eHealth in Estonia
Key figures
1.3M
people
6.7% of the GDP
on health expenditure
95%
of data generated by hospitals and physicians are digitized
A centrally governed country
Hospitals are public and the state finances hospital care. General practitioners are the first point of entry to the health system.
The health system is financed by social insurance contributions. A single health insurance fund is responsible for the supply of the health system for 95% of the population.
Meeting the ambassadors
Kristel-Amelie Aimre, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Estonian Embassy in France.
Pioneer in eHealth technology
The X-Road infrastructure allows data to be exchanged between the different 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 Estonian public services, including health services. Nearly 100% of Estonian residents have a digital medical record, almost all prescriptions are digitized, and an online consultation service facilitates collaboration between general practitioners and specialists.
How do you access the Estonian market?
1. Obtain the support of Entreprise Estonia
The steps to enter the Estonian market are available on the website of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Enterprise Estonia is the public institution responsible for supporting economic development. It has various services to help with market awareness, market access, bureaucratic aspects, and all about how to properly establish a company and integrate it into the local ecosystem.
2. Get in touch with Connected Health, the digital health innovation center
The main eHealth 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 accelerator that aims to support 100 eHealth companies over the next 10 years.
3. Obtain reimbursement with the Tervisekassa Health Insurance Fund
Tervisekassa is the sole purchaser of healthcare services. It is supplied from a decentralized network of service providers.
Digital therapies are not yet reimbursed in Estonia.
Government authorities
They are responsible for policy, strategy and regulation
Hubs and innovation clusters
They encourage and assist the development of the eHealth sector
Training courses
Universities and their groups that offer training and support for digital health innovations