Estonia and UAE boost their cooperation in digital health
Estonia has advanced digital health tech
Estonia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have forged a significant partnership to transform healthcare through digital innovation. Leveraging Estonia’s renowned expertise in digital health and the UAE’s ambitious vision for modernisation, the collaboration will tackle pressing healthcare challenges and establish a sustainable and efficient medical system.
Estonia’s advanced digital health technologies, developed since the launch of its comprehensive digital health system in 2008, are the foundation of the partnership. This system incorporates e-prescriptions, blockchain-based security, and streamlined doctor-patient interactions, demonstrating how technology can enhance healthcare delivery.
The UAE intends to adopt these proven solutions to construct a robust digital infrastructure tailored to its healthcare requirements. Implementing e-prescriptions and artificial intelligence will improve efficiency and utilise blockchain technology to safeguard health data privacy.
Janika Merilo, Head of the Digital Health and Care Department at Estonia’s Ministry of Social Affairs, said: “Estonia’s experience in digital transformation illustrates that innovative technologies can revolutionise healthcare delivery.”
The partnership’s significance extends beyond technological exchange. For the UAE, integrating Estonia’s successful solutions could result in considerable cost savings, reminiscent of Estonia’s achievement of reducing its GDP expenditure by 2% annually through decreased paperwork and digital signatures. Such savings could be reinvested into healthcare innovation, ensuring the system evolves in response to emerging challenges.
Moreover, bolstering cybersecurity through blockchain will cultivate trust in healthcare systems, an essential consideration in an era where data breaches can have severe ramifications.
The collaboration is particularly timely for the UAE, which is witnessing rapid growth in its digital health sector. The country’s Ministry of Health and Prevention has reported a rising demand for advanced electronic systems to meet increasing healthcare needs. Estonia’s success in integrating over 40 million electronic health records into its national database serves as a model for the UAE.
Estonia’s expertise aligns with the UAE’s commitment to innovation and cybersecurity. The UAE aims to position itself as a regional leader in health innovation by addressing current inefficiencies and embracing proven technologies.
Hero image: Estonia has integrated over 40 million electronic health records into its national database. Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko
