Finns are among the most digitally skilled people in Europe. Now, Finland is developing a model to streamline the adoption of digital healthcare solutions. The aim is to make Finland an attractive destination for technology developers while offering the best possible solutions for patients and healthcare professionals.
Finland aims to become a leader in digital healthcare solutions. The country is well positioned to succeed, as it already ranks among the global leaders in digital capabilities. According to the European Union’s DESI index, Finland is the most digitally capable country in Europe.
Digital solutions are now an integral part of healthcare, used in the treatment of diagnosed illnesses as well as in prevention. These digital therapies may include evidence-based digital treatments or self-care programs. Unlike pharmaceuticals, however, they often lack established evaluation methods, reimbursement systems, and distribution channels in many countries—including Finland. This gap hinders and delays adoption.
A pilot project will launch this year in Finland to propose a functional reimbursement model for digital therapies.
“The pilot will include ten applications or devices to be deployed in wellbeing services counties. The aim is to determine how digital therapies can be integrated into Finland’s healthcare system,” says Tomi Laitinen, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
The national pilot is coordinated by DigiFinland and carried out in cooperation with Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland), Sitra, and FinCCHTA.
Finnish-developed digital solutions are eligible to participate. The application or device must be based on a physician-defined diagnosis and may qualify as either an MDR or non-MDR device or application. The call for applications is open until 6th of August, and the selected participants will be announced in August–September. The pilot will begin in November 2025 and continue through October 2026.
“The pilot will result in an evaluation and summary of the proposed model’s suitability for the Finnish healthcare system, as well as identify the changes needed if digital therapies are to be reimbursed under national health insurance,” Tomi Laitinen says.
According to Laitinen, the pilot gives participating companies the opportunity to validate their solutions, which may support their international expansion.
The pilot will also include recommendations for the storage, access, and use of data generated by applications. In addition, it will propose a centralized distribution model for digital therapies.
The development of Finland’s evaluation model will draw on examples from other European countries, such as Germany’s DiGA model and France’s PECAN model. It will also align with the European quality assessment standard (CEN-ISO/TS 82304-2) and the Nordic NordDEC health app criteria.
Alongside the digital therapy pilot, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched a broad collaborative network to bring together Finnish digital health expertise aimed at international markets. The Digital Health Finland network supports the global growth of Finnish digital health solutions.
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Market Access Lead
MSc (Health Sciences), BBA
+358 40 580 0567
simo.jaaskelainen@medaffcon.com
Simo started as the leader of Medaffcon’s Market Access team in November 2024. He is a returnee, as he has also previously worked at Medaffcon. Before returning to Medaffcon, Simo worked in a pharmaceutical company as the head of a Market Access team and has also gained Market Access experience in other pharmaceutical companies. He has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Simo holds a Master’s degree in Health Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Simo brings to Medaffcon a strong and versatile background in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in Market Access roles. His strengths include versatility, organizational skills, and the ability to see the bigger picture. In the field of Market Access, Simo does not consider himself an expert in any particular subfield but sees himself as a generalist. He is drawn to the challenges of the industry and the opportunity to find comprehensive solutions that meet the needs of clients.
Ongoing changes in the operating environment require pharmaceutical companies to adapt and adopt new ways of working. Simo believes that the role and importance of Market Access will become even more prominent in a situation where society’s willingness to pay and the needs of the pharmaceutical industry must be aligned in a way that benefits both parties.