Objective:
Estonia has leveraged digital technologies to make healthcare more affordable, focusing on reducing out-of-pocket payments for medicines and expanding dental care coverage.
Key Digital Reforms:
- E-Prescription System (2008): Enables pharmacists to process electronic prescriptions and submit claims directly to the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (EHIF), streamlining administrative tasks.
Additional Medicines Benefit (2003): Covers a larger share of prescription costs once annual spending exceeds a certain threshold.
- Digitalized Dental Care Benefits (2017): Transitioned from a cash-based to an in-kind benefit system, automating eligibility checks and benefit calculations.
Impact:
- Financial Protection: Reduced upfront costs and eliminated the need for reimbursement applications, benefiting low-income households.
- Administrative Efficiency: Automation reduced burdens on EHIF and healthcare providers, improving cost-effectiveness.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: Digital systems enhance monitoring and adjustments to healthcare policies.
- Challenges & Future Considerations:
While digital reforms have improved affordability and efficiency, challenges remain in ensuring adequate financial protection for vulnerable populations. Future policy options include:
- Better targeting of benefits for those in need.
Introducing caps on patient co-payments.
Estonia’s strong digital infrastructure and trust in e-health solutions continue to drive healthcare accessibility and affordability forward.
Region: European Union
Source: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/380496
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