How can the digitalization of healthcare be accelerated without compromising safety and quality? The Czech experience shows that the biggest obstacle is not technology, but system compatibility and regulation. Taiwan offers inspiration, but Europe cannot simply adopt its model.
Taiwan as a digitalization laboratory that is hard to replicate
Taiwan has unified regulation of medical technologies, and hospitals often develop artificial intelligence solutions directly within their own teams. As a result, systems operate in a standardized, paperless way: the doctor issues an electronic requisition, the medication is prepared in the hospital pharmacy, and the patient is identified everywhere with an ID card. This model, however, is hard to transfer to Europe due to more complex regulations, lower market attractiveness, and language barriers. Mindset also matters – doctors there treat digital tools as a natural part of care, not as an experiment.
Europe between ambition and regulation
The EU wants to be a leader in digital transformation, yet in practice it mainly leads in regulation, including the new AI Act. The path to innovation therefore runs through systematic digitization and safe operation, but also through education and clinical evidence. In the Czech Republic, the ministry is opening expert and patient discussions and supporting studies, which moves the topic from marketing into medical practice. A powerful message also comes from prevention: an early-detected diagnosis in the Minister of Health showed that screening delivers real results.
Two key challenges: interoperability and AI reimbursement
Today, the biggest brake is interoperability: in the Czech Republic, approximately six hospital information systems and several PACS are in operation, which have trouble “understanding” one another. Sharing medical reports between hospitals is slow and depends on manual coordination, which is especially problematic in acute cases. Data standardization and clear rules are needed for rapid doctor–doctor information exchange, so the patient doesn’t have to wait for paperwork. The goal is for the system to work as reliably as in countries with a more unified digital environment.
Progress is visible, however: over the last year and a half, the deployment of artificial intelligence and telemedicine has been growing, and a professional society has been established under the Czech medical authority. Funding is still limited – only diabetic retinopathy screening currently receives reimbursement from insurers. Expansion to other areas is under discussion, for example prostate MRI or lung CT, which will require dialogue with insurers and a clear assessment of benefit. Without sustainable reimbursement, innovations will remain in pilot projects, not in everyday practice.
