American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia has presented the eHealth position paper to State Secretary Silvio Bašić and his colleagues from the Ministry of Health.

“The coronavirus pandemic has shown how fast the processes can be digitalized in all segments of business, including healthcare. Teleconsultation, communication via chatbots, digital AI assistants and applications, as well as other digital solutions, have been increasingly applied on the global level. About ten years ago, Croatia was one of the EU countries whose healthcare system digitalization was on commendably high levels. However, within the last several years, there has been a certain stagnation. Now is the time to refocus on the importance of digitalizing the healthcare system if we want to be among the leaders in that field,” said Andrea Doko Jelušić, Executive Director at AmCham, during the meeting with State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Silvio Bašić.

“On the one hand, a large number of hospitals have developed or are developing their own information systems for their business processes, but they are not integrated with other parties involved in the system. On the other hand, the Croatian Institute of Public Health manages more than 20 integrated registries, such as the Registry of Healthcare Professionals, the Cancer Registry, Diabetes Registry and others. Preventive lists are in active use, as well as lists for proactive management of patients with diagnoses that require tracking all specific parameters for each individual illness. We can see that there are quality individual solutions when it comes to digitalization and IT in Croatia, but what is missing is the bridge to link them into one functional digital unit,” concluded Doko Jelušić in her presentation of the eHealth position paper.

In its recommendations, AmCham emphasizes the necessity for a digitally linked hospital system, information system of primary medical care and information system of healthcare and rehabilitation; as well as for preparing a system analysis and surveillance to help improve treatment outcomes and cost rationalization. It also encourages development and application of digital software solutions for health promotion and disease prevention.

“Harmonization of the entire system is going to be one of the greatest challenges in the process of improving eHealth services. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by competent authorities’ conscientiousness and understanding regarding the necessity to upgrade eHealth and find resources for further upgrades, among others, in EU funding,” concluded Doko Jelušić.