The prescription and patient data of Finns can now be utilised in new European countries
The movement of Finnish health and prescription data in Europe is expanding again. In the future, a Finnish electronic prescription can be used to obtain medicines in Latvia, and the patient data stored in Kanta will be available to health care professionals in Norway and Latvia if the patient has consented to this.
The movement of prescription and patient data across borders facilitates travel and improves the continuity of treatment. If you have to seek treatment while travelling, professionals will have access to key patient information quickly and safely, and you can also purchase prescription medicines at the destination if necessary.
The use of the Finnish electronic prescriptions will expand to Latvia
A Finnish electronic prescription can now also be used to buy medicines in pharmacies in Latvia. Similarly, you can buy medicines in Finland with a Latvian prescription.
Finns have so far been able to purchase medicines in, for example, Spain and Estonia.
Before going to a pharmacy abroad, remember the following:
- Bring your passport or photo ID card to the pharmacy.
- Check Kanta.fi to see if the medicine you want can be purchased abroad.
- Before you travel, check whether the service is available at your destination.
- You can only buy medicines using your own prescriptions. It is not possible to buy medicines on behalf of another adult or a minor.
- You can apply for Kela reimbursements for the medicine purchases made abroad electronically in MyKela (kela.fi)(opens new window).
Patient information can be transferred to Norway and Latvia
In the future, health care professionals in Norway and Latvia can, in connection with patient care, view the patient’s key health data stored in Finland if the patient has consented to this. Consent can be given in My Kanta.
Professionals can see a summary of patient data compiled to support treatment, including diagnoses, allergy information and prescriptions. The summary is translated into the professional’s own language, which improves the quality and safety of care.
At this time, summaries of patient data can also be delivered to Estonia, Spain and the Netherlands.
Safe use of health data is promoted through European cooperation
Kanta is part of a network of EU countries whose goal is to improve the continuity of patient care, safety and overall medication management. The network develops services that provide healthcare professionals with access to patient health data regardless of the European country in which the patient has previously received treatment. Kanta serves as a national contact point for the safe electronic transfer of data between health care services in Finland and other European countries.
The European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation will further improve the movement of electronic patient data. In the future, it will also allow the transfer of other health data, such as laboratory results, between EU countries.
