Riga, 26 October 2020 - Today representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) and Riga Stradins University (RSU) discussed the possibilities for cooperation in the introduction of new and modern approaches to medical data processing. Building on the objectives of the Digital Transformation Guidelines *, ways to promote the use of modern technologies and data in medicine will be sought together. The ministerial meeting was represented at the time by the Minister's advisor on the digital agenda, Rolands Strazdins, and Deputy State Secretary for Digital Transformation Āris Dzērvāns.
Minister's Adviser on the Digital Agenda Rolands Strazdins: “We have agreed on close cooperation with RSU. . We see that THE ideas and intellectual contributions of RSU colleagues can be an important support FOR the ONGOING reform of the management of national data and information lifecycle. The health sector will be the immediate beneficiaries of the reform, where extensive availability of data will be the basis for the introduction of new industry services and medical treatment methods, as well as for the creation of new research opportunities for Latvian science.
RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Petersons: “RSU is a modern European high school which creates modern and demanding study programmes on the labour market, and implements research needs for the economy. U. We are pleased that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, we will be able to introduce modern digitisation and artificial intelligence projects more rapidly at national level, as well as to carry out studies on the topical issues of medical data. "
VARAM and RSU plan to sign a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen the exchange of ideas, information, skills and experience, based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. The Parties agreed to develop cooperation in the field of science, information society, electronic administration and ICT, involving students of the University of Riga Stradins in the development of research works and other scientific activities to achieve the objectives of the Memorandum.
The Latvian Digital Transformation Guidelines foresee that the country will make significant investments to create pre-conditions for data-based innovation and support digitisation. One of the most important areas where the availability and widespread use of data will bring significant benefits is health care and the assessment of the effectiveness of the treatment process.
VARAM and RSU discussed how to ensure effective and extensive access to the information and data needed for personal medical care to medical facilities, including how to ensure that these data are available to healthcare services in other EU countries. In implementing the digital transformation of the health sector, traditional approaches to health care would be complemented by MI technology, i.e. K. machine learning and various e-solutions, such as evaluating drug compatibility, developing treatment recommendations, and advanced reality technologies.
It is also planned to create a national Biobanka that would ensure the shared use of population genome sequence data for the development of personalised medical and medical research and innovation through national data exchange sharing solutions.
Digital skills in the health sector should be developed in order to achieve the objectives set. In Latvia, the digital skills and competences of medical practitioners and healthcare workers would contribute to the implementation and use of successful, efficient and ethical digital solutions in the health sector, so that health promotion, disease prevention and health care services are more efficient, quality and accessible to patients.
The digital transformation of science would provide a value-oriented approach, with Latvia becoming the country of knowledge that is valuable for western culture. . Latvian research resources adapt and become part of the digital transformation of the Latvian economy, and especially the IT sector s. Science and research play a systemic role in the lifecycle of products and services.
* The draft digital guidelines and a summary of the objectives set, as well as information on participation in the public consultation, are available here.
Information:
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Tel. 20200305; 67026533,
email: prese@varam.gov.lv