Country Correspondent: Roosa Tikkanen
The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) has released a report highlighting the use of digital health care services. In Sweden, digital health consultations are offered by public and private providers including doctors, midwives, and physiotherapists for services ranging from diagnostic tests and examinations to nurse triage. Services are provided via video chat or text messaging, and providers are reimbursed SEK 650 (USD 71) per consultation. The report includes data for 361,910 digital visits provided over two years by three of the largest digital providers in the country. Patients living in urban areas and those age 50 or younger were the most frequent users, and skin diseases and infections were among the most common reasons for visits. In Sweden, most counties offer some form of digital health services, and the number of digital visits has increased threefold in just one year.
