HUS and Helsinki to receive recommendations on future of Apotti patient system this autumn

A review of potential alternatives for the Apotti patient data system will be completed this autumn, with Helsinki University Hospital District (HUS), the city of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kerava awaiting recommendations on whether to continue, modify, or replace the system, public broadcaster Yle reports. Any potential transition to a new system would take years to implement.

HUS has commissioned a nearly €60,000 study from Swedish consultancy Bearingpoint to evaluate the future of the Apotti system and possible alternatives. The report and recommendations are expected by autumn 2026.

“We genuinely aim to compare our options and determine the most favourable solution—both collectively and, if there are differences, individually for each party,” said Lauri Tanner, HUS administrative director.

The review will assess three options: continuing with the current Apotti system, reorganising its structure, or fully replacing it. The goal is to find a solution that best balances cost, usability, and the benefits of a shared data repository.

“Naturally, we’d like the costs to remain reasonable,” Tanner added.

Iina Vartia, CEO of Oy Apotti Ab, called the timing of the review appropriate, as the fixed-term contract with system provider Epic is expiring. “From our perspective, it’s good that such a review is being conducted—it’s necessary when dealing with public funds and major, wide-ranging decisions. We’re happy to provide all necessary information for the study,” Vartia said.

If the review leads to a decision to replace the system, the process would span several years, Tanner noted. The original development of Apotti cost over €400 million, with preliminary competition phases to final implementation taking more than a decade. Depreciation of the initial investment will continue until 2028, after which annual costs are expected to decrease—a factor influencing decisions about the system’s future.

Currently, Apotti’s costs are shared among its stakeholders, though some regions in Uusimaa, such as Eastern, Central, and Western Uusimaa, have already withdrawn from the agreement. This means patients in these areas now use two different systems: Western Uusimaa’s own system for primary care and Apotti when accessing HUS services.

Bearingpoint has previously conducted similar patient data system reviews in Sweden, including in Västra Götaland, where the decision was made to switch systems. “They should have strong experience in this type of analysis,” Tanner said.

HUS is not the only entity reconsidering its patient data systems. Other hospital districts, such as North Ostrobothnia, are also monitoring developments and exploring their own solutions.