Through cooperation in ICT-management, municipalities in North Karelia have set up a network of e-services for citizens, including an electronic patient management system for healthcare centres and hospitals.
North Karelia Regional Network: Connecting municipalities in North Karelia
- 01 January 2007
Municipalities in Finland are the major providers of public services but up until 2001 rarely worked together. An ERDF-funded project has changed this and saw all sixteen municipalities and three joint municipalities in North Karelia creating a joint network infrastructure. The result was a seamless service to citizens.
The region's ageing population coupled with the fact that younger people are moving away from rural areas and small municipalities have led to the network's establishment. The long distances to healthcare centres, sparse population and logistical problems also played a defining role.
Efficiencies across the board
The North Karelia Regional Network achieved efficiencies across the board by setting up a region-wide service platform for online municipal services covering areas like education, healthcare and social services. The network has also harmonised information systems and technologies between the various administration levels.
12 000 workstations and 17 000 users
North Karelia is a small but very innovative region with a population of just 169 000 or 3.2 % of Finland`s total. Nevertheless, the network has become one of the largest in Finland with an estimated 12 000 workstations and 17 000 users.
Together, the municipalities have created a cost-effective model for producing ICT services. And with the integration of different operations and processes, citizens are served more efficiently. Crucially, the project has inspired other authorities in the region to also embrace e-services.
Of most significance however is the patient management system that was set up under the project. This enables electronic processing and sharing of all patient information in all healthcare centres and hospitals across the North Karelia region. Plans are also in place to link this system to the National Social Insurance Institution.
The project came to an end in 2006. Today however, the network is run and operated by a publicly owned company based in North Karelia.
The North Karelia Regional Network has created 3 permanent and 6 temporary jobs.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “North Karelia Regional Network” is EUR 2 673 109 with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 192 636 through the Eastern Finland Objective 1 Programme for the 2000–2006 programming period.