When Covid hit the world, healthcare professionals working in almost every healthcare system wished they were just a little bit more… Estonian.
Estonia’s healthcare system is often held up as a gold standard in the digital age.
While Singapore has made great strides in recent years in the digital healthcare system, there is still a lot that we can learn from our Northern European neighbours.
But what exactly is it that makes Estonia’s healthcare system so special?
And how can Singapore aspire to achieve a similar level of digital excellence?
Come to think about it. Healthcare is a universal problem.
So why reinvent the wheel when we can learn from those who have done it before us?
What can Singapore learn from Estonia’s healthcare system?
Estonia has a population of just 1.3 million people, yet its e-health infrastructure is the envy of many larger countries. So how did they do it?
Circa 1990: The Origin of All Things Digital in Estonia
After nearly five decades of Soviet rule, Estonia regained its independence in 1991 – just around the same time when the internet and personal computers became mainstream.
Estonia didn’t have a lot of resources, but it did have a lot of ambitious young people who were determined to put their country on the map.
They brainstormed long and hard about how they could transform the country and make it a world leader in something. They eventually landed on information technology, and the rest is history.
Estonia’s healthcare system started its journey to a digital utopia in the early 2000s.
The country’s e-health roadmap was laid out in 2004, and by 2007, Estonia had become the first country in the world to offer nationwide e-prescriptions.
Estonia’s e-health system is now so advanced that you can do everything from booking a doctor’s appointment to ordering your medication online.
You can even access your medical records 24/7.
How Did they Do It?
Estonia had one big advantage: it was starting from scratch. They were starting from a blank slate.
So they went down the road less travelled and built their own digital infrastructure from the ground up.
They started with the most basic of things: policy.
They created laws and regulations that steered the country in the right direction and incentivized people to get on board with the digital revolution.
They also invested in education and training to ensure everyone in the healthcare system was on the same page when using digital tools.
And, of course, they had the right team in place.
They recruited talented individuals with the right skill set to build and maintain the country’s e-health infrastructure.
Their policy outlined four critical areas of focus:
- Modernisation of legislation
- Supporting the development of the private sector
- Encouraging the interaction between the state and its citizens
- Raising awareness about the problems surrounding information society
The Singapore government has also been investing in digital health in recent years.
The country’s Smart Nation initiative was launched on November 24th, 2014, and includes several initiatives to digitize the healthcare system.
In 2013, the government launched the Health IT Masterplan (HITMAP) to guide the development of health IT in Singapore.
The HITMAP outlines several initiatives to promote digital health, including developing a national electronic health record system.
So far, the results have been mixed. While there has been some progress, Singapore still has a long way to go before it can catch up to Estonia.
Estonian has been working tirelessly to promote digital health, and their efforts have paid off.
The country is now a world leader in e-health, and it is an inspiration for other countries looking to digitize their healthcare systems.
Bertelsmann Stiftung Report: Country Fact Sheet on Estonia
Estonian has been working tirelessly to promote digital health, and their efforts have paid off.
The country is now a world leader in e-health, and it is an inspiration for other countries looking to digitize their healthcare systems.
Estonia scored not just in one or two of these aspects but all three, emerging as the overall winner.
The rest of the world may not even be aware of some things that Estonia has managed to pull off in the last two decades.
Estonia’s journey to a digital utopia is a story from which other countries can learn.
The country has shown that it is possible to build a world-class digital healthcare system from scratch.
And it has done so by making the right investments and putting the right policies in place.
So, What Exactly has Estonia Done Right?
Estonia’s digital health success can be attributed to several factors.
The first is policy.
Estonia has created a legal and regulatory framework that supports and encourages the use of digital tools in healthcare.
The second is education and training.
Everyone in the Estonian healthcare system, from doctors to nurses to pharmacists, has received training on how to use digital tools.
The third is talent.
Estonia has recruited talented individuals with the right skill set to build and maintain the country’s e-health infrastructure.
And here are some of the achievements they have had so far:
E-prescriptions
In Estonia, 99% of prescriptions are issued electronically. That means patients can go to any pharmacy in the country and have their prescriptions filled without carrying a paper prescription.
E-referrals
Estonians can also make appointments with specialists electronically. When a doctor refers a patient to a specialist, they can do so using an electronic referral system. This system allows doctors to book appointments with specialists and allows patients to see a list of available specialists.
E-health records
100% of Estonian residents have a longitudinal electronic health record accessible to all authorized healthcare professionals. This health record is used to store data on a patient’s medical history, prescriptions, and laboratory test results.
Not Just the Patients But even Their Guardians Can Access Their Health Records
Estonia has also put in place a system that allows patients to give their guardians access to their health records. That is particularly useful for elderly patients or those with chronic conditions.
Block and Unblock Access to Your Health Records
And if you want to, you can also block and unblock access to your health records. If you wish to keep your health information private, you can block access to your records or prevent specific individuals from viewing them.
And Yes, They Have Never Experienced Downtime Since 2001
Estonia’s e-health system has been up and running since 2001, and in all that time, there have been no major disruptions or downtime.
The country’s e-health infrastructure is built on an open-source platform, which means it is constantly being improved and updated by a community of developers.
What Can Other Countries (Including Singapore) Learn from Estonia?
Estonia’s digital health success story is an inspiration for other countries.
The country has shown that it’s possible to build a world-class digital healthcare system from scratch.
And it has done so by making the right investments and putting the right policies in place.
So, what can other countries learn from Estonia?
First and foremost, they need to create a legal and regulatory framework that supports and encourages the use of digital tools in healthcare.
Second, they need to provide training and education on how to use digital tools for all healthcare professionals.
And third, they need to invest in talent and build an e-health infrastructure that is secure and resilient.