Care through broadband
More and more health and care services are and will be dependent on fast and secure broadband. In light of this, the Broadband Forum's Practical Case Group has had the task of investigating the e-health area and identifying challenges that must be solved in order to increase both the quality and efficiency of our future care, through what we call welfare technology. The working group, which I have had the privilege of chairing, has consisted of representatives from telecom operators and network owners, but also service providers and representatives from municipalities that are working concretely to get these services in place.
The first thing we have found is that implementing eHealth services is complex. It is not just a matter of choosing a service and service provider; a client must also have control over the robustness of the broadband, privacy issues throughout the supply chain, and not least the regulatory framework - which varies depending on the principal and the activity to be digitized. In addition, they are sometimes unclear, including when it comes to which actor is responsible for a particular issue.
The working group also notes that the digitization of health and care services in a municipality places great demands on the broadband infrastructure. Broadband must be robust and available throughout the municipality, so that all users, regardless of where they live, can rely on the services to work. It is also important that the information transmitted over broadband is secure and that users' privacy is protected.
Municipal decision-makers have an important role in ensuring that eHealth is prioritized in municipal digital agendas and in the roll-out of broadband infrastructure. It is also crucial to free up time for operational development where staff are to adopt welfare technology and e-health services. Regions and county councils can also act as a driving force and help municipalities in the procurement of eHealth services, through procurement cooperation and joint procurement guides with technical details. At regional level, regional broadband coordinators can also contribute by providing information on the robustness, availability and quality of broadband networks.
Our message to the government and City Council Kaplan is clear and unambiguous: Establish a Welfare Forum, structured as a Broadband Forum, where various stakeholders involved collaborate to promote and make the best use of e-health and welfare technology. The digitization of Swedish health and social care is absolutely necessary for our future welfare, and the solutions exist, so we just have to start. Now is the time.