
Health Minister: “Admire what Finland achieved”
- TRANSFORMERS.health
- May 22, 2024
- GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION
- data
- 0 Comments
At the Radical Health Festival, Bavarian Minister of Health, Care, and Prevention, Judith Gerlach, highlighted Finland’s significant achievements in healthcare. She presented innovative projects from Bavaria, emphasizing the potential for mutual learning and collaboration. Gerlach also praised the advanced training of Finnish nursing staff in a fully academic environment, noting its positive public perception and attractiveness as a career.
Gerlach commended Finland for its advancements in healthcare, particularly in nursing education and data management. “The development of large databases under state sponsorship, such as Findata, points the way forward for Bavaria,” she remarked, emphasizing the importance of data sharing and integration.
Close exchange between Bavaria and Finland on health innovation
Highlighting Bavaria’s innovative projects, Gerlach introduced DigiMed Bayern, which focuses on predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory (P4) medicine. With significant funding of around 24.5 million euros, this project uses big data to predict and prevent coronary heart disease and strokes. “We want to use the findings to achieve a lasting reduction in the number of traumatic outcomes from heart attacks and strokes,” she said, noting the close exchange of experts between Bavaria and Finland in this project.
Another flagship project, DigiOnco, aims to improve breast cancer care through digital solutions and artificial intelligence. The project focuses on digitalizing prevention, medical home care, diagnostics, health app integration, and using AI to analyze collected data, showcasing Bavaria’s commitment to personalized precision medicine.
The only way we can guarantee the best possible care for our population is on a broad basis of high-quality data.
Gerlach also emphasized Bavaria’s commitment to addressing gender-specific health differences and promoting women’s health initiatives. She highlighted that health and prevention services must take individual needs and concerns into account. Gerlach pointed out that gender-related differences in health manifest at every stage of life, from childhood to old age, and must be addressed in healthcare planning.
In Germany, healthcare responsibilities are managed by the “Bundesländer”—16 states with broad freedoms in organizing care for their citizens. Gerlach stressed the value of international collaboration, particularly with Finland, to enhance the use of health data. “Collaboration among EU member states is set to increase dramatically, particularly with regard to the European Health Data Space (EHDS),” she stated. Bavaria looks to Finland as a model for setting up a health data lab for Germany and planning a Bavarian cloud for health research.
In conclusion, Gerlach invited continued collaboration, stating, “I believe Finland and Bavaria will be the right partners for shaping the future of healthcare together.”