Why sustainable healthcare is set to be next growth area for Sweden and Finland
Ministers meet in Stockholm to discuss ways to leverage digital leap triggered by COVID-19 and meet SDGs.
Sustainable healthcare will be a key topic at today’s Finnish-Swedish Ministerial Delegation entitled: “From a common vision to global action – Finland and Sweden as driving forces for a sustainable future”. In particular the focus will be on the potential of “Smart Hospitals” to not only improve health delivery and meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also generate major business opportunities.
Sweden and Finland like most countries globally are going through a period of dramatic demographic change with growing urban population and elderly populations increasing pressure on their existing healthcare systems and hospitals in particular. To meet this challenge, the idea of sustainable healthcare has emerged and been incorporated into the SDG’s. At one level this means guaranteed access to healthcare provision and here COVID-19 has had a major impact by accelerating the uptake of new technologies and delivery methods. At the same time, meeting the health SDG’s also means tackling the lesser-known problem of hospital energy emissions and medical waste. A recent survey estimated that the healthcare industry is responsible for 4.4 - 4.6 per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and similar fractions of toxic air pollutants.*
As well as ministerial discussions, healthcare and industry representatives from both countries will outline how a unique opportunity for Sweden and Finland to collaborate and address this situation has arisen. By combining the numerous breakthrough technologies and policies already developed in both countries, a new generation of Smart Hospitals can be built.
Program highlights
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Session 1 - Sustainable Healthcare Investments Nordic Excellence in Healthcare Sustainability a Global Market Opportunity Case: Environmental strategy - New Hospital Malmö Case: Sustainable Hospital development in West Sweden – Case Högsbo sjukhus |
Session 2 - The Swedish Market Opportunity as a Stepping-Stone to Global markets Hospital Logistic in the New Smart Hospital Nordic Collaboration for increased Export Experiences from Finnish Hospital Project: New Hospital Iisalmi and OYS Expert discussion on Sustainable Hospital as a Nordic Stronghold and Export |
“Smart hospitals can improve patient outcomes and reduce waste to meet the SDGs and become the foundation of sustainable healthcare systems", says Nima Jokilaakso, Senior Adviser, Business Finland, organiser of the Sustainable Health program: “The opportunity is huge – in Sweden for example, Euros 10 billion has already been allowed for investment in hospital modernizations, expansions and new constructions. In the near future, there are 43 projects planned to start in 2020-2022 estimated at €3.2 billion, and out of these 23 are new Constructions, estimated at €2.5 billion. These investments have a clear focus on smart and sustainable solutions. Thus, it is time for companies to engage in these opportunities.”
Among the companies presenting are Newicon who offer automation solutions helping pharmacies and hospitals achieve efficiency, safety, rationality, and uninterrupted pharmaceutical services. Expertise within digital communication and connected care solutions for healthcare providers are represented by Medixine,while Secapp is a critical communication and alerting SAAS platform, broadcasting mass notifications to individuals and teams, thereby helping to save lives and manage critical operations in times of crisis.
The Smart Hospital concept also offers major business opportunities beyond the Nordics believes Kari Klossner, Head of Smart Life Finland: “We already work with many countries facing similar healthcare challenges including Germany and are delighted our expertise is welcome and valued. Through increasing collaboration with Sweden, we can expand and increase the impact of this work and contribute more to achieving the SDG of sustainable healthcare for all.”
The program
Session 1: Sustainable Healthcare Investments
11:30 – 11:35/10:30 – 10:35
Opening words
PhD. Nima Jokilaakso, Senior Advisor, Business Finland Sweden
11:35 – 11:40/10:35 – 10:40
Welcome Note
Mr. Axel Josefson, Mayor, City of Gothenburg
11:40 – 12:00/10:40 – 11:00
Keynote: Nordic Excellence in Healthcare Sustainability a Global Market Opportunity
Mr. Daniel Eriksson, CEO, Nordic Center for Sustainable Healthcare
12:00 – 12:15/11:00 – 11:15
Environmental strategy – New Hospital Malmö
Mr. Lars Nihlén, Executive Manager Strategic Projects, Regionfastigheter, Region Skåne
Ms. Anna Vesterberg, Energy – and Environmental Specialist, Regionfastigheter, Region Skåne
12:15 – 12:30/11:15 – 11:30
Sustainable Hospital development in West Sweden – Case Högsbo sjukhus
Ms. Mikaela Lenz, Sustainability Strategist, Västfastigheter, Västra Götalandsregionen
12:30 – 13:00/11:30 – 12:00 Break
Session 2: The Swedish Market Opportunity as a Stepping-Stone to Global markets
13:00 – 13:20/12:00 – 12:20
Hospital Logistic in the New Smart Hospital
Mr. Valentin Monteiro, Director, Business Development & Sustainability, Schneider Electric
Ms. Irina Lindquist, Segment Manager Healthcare, Schneider Electric
13:20 – 13:30/12:20 – 12:30
Nordic Collaboration for increased Export
Mr. Jens Termén, Director, Energy Machines
13:30 – 13:40/12:30 – 12:40
Experiences from Finnish Hospital Project: New Hospital Iisalmi and OYS
Ms. Paula Martikainen, Hospital engineering maintenance manager, Ylä-Savon SOTE Joint Municipal Authority
Ms. Anna-Riitta Kallinen, CEO, ARKCON
Mr. Tapani Idman, Department Director, Granlund
13:40 – 14:00/12:40 – 13:00
Expert discussion on Sustainable Hospital as a Nordic Stronghold and Export
Moderator: Mr. Thordur Reynisson, Senior Innovation Advisor, Nordic Innovation
Panelists:
Mr. Rémy Kolessar, Deputy Director General, Swedish Energy Agency
Ms. Iris Öhrn, Investment Advisor, Business Region Göteborg, VGR (Sweden)
MD. Leena Setälä, Sustainability Director, Hospital District of Southwestern Finland (Finland)
Mr. Bogi Eliassen, Director of Health, Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies
Companies/organizations taking part in the delegation
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BeingHealthy Oy |
*HEALTH AFFAIRS VOL. 39, NO.12: CLIMATE & HEALTH – Health Care Pollution and Public Health Damage in the United States: An Update. Matthew J. Eckleman et al., December 2020,
Contact information
Nima Jokilaakso, PhD, Senior Advisor
Business Finland
Mobile: +46 76 114 52 53
nima.jokilaakso (at) businessfinland.fi
Kari Klossner, Head of Smart Life Finland Program
Business Finland, Health & Wellbeing
Mobile: +358 400 717 298
kari.klossner (at) businessfinland.fi
Media contact
Ola Björkman/Let 'em know
Mobile: +46 70 245 74 97
ola.bjorkman (at) letemknow.se
Smart Life Finland is a Business Finland program focusing on leveraging the digital disruption in health and wellbeing, helping Finnish businesses, healthcare operators and research organizations innovate, network and go international with digital health and wellbeing solutions. We work from home to hospital and everything in between to support solutions that drive a healthy and independent lifestyle. Technologies and solutions of great interest to us include virtualization, artificial intelligence, wearable devices, big data and mobile applications.
Business Finland is the Finnish government organization for innovation funding and trade, travel and investment promotion. Business Finland’s 750 experts work in 44 offices globally and in 16 regional offices around Finland. Business Finland is part of the Team Finland network. www.businessfinland.com.
