Digitalisation – Finnish approach to preventive health care
Finnish Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, Ms Annika Saarikko is visiting the UK this week with a health sector business delegation. The aim of the visit is to foster cooperation with the UK in health sector in order to find new ways to deliver innovative and cost effective models of health care.
One of the government's growth policy priorities is to accelerate growth in the health sector. In 2016 the Government published the 'Health Sector Growth Strategy for Research and Innovation Activities, Roadmap for 2016–2018'.
Finland strives to be a forerunner in digital transformation of health care sector by providing globally relevant health innovations to improve health and social services for all citizens. The overall goal is to integrate health and social sectors. The specialized fields of genomics, diagnostics, non-invasive measurements, imaging, patient monitoring, digital health, wearables, sensors, personalised health services, elderly care and hospital IT all position Finland as a healthcare thought-leader.
Access to online services, personalized medicine and healthcare, digital treatment pathways and mobile solutions are at the core of the expertise of Finnish companies represented in the delegation. In the Finnish model citizens and their various needs are always at the centre of service design.
“Finnish companies have developed many innovative solutions such as wearable equipment for fitness and sports for monitoring the quality of sleep and supporting healthy lifestyles. This is no wonder as Finland is one of the strongest countries in the world when it comes to digital skills and knowledge. We also have a buzzing start-up culture and a high number of digital healthcare companies”, states Minister Saarikko.
As health promotion and prevention is a priority to Finland throughout the life course, the new solutions encourage citizens to take more responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. Digital solutions can help overall wellbeing throughout the life cycle.
“Health and social policies have been a long-standing political priority and among the key pillars supporting the Finnish society. The past few decades have seen a shift in our approach to health, functioning and wellbeing, and instead of fixing problems we try to prevent them from happening”, said Minister Saarikko.
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