Politicians agree: Patient apps must be included in the health service

Patient apps with documented effects can provide better follow-up and coping for patients. During Arendal Week, politicians, the Norwegian Directorate of Health and researchers, among others, agreed that it is time for such solutions in the health service. Now you can watch the recording of the debate for a limited period.
Caption: Great agreement across parties: Patient apps must be included in the health service. Photo: Øyvind Røsøvåg Hagen/Diakonhjemmet Hospital
Patient apps can give patients more knowledge about their illness, increased coping skills, and easier contact with healthcare services. However, regulations and lack of funding schemes mean that many solutions are stalled.
– The paradox is that patients can download apps without documented effect, while safe and tested apps remain in a drawer. We need to do something about that, said Ingeborg Dybvig of the Norwegian Rheumatology Association during the debate.
On stage, politicians from the Conservative Party, the Labor Party and the Socialist Party of Norway met, along with the Directorate of Health, patient representatives and Diakonhjemmet Hospital. The message was clear: Patient apps must become part of the health service, under safe and orderly conditions.
The panel discussed, among other things, a Norwegian version of Germany's DiGA scheme, which makes it possible to obtain apps on prescription, as well as various financing models.
– Now it's time to put a system in place that allows patients to use the apps that actually help them, says Professor Nina Østerås at Diakonhjemmet Hospital.
On September 2, VG also had a large report about a patient app, URIKA, which is now being tested on a larger patient group.
Gout affects tens of thousands of Norwegians, but many do not receive optimal treatment. URIKA is a new digital solution developed to support both patients and healthcare personnel. With URIKA, follow-up can be more targeted and knowledge-based.
If you have recently developed symptoms of gout and live in Oslo and the surrounding area, you can ask your GP to refer you to Diakonhjemmet Hospital. Here you can be considered to join the study.
👉 Read more about the app and how it can contribute to better patient outcomes
On September 2, VG also had a large report about a patient app, URIKA, which is now being tested on a larger patient group. VG front page about the app URIKA
Gout affects tens of thousands of Norwegians, but many do not receive optimal treatment. URIKA is a new digital solution developed to support both patients and healthcare personnel. With URIKA, follow-up can be more targeted and knowledge-based.