Blog post: Improving Digital Health Literacy in the Baltic Sea Region
Digital health literacy means the ability to obtain, understand, assess, and use digital information and services in ways that promote health and wellbeing. Without these skills, patients risk being excluded from digital health services, which can deepen inequality.
However, digital health literacy is not only an individual matter. It is closely linked to the user-friendliness and accessibility of services, as well as the support available. If digital services are easy to use and accessible, even more limited skills may be sufficient.
Helping organizations provide safe digital services
Rather than focusing on citizens’ digital health literacy, DEAHL Baltic (Digital Empowerment for Active Healthy Living in the Baltic Region) helps organizations provide digital services that are easy for everyone to find, understand, and use in managing their health. A key goal is to ensure that organizations offer safe digital services that empower individuals and strengthen their ability to manage their lives.
In the EU’s Digital Decade strategy, the goal is that by 2030 every EU citizen will have access to their own electronic health information. Achieving this, however, requires sufficient competences not only from citizens but also from healthcare professionals. DEAHL Baltic addresses this very need.
Training and information package as a solution
The project develops a training and information package for healthcare professionals and organizations in collaboration with stakeholders. It includes practical tools and an e-learning platform that will help healthcare actors learn about the principles of accessibility in digital health services and ways to address digital divides. Managing client and patient safety in digital services becomes possible when all organizational actors participate in and commit to continuing education.
As part of this, the project also makes use of the Digital Services Risk Assessment Tool developed by the Finnish Centre for Client and Patient Safety. With this tool, participating healthcare organizations can identify and assess potential risks that digital services may pose to client and patient safety. This is a critical step to ensure that the adoption of digital services happens safely and equally for all patients. Risk assessment helps guarantee that new digital solutions do not widen health inequalities or place certain patient groups in a vulnerable position.
International collaboration as a strong backbone
DEAHL Baltic brings together key actors from six countries in the Baltic Sea Region: Poland, Latvia, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. The consortium consists of universities, healthcare providers, regional development organizations, and expert institutions. In Finland, alongside the Finnish Centre for Client and Patient Safety, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences represents the country. It is responsible for the project’s training and information package as well as related studies. The shared goal of the project is clear: to improve healthcare capacities, reduce inequalities, and make digital services accessible to everyone – regardless of age, background, or digital skills.
DEAHL Baltic project launched in Hamburg
The DEAHL Baltic consortium partners met in Hamburg on 10–12 March 2025 to officially launch the project. The kick-off meeting was held at the historic Viktoria Kaserne.
During the meeting, workshops helped build a shared understanding of the project’s objectives and practical implementation. Differences between countries in the development of digital health services, as well as varying perspectives and priorities, were highlighted. What united everyone, however, was a strong commitment to promoting accessible and equitable digital services across the Baltic Sea Region.
The event also included networking and opportunities to explore Hamburg’s diverse urban environment. Local partners organized, among other things, a guided walking tour along the River Elbe, which included a ferry trip and a visit to the city’s harbor area (pictured). Participants also had the chance to visit the impressive Elbphilharmonie concert hall and enjoy panoramic views of the city from its top.
This blog post was written as part of the EU co-funded DEAHL Baltic project (Interreg Baltic Sea Region).
