The digital transformation of Czech healthcare: trends and COVID-19 impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an enormous burden on healthcare systems. The pandemic revealed insufficient digitalisation of Czech healthcare, particularly in terms of interconnectedness of healthcare systems. Before the pandemic, the digitalisation of healthcare was not a priority;thus the E-health Act is still absent. Paperless healthcare was only represented by e-prescription (eRecept) and electronic sick note (e-Neschopenka), with tracking application e-Rouska and electronic medical request for COVID testing (eZadanka) introduced in 2020. The pandemic is expected to accelerate the digitalisation of Czech healthcare supported by funds from the National Recovery Plan. Nonetheless, several projects have been postponed with healthcare priorities being identified elsewhere. Based on a novel approach we analysed emerging medical-related technologies (keywords) in research output (publications, projects, contractual research, patents) among Czech research institutions and firms. In the last decade (2009–2018), the most frequent new technologies (keywords) were those related to genetics (genomic and genetic sequencing), nanomaterials (nanoparticle and nanomedicine), e-health (data processing), and sensors necessary for IoMT. In terms of future business opportunities big data, AI/machine learning and IoMT/wearables are considered to be the three principal transformative digital technologies. Copyright © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.