EHealth Data Exchange

Project Overview:

eDataHealthExchange improves how medical data is shared across the Estonian–Latvian border. Currently, Latvian patients treated at Valga Hospital receive radiology results on USB drives, creating issues with data security, accessibility and continuity of care. The project unites healthcare providers and national authorities to establish a shared approach for cross-border health services and to pilot a secure digital data-exchange system that supports safer, smoother and more coordinated patient care in the Valga–Valka region.

Project Objective

To create a joint cross‑border healthcare strategy and action plan for the Valga–Valka region and to test secure digital solutions enabling automatic, safe transfer of radiology data between Estonian and Latvian health systems.

Key Activities

• Forming a cross‑border steering group of healthcare institutions and national authorities
• Study visit to Austria/Czechia to learn from successful cross-border healthcare models
• Developing a joint healthcare strategy and action plan
• Creating and piloting a secure radiology data‑transfer system connecting Valga Hospital to Latvia’s Datamed and national eHealth systems
• Training healthcare professionals to use the new tools
• Public awareness campaign informing communities about improved cross-border services

Expected Results:

• A functioning pilot system for secure cross-border radiology data transfer
• A jointly developed healthcare strategy and action plan for the Valga–Valka region
• Better continuity and quality of care via GDPR‑compliant digital data exchange
• Stronger cooperation and more efficient resource use between Estonian and Latvian healthcare providers

Cross‑Border Cooperation Aspect

The project directly addresses challenges that arise from patients moving across the Estonian–Latvian border for healthcare. By aligning strategies, developing shared technical solutions and ensuring that providers on both sides can access necessary medical information, the project builds long‑term, practical cooperation that improves patient safety and service quality throughout the Valga–Valka region.