Hannibal ad Portas

Well, maybe not Hannibal, but the risk of tipping the balance of healthcare towards private institutions and thereby increasing social rift in the Nordics, is probably one of the ugliest of enemies to our welfare-based societies.

I recently elaborated on why the Nordics should invest in digital health infrastructure. In that post I briefly touched on the fact that large technology companies are already taking steps towards building digital health platforms of their own design.

The healthcare system is an area in which the government has always upheld strict control. Apart from disagreements regarding minor details, I would say that most believe the healthcare system to function rather well. Yes, it needs some minor nudging and improvements at times, but overall it is quite safe and effective. Even as the government plays the balancing competitor to private interests in other markets, private companies are the challengers of tradition-bound healthcare institutions:

• Establishment of the Norwegian Feiring Clinic challenged and helped improve the treatment of patients with heart disease
• The Fürst Medical Laboratory has forced Helse Stavanger to finally fully digitize their biochemical department,
• and most recently the Aleris Clinic in Denmark has released a telehealth app for easy access to their doctors. If successful, it is probably just a matter of time before citizens in other Nordic countries will be granted access to similar services, since Aleris has multinational presence.

As I’ve stated before, there isn’t any hard scientific evidence for digital health improving treatment, but there is no denying the fact that the public has a great demand for easier and more convenient access to healthcare. Some doctors are hesitant in fear of increased medicalization and additionally burdening an already overstretched healthcare staff. In my own—utterly unscientific—experience, patients who have digital access to my practice have a tendency towards occupying less off my time.

Only time and experience will tell us how the digitalization of medicine will play out, but I’m convinced that the established healthcare institutions cannot afford to stay on the sidelines, while private organizations shape the future of Nordic healthcare.