SESSIONS
The development of the National eHealth Platform begun in 2002. In 2004 the Ministry of Social Affairs applied for funding from the European Structural funds. Contract with the vendor was signed in October 2006.
The Estonian eHealth Foundation was founded in October 2005 by the main stakeholders of the healthcare sector. The Foundation was responsible for managing the project, developing the standards and for cooperation with providers and international networks.
The EU funded projects were finished by the end of 2008 and the National eHealth Platform was started.
Since January 1, 2009, all healthcare providers are obligated to send agreed documents to the centre database. More than 85% of healthcare providers have signed a contract with the Estonian eHealth Foundation as well as initiated necessary steps to connect their IT systems.
During 2006-2008 the EU support was 3.2M€, the support received from the Estonian State budget was 2.0M€, and healthcare providers’ investments in their IT systems was 1.5M€.
Lessons learned:
- Establishing one responsible body for eHealth development in the country and involving all stakeholders (Estonian eHealth Foundation)
- Re-use already existing infrastructure (X-road, ID card)
- Standardization (HL7, XML, OID etc)
- Legislation and access rights
Full text
Biography
Medical Doctor, studied medicine at Tartu University and completed studies as family doctor in 1999. He also studied at the Nordic School of Public Health, and received diploma in Public Health in 2003. From 2001-2003 he studied IT managment in the Estonian Business School. At the moment he is doctoral student at Tartu University, Department of Polyclinic and Family Medicine. His research area is "Effectiveness of the system of telephone counselling: evaluation of telephone consultations structure, patients and family doctors satisfaction and development of an algorithm-based counselling system".
Madis Tiik was one of the key persons who developed new public servise for Estonian citizen – Call-centre for medical advise "1220 Family Doctor’s advice line". It is 24/7 service where family doctors and nurses are giving medical advice.
Madis Tiik has been working as family doctor 1998-2004. He has been the chairman of the Estonian Society of Family doctors since 2001 and an Advisor for the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs on Family Medicine. Mr Madis Tiik is also the author of several papers, articles, and lectures. He is a Member of Management Board of Estonian eHealth Foundation and involved in eHealth development projects in Estonia since their beginning in 2005.
