About Health Portal
The health portal is a digital gateway that provides access to health information about individuals and their loved ones.
Recently, people have become more health conscious, increasing their expectations regarding the availability of health data.
During the coronavirus pandemic, awareness of the existence of digital health records increased, especially when viewing COVID-19 test results and analysis results, which in turn led to negative feedback and made the creation of a new health portal a priority.
Platform Digilugu had changed little over the past decade – its concept and design had remained largely unchanged since 2013, when the last major update was made.
A brief history
The concept and design of Digilugu remained unchanged over the last decade – the last major update was made in 2013. The outdated portal's unfriendly user experience led to negative feedback from users, making the creation of a health portal a priority.
People's health awareness has grown significantly in recent years, creating higher expectations for the availability of health data. The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of Digiloo, especially when viewing COVID-19 test results and analysis results.
Digilugu concerns
the basic functions were manageable, but required considerable effort on the part of the user
ambiguous website name
complicated navigation and design
complex language use both on the website and in the content of documents
incomplete functions, which meant that the service did not offer sufficient value to the user
Digilugu concerns
the basic functions were manageable, but required considerable effort on the part of the user
ambiguous website name
complicated navigation and design
complex language use both on the website and in the content of documents
incomplete functions, which meant that the service did not offer sufficient value to the user
Curiosity is healthy! - campaign created with the help of Taevas Ogilvy
Curiosity is healthy! - campaign created with the help of Taevas Ogilvy
The birth of a new portal
On November 27, 2023, the Health Portal replaced the previous Digilugu. The main goal in developing the new health portal was to make it easier to use. The former digilugu.ee services were updated, making it more convenient to view health-related data. In addition, complex medical terms that were difficult to understand in the old portal were simplified. For example, the word "epicrisis" was incomprehensible to users.
The biggest challenges in developing the new portal:
- Data quality
- Different user groups
- Simplification and translation of medical terms
- Document-based thinking
- Expectations and restrictions arising from legislation
On November 27, 2023, the Health Portal replaced the previous Digilugu. The main goal in developing the new health portal was to make it easier to use. The former digilugu.ee services were updated, making it more convenient to view health-related data. In addition, complex medical terms that were difficult to understand in the old portal were simplified. For example, the word "epicrisis" was incomprehensible to users.
The biggest challenges in developing the new portal:
- Data quality
- Different user groups
- Simplification and translation of medical terms
- Document-based thinking
- Expectations and restrictions arising from legislation
On November 27, 2023, the Health Portal replaced the previous Digilugu. The main goal in developing the new health portal was to make it easier to use. The former digilugu.ee services were updated, making it more convenient to view health-related data. In addition, complex medical terms that were difficult to understand in the old portal were simplified. For example, the word "epicrisis" was incomprehensible to users.
The biggest challenges in developing the new portal:
- Data quality
- Different user groups
- Simplification and translation of medical terms
- Document-based thinking
- Expectations and restrictions arising from legislation
Identity and communication
When creating a new identity for the health portal, the biggest challenge was the already well-known name "Digilugu" and its established visual image. In addition, creative freedom was limited by the requirements arising from the use of the VEERA design system, which at the same time provided reliability similar to that of state applications. Despite these limitations, the new brand succeeded in giving the Health Portal a unique personality.
The project resulted in the creation of a comprehensive identity – a name, logo, visual language and illustrations, examples of material use, and communication principles that are in line with both the content of the services and the design system.
Service design
The purpose of the Health Portal is to support people's digital interactions with the medical world. The portal provides an overview of health data and helps users remember future appointments scheduled by their doctor, thereby reducing paper consumption and supporting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
It is estimated that patients can remember about 20% of the information shared with them when they leave the doctor's office. The goal of the health portal is to ensure that patients have access to important information so that no details are lost.
From a service design perspective, the biggest challenge of the project was to create a solution that would meet user needs within a tight timeframe, while also taking into account all technical and data-related limitations. The user interface design therefore uses the design system employed in various TEHIK projects, which gives TEHIK projects a similar look and feel and ensures reliability.
One of the peculiarities of the medical world is field-specific terms such as "epicrisis," "СІТО," etc., which have been simplified during the project.
The purpose of the Health Portal is to support people's digital interactions with the medical world. The portal provides an overview of health data and helps users remember future appointments scheduled by their doctor, thereby reducing paper consumption and supporting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
It is estimated that patients can remember about 20% of the information shared with them when they leave the doctor's office. The goal of the health portal is to ensure that patients have access to important information so that no details are lost.
