Analysis of Nordic and Baltic high traffic cross-border mobility hot-spots reveals the importance of cross-border health data exchange
A cost-benefit analysis of cross-border healthcare data exchange in high traffic locations in Nordic and Baltic countries was recently published by the Nordic Council of Minister’s World’s Smoothest Cross-border Mobility and Daily Life Through Digitalisation project. The analysis was conducted by analysts Erika Anttila and Katarina von Wehrt from KPMG and presented in an online event 31 May.
The analysis includes identified Nordic and Baltic hight traffic cross-border hot points: Torne Valle (Finland-Sweden), Öresund Region (Denmark-Sweden), Helsinki-Tallinn (Finland-Estonia) and Twin cities of Valga and Valka (Estonia-Latvia).
According to the analysis, the forms of collaboration vary between these areas but there is an increased need for cross-border exchange of healthcare data.
As of now, there is very little cross-border healthcare data exchange between the Nordic and Baltic countries. Finland and Estonia are the only two countries that currently exchange ePrescription information. Other than that, the only way to transfer patient information between countries is manually through formal requests for information.
Data exchange between countries improves access to care
The most cited benefits of improved cross-border data exchange included better patient safety and access to care, as well as cost savings. In terms of costs, many of the barriers identified in earlier studies could be better addressed if there was a stronger mandate for the countries to direct resources into the development.
Depending on the level of maturity of national information systems, the development required of each country to reach common standards and compatibility demands a lot of resources. Implementing the eHDSI service infrastructure has thus far been based on voluntary action, which may explain its slow adoption across countries, even though the benefits of cross-border data exchange have been clear.
The analysis contributes to a wider understanding of health data exchange
The results and conclusions will contribute to a wider understanding of the phenomenon – how common it is in numbers, what are the needs of the people that cross borders as part of their daily life, as well as how important cross-border data exchange is as a prerequisite for mobility for all.
This was well highlighted in the release event by Riikka Rissanen from the Finnish National Agency for education. She pointed out that studying across the border was mentioned as one of the key reasons for cross-border mobility, especially in the Northern areas around the twin cities of Tornio and Haparanda, and that health data ensures equal opportunities for student mobility.
In addition, cross-border mobility of health data may contribute to better access to services, as the nearest pharmacy or hospital might be across the border.
The Nordic and Baltic countries are aiming to be the first region in the world to aspire to observe the ‘cross-border by default’ principle in the organization of their digital services.
The analysis will be utilised in the Handbook on the Cross-Border Data Exchange that shares best practices for improving and increasing the effectiveness of cross-border data exchange. The handbook will be published in November 2023 as a part of Nordic Council of Ministers’ Presidency Project during Finland’s presidency (CBDS Data Exchange).
As a next step, a workshop in Tallinn will share success stories and challenges in the implementation of e-prescription. How did Estonia and Finland succeed in implementation of cross-border e-prescription? What was needed on national policy level and how did the practical implementation take place? What are the remaining challenges and lessons for other countries and new services. The workshop will be held in Tallinn August 21–22, 2023
More information
Online release event on YouTube
Minna Sinkkonen
Development Manager
THL
tel. +358 29 524 7032
[email protected]
