Estonia was among the countries represented at HLTH Europe 2026, held in Amsterdam from 15–18 June. More than 5,000 healthcare leaders from over 50 countries attended the event, with around one in three at C-suite level.
According to Health Founders Estonia, HLTH Europe has become the place where providers, payers, pharma, investors, and policymakers compare notes on where European healthcare is actually heading. And the sector itself is at an interesting turning point.
Digital health funding has picked up again in 2026 after a quieter stretch, though it is leaning toward fewer, larger deals rather than spreading evenly across the board.
AI is no longer treated as a separate, exciting category on its own — it’s simply expected to be part of how healthcare products are built.
A growing share of attention, from regulators and investors alike, is going toward the unglamorous layer underneath the AI headlines: interoperability, data access, and the infrastructure that lets different health systems actually talk to each other.
A key moment for Estonia at HLTH Europe 2026 was a panel discussion on the country’s digital health development, organized with Invest in Estonia and moderated by Katrina Laks. The discussion explored how Estonia built its digital-first healthcare model
Katrina Laks captured the spirit of the discussion – Estonia is often known for its digital-first mindset — yes, also in healthcare — but the most exciting chapter is still ahead of us. Estonia’s digital infrastructure is already well known internationally.
What is still an open question is whether that foundation turns into real, measurable value for patients and clinicians, or stays a well-told case study.
A follow-up conversation is already booked for 2027, which suggests people in the room think there’s more to say.
Erki Mölder, one of the panel’s speakers, offered a broader perspective on Estonia’s role in digital health. Rather than viewing Estonia simply as a market, he described it as a concept — a real-world example of how a small, highly connected health system can work differently, test new approaches, and offer models that can be adapted elsewhere.
The discussion ultimately pointed to a clear conclusion: AI and data are powerful enablers, but their real value lies in helping people and healthcare professionals make better decisions, faster. And, as the conversations in the hallways made clear, the real challenge is turning technology and data into practical solutions that deliver measurable value. For Estonia, the opportunity is to build on its strong digital health foundations and take that ambition from successful pilots to scalable impact.
