DigiHealth – Transforming Healthcare with AI and Data

We are accelerating the transformation of social and healthcare services through digitalisation, data, and AI. We provide funding, expertise, networking opportunities and strategic partnerships to wellbeing services counties and other key stakeholders, ensuring that new solutions are developed and implemented at scale.

• Scaling AI utilisation: We aim to accelerate the broad adoption of AI across the services provided by wellbeing services counties.
  
• Shifting to proactive care: We are accelerating the transition towards predictive and proactive social and healthcare. This approach utilises data and AI to identify health and well-being issues before they arise. Proactive methods allow for more personalised services while helping to manage cost pressures. According to Sitra’s studies, Finland is well-positioned to be among the first to transition to a proactive system.
  
• Boosting sector growth: We promote the widespread use of health data and AI to drive growth across the entire social and health care sector.

The objective of the project is to position Finnish social and health care services as a pioneer in data and AI utilisation, while enhancing quality, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency. This work is part of Sitra’s broader commitment to significantly improving public sector productivity through data and AI.

We have already completed several successful AI pilots. For example, using AI in documenting patient information frees up valuable time for doctors to focus on direct patient care. These pilots demonstrated that AI tools can ease the burden on social and health care professionals.

Furthermore, we have supported the implementation of proactive health care models in wellbeing services counties through two separate calls for proposals.

• Spring 2025: Four innovative projects were selected for funding.
  
• Autumn 2025: A second funding round was opened to accelerate the transition towards predictive care. You can explore the selected projects at the bottom of this page.
  
• January 2026: We launched a call for proposals aimed at scaling the deployment of AI solutions across the sector.

In February 2026, Sitra released a proposal for a National Health Data Space in Finland (summary in English). The report was prepared in close collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and a wide range of other key stakeholders. This initiative seeks to bridge currently fragmented data and expertise into a single entity, enabling more personalised care, reducing costs, and accelerating research and business growth.

At the request of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, we also developed a proposal for a national cooperation model for clinical trials. Additionally, we are closely involved in the implementation of the digital therapy trial initiated by the Ministry.

Sitra acts as an active partner at both national and regional levels, facilitating concrete experiments and the scaling of best practices. The project focuses on AI utilisation, promoting proactive care, and the growth of companies in the sector. This work will continue in close collaboration with partners until mid-2027.

Transforming social and health care services is essential. Pressures on public finances, an ageing population, and rising costs are challenging current operating models. AI, data, and proactive and predictive care models help secure services and free up professionals’ time for high-value clinical work. This renewal also enables growth and internationalisation for companies in the field. When the best solutions are scaled, the entire society benefits.

The project is implemented in extensive cooperation with wellbeing services counties, the City of Helsinki, HUS Group, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and other governmental bodies. Also involved are industry companies, research institutes, and international networks. Sitra acts as a bridge-builder and enabler, bringing together different actors to support transformation.