Debate: Digital care develops welfare

Society benefits from digitized care. Don't let teething problems hinder development, write the directors of Vårdföretagarna and IT&Telekomföretagen in response to an editorial in Dagens Arena.

Online doctors drain healthcare of resources that would be needed for the patients who have the greatest need, says Lisa Pelling in Dagens Arena and identifies the aforementioned online doctor company as "yet another smart business idea that takes advantage of the systemic flaws in the Swedish healthcare system".

Of course, reasonable reimbursement systems and patient safety are of utmost importance in healthcare, but let's not cloud the forest with individual trees - or teething problems hinder an overall positive development.

The entire welfare sector in Sweden today faces enormous challenges, where better resource utilization and higher quality are necessary to ensure our welfare as demographics change, fewer people seek jobs in the field, and the economy requires rationalization and productivity improvements.

There is no doubt that digitization is the answer to many of these challenges; independent studies show that digitization of healthcare would free up to 80 billion a year that could be spent on developing healthcare instead.

Digital medical contact is part of this, obviously not always a substitute for physical meetings but a good complement that more and more citizens see the benefits of and choose themselves, as Lisa Pelling also notes in her editorial.

Digitization is not a mythological monster, but the social benefits of using it are many.

In times of rapid change, it is not uncommon to worry about the future and see change as a threat.

Recognizing and seizing the opportunities of digitalization to support the profession, resource efficiency and more citizen-oriented care leads to improved welfare.

Let's raise our sights and seriously, but with the right focus, address the teething problems that inevitably follow innovations that challenge existing systems, structures and regulations, without trying to back into the future.

A society that chooses this path will always be behind.

David Mothander Federal Director IT&Telecom Companies

Inga-Kari Fryklund Association Director Vårdföretagana