Digitalisation in health and social care continues to grow rapidly: both the scope of e-health and the risks related to security and financing are increasing

In Latvia, the use of digital solutions in the health and social care sectors continues to grow rapidly, but alongside this progress, security risks and challenges in securing funding are also increasing. Industry professionals acknowledge that digitalisation is becoming critical infrastructure that requires stable governance and long-term financing.

Minister of Health Hosams Abu Meri notes that it is precisely demographics that make digital transformation an unavoidable choice. He reminds that population ageing and the shortage of specialists in Latvia are no longer theoretical future risks but a reality shaping the sector’s agenda:“Demographic processes are relentless — the population is ageing, their needs are growing, but the number of specialists unfortunately is not. Digital tools and artificial intelligence are the only way to preserve and increase our care capacity. This is no longer a choice for the future — it is a necessity today, and we must significantly increase the pace of implementation. Digital solutions have already become central instruments for more accessible, safer, and more efficient healthcare. But digitalisation is not a goal in itself — it is infrastructure that serves better patient care. Faster diagnostics, easier accessibility, more precise decisions, and less bureaucracy for both patients and medical staff — that is the direction we are heading.”

This year’s statistics show that the public is using digital solutions more widely than ever. Data from the Latvian Digital Health Centre indicate that in 2025, 15 million e-prescriptions were issued, more than 4.5 million e-referrals prepared, and the number of digitally accessible laboratory tests exceeded 4 million. The volume of epikrise documents reached 350,000, while visual diagnostic records hit 1.5 million. Digital sick-leave certificates and online applications to change one’s general practitioner are also becoming increasingly widespread, significantly reducing administrative burdens for both healthcare institutions and residents.

Digitalisation is also expanding in social care. Fall-prevention technologies introduced by the Riga municipality reduce accident risks in care centres, while remote video visits allow specialists to communicate more frequently with lonely seniors. Digital tools are also becoming the basis for data-driven youth assessments and ensuring technical safety, such as with smart hoist-monitoring sensors.

Romualds Ražuks, Deputy Chair of the Riga City Council’s Social Affairs Committee, reminds that digitalisation must be tied to targeted funding. He notes that Riga has several strong examples of digitalisation, but expanding them requires systematic work:“In recent years, there have been very good examples of the introduction of digitalisation in Riga city, but going forward, much more focused and coordinated work is needed, which will also help attract additional funding.”

At the national level, security concerns are becoming more pronounced. Healthcare is one of the most frequently targeted sectors because it handles particularly sensitive data. Andis Ozoliņš, data security expert at Walless, states that the situation requires a professional rather than a fragmented approach. In his view, the rise in cybersecurity incidents — a 28% increase in the second quarter and another 2% in the third, reaching 709 and 671 cases respectively — demonstrates that security must not be a “bolt-on” to digitalisation processes. Ozoliņš emphasises:“A successful start to strengthening security begins with clear responsibility: companies must appoint a responsible person, engage experts to develop a cybersecurity plan, and start by addressing risks that can be resolved immediately.”

Technology entrepreneurs, meanwhile, point out that practical, simple solutions are already easing the workload in medical and social care. Ēriks Brisets (Eric Brisset), head of 0g Baltics, explains that IoT and AI solutions developed in Latvia are becoming everyday tools both in hospitals and social care. They allow more precise monitoring of patient safety, reduce staff workload, and ensure efficient data flow. Brisset emphasises that the value of these solutions lies not only in technological quality but also in the speed of implementation, because “they pay off so quickly that you won’t even notice”.

The development of digitalisation is impossible without well-designed financing. Justs Dimants, Head of Research at Amber Advisory, notes that artificial intelligence is rapidly accelerating the demand for digitalisation, but this pace must be sustainable:“Digitalisation of health and social care requires a well-thought-out sequence, unified data governance, and long-term financing. Artificial intelligence is one of the fastest-growing segments in digital health — around 40% annually, and it significantly changes sector processes.

However, this growth will not be sustainable if the sector lacks the capacity to attract state, municipal, banking, and private funding and clearly demonstrate returns on investment.”

These conclusions and industry insights were presented at the conference “How to Finance Digitalisation in the Social and Health Care Sector”, attended by policymakers, experts, municipalities, and service providers.

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