insurance fund isresponsible for supplying the healthcare system for 95% of the population.

Meeting the ambassadors

Kristel-Amelie Aimre, Economic and Trade Counsellor at the Estonian Embassy in France.

A pioneer in digital health technology

The X-Road infrastructure,enables the exchange of data between the various information systems of the country's public and private sectors. This system provides an overview of all activities and flows in the ecosystem. It has facilitated the digitization of 99% of Estonia's public services, including healthcare services. Almost 100% of Estonian residents have a digital health record, almost all prescriptions are digitized, and an online consultation service facilitates collaboration between GPs and specialist doctors.

How do I access the Estonian market?

1. Get support from Entreprise Estonia

Steps to setting up business in Estonia are available on the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry website.
. Enterprise Estonia is the public institution responsible for supporting economic development in Estonia. It has various services to help with market recognition, market access, bureaucratic elements and everything related to the correct establishment and local integration of a company.

2. Go to Connected Health, the digital health innovation center

The main digital health innovation center is the Connected Health cluster, managed by Tallinn Tehnopol. It offers an incubator for start-ups as well as access to clinical trial facilities.
Healthfounders is a health economy gas pedal that aims to support 100 digital health companies over the next ten years.

3. Get reimbursed with Tervisekassa Health Insurance Funds

Tervisekassa is the sole purchaser of healthcare services. It obtains its supplies from a decentralized network of service providers.
Digital therapies are not yet reimbursed in Estonia.

Government authorities and platforms

They are the guarantors of smooth operation and cooperation in the healthcare system

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Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs Single public health insurance fund Ravimiamet: national drug agency Tervise Arengu Instituut : the national institute for health development

Support and innovation initiatives

They encourage and support the development of the digital health sector

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e-Estonia Briefing Centre: public service offering an introduction to the Estonian X-road system Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol: Estonian innovation hub Connected Health Cluster: the digital health cluster of the Tallinn Science Park Technopol innovation hub The Centre for Information Systems for Health and Welfare (TEHIK): a competence centre for information and communication technologies in the fields of health, social and work

Training

Universities and their groups that train and support digital healthcare innovations

Tallinna Tehnikaülikool : les groupes de recherches de l’université technologique de Tallinn et son master en santé numérique

Specific links

List of Estonian partner hospitals for clinical trials