Digital transformation: Shaping the future of European healthcare

Digital technologies are crucial enablers for bridging the gap between demand for healthcare and the capacity of healthcare services to meet demand. But for Europe’s healthcare services, which are made up of multiple services and organisations across a range of geographies and jurisdictions, the challenges and solutions are complex. Our new report surveyed 1,800 clinicians and interviewed 40+ key stakeholders to explore the current state of digitalization across healthcare – and the role of technology in transforming ways of working and improving the patient and clinician experience.

Here are some of the key highlights for Europe:

• Most European countries are looking to digital transformation to close the gap between supply and demand – but progress has been slow and varied.
• The top four challenges facing organisations in implementing digital technologies are: 1) Bureaucracy in healthcare, 2) Cost of technology, 3) Finding the right technologies, and 4) Training staff.
• Consumers are increasingly willing to use digital technologies to engage in new ways.
• The COVID-19 has led to a significant acceleration in the adoption of digital technologies.

Here are some of the key highlights for Denmark:

• Denmark stands out as the comparatively most prepared for further adoption of digital technologies, according to the doctors and nurses surveyed.
• Six out of ten Danish clinicians highlight ‘finding the right technologies’ and 50 percent highlight ‘bureaucracy in healthcare’ as the top challenges right now.
• Only one out of three clinicians receive continuous support in their use of technology.
• Two out of three Danish clinicians say their organisation has increased adoption of digital technologies to provide virtual support and ways of engaging with patients in response to COVID-19.