The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) eHealth Group was established in 2011 and has, across the years, been involved in the dissemination of knowledge, interventions and collaborations.
The shaping of initiatives within eHealth and the exchange of knowledge and experiences around digital health infrastructures and eHealth, will strengthen the Nordic leadership in eHealth. All Nordic countries have successfully digitalized their healthcare systems and been active at the European and global levels. The group is of significant importance especially at the time, when the Regulation for the European Health Data Space (EHDS) enters into force by early 2025.
The Nordic eHealth Research Network (NeRN) was established in 2012 as a forum for policy makers and researchers to jointly work towards measurable policy goals and data that can be exploited to steer decision making related to goals and their implementation. Under the leadership of the NCM eHealth Group, NeRN has published a number of reports and scientific publications.
In this report, the NeRN has carried out a study for identifying, structuring, analysing and following up on health indicators. The report describes access to health data, and the status of the Nordic countries in the work of digitizing health data and related policies.
When health data is digitized and structured, opportunities for the use of the data emerge in new ways. Digital health technology has potential to improve citizens' access to health services, increase the quality and efficiency of care, manage personalized services and, in general, support research and innovation. Extra efforts are required to ensure that everyone has equal access to health care and that everyone has the same opportunities to live good and healthy lives.
Health indicators help to anticipate future risks and opportunities. Well-developed indicators, when analysed over time, can identify preventable events. Political determination, decision-making, and consideration of ethical and legal implications are needed to ensure that health data is used safely, for the individual, and to create new knowledge, and thus, to enable development, research, and new innovations with the highest possible quality.
Annemieke Ålenius, Chair
The Nordic Council of Ministers eHealth group