From a service design perspective, the biggest challenge of the project was to create a solution that would meet user needs within a tight timeframe, while also taking into account all technical and data-related limitations. The user interface design therefore uses the design system employed in various TEHIK projects, which gives TEHIK projects a similar look and feel and ensures reliability.
One of the peculiarities of the medical world is field-specific terms such as "epicrisis," "СІТО," etc., which have been simplified during the project.
The purpose of the Health Portal is to support people's digital interactions with the medical world. The portal provides an overview of health data and helps users remember future appointments scheduled by their doctor, thereby reducing paper consumption and supporting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
It is estimated that patients can remember about 20% of the information shared with them when they leave the doctor's office. The goal of the health portal is to ensure that patients have access to important information so that no details are lost.
From a service design perspective, the biggest challenge of the project was to create a solution that would meet user needs within a tight timeframe, while also taking into account all technical and data-related limitations. The user interface design therefore uses the design system employed in various TEHIK projects, which gives TEHIK projects a similar look and feel and ensures reliability.
One of the peculiarities of the medical world is field-specific terms such as "epicrisis," "СІТО," etc., which have been simplified during the project.
Core values
Ease of use
- The goal of the Health Portal team is to provide a good user experience by being open to people's feedback and wishes and actively involving different target groups and service users.
- Last spring, we engaged the public with a social media campaign to get feedback on the first services and the desktop. Nearly 200 people participated in the campaign, and the desired improvements were made based on their feedback.
- All services have been tested with users. User support has not been sent, and feedback is valuable and important for the continued improvement of the portal and the user experience.
- In addition, we have involved family doctors, dentists, the Estonian Association of Laboratory Medicine and the Health Board, the Estonian Blind Union, the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People, and other parties in the creation of the services.
Accessibility
- One of the major shortcomings of Digilugu was access to health data, both from the point of view of user experience and accessibility standards (WCAG). In addition, the system lacked mobile support.
- One of the most important achievements of the health portal is its high level of mobile usage. Previously, Digilugu users were divided roughly equally between mobile and computer users, but now mobile users account for at least 70% of all health portal users.
- The Health Portal has undergone thorough WCAG testing with various devices and operating systems, resulting in an accessibility report with individual observations. The testing was carried out with the help of volunteers from the Estonian Blind Union and the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.
My health history
Digilugu displayed health events according to document type., e.g., outpatient or inpatient epicrisis, growth notifications, etc. The health portal brings together all points of contact with the medical system on a single timeline, providing a quick and comprehensive overview of all the user's health events. It is easy to find important events on the timeline, which are presented as short summaries, and, if necessary, you can go deeper into individual cases and view the entire content in detail.
In 2025, the health portal was opened 17,398,863 times, with 802,184 unique logins. This means that almost every adult logged into the Health Portal at least once during the year.
The average number of logins per month for Digilugu was 640,000, while for the Health Portal it is 1,450,000.
The most popular page is My health history, which is visited by 23% of all visitors.
Impact of the Health Portal
Quick access to all health data in one place
Paperless documentation
Increased health awareness and prevention
Simple and understandable health content reduces the number of patients seeking the wrong doctors and people "falling through the cracks" in the monitoring of chronic diseases
Quick access to health data reduces the time healthcare professionals spend on administrative tasks and allows them to focus more on treating patients
A better-informed person can get help for their medical problem more quickly and participate in preventive activities. This contributes to a healthier population.
Better access to healthcare services – the health portal is available everywhere, thus reducing regional inequalities.
Equality – digital solutions reduce health inequalities by providing users with easier access to various healthcare services (including physical and economic barriers to medical care).
Quick access to all health data in one place
Paperless documentation
Increased health awareness and prevention
Simple and understandable health content reduces the number of patients seeking the wrong doctors and people "falling through the cracks" in the monitoring of chronic diseases
Quick access to health data reduces the time healthcare professionals spend on administrative tasks and allows them to focus more on treating patients
A better-informed person can get help for their medical problem more quickly and participate in preventive activities. This contributes to a healthier population.
Better access to healthcare services – the health portal is available everywhere, thus reducing regional inequalities.
Equality – digital solutions reduce health inequalities by providing users with easier access to various healthcare services (including physical and economic barriers to medical care).
The goal of the Health Portal
To provide services not only when people need them, but also to help maintain good health and prevent potential health problems.
The accessibility and usability of the health portal indirectly affects people's health, healthy life years, awareness, and saves the environment.
To provide services not only when people need them, but also to help maintain good health and prevent potential health problems.
The accessibility and usability of the health portal indirectly affects people's health, healthy life years, awareness, and saves the environment.
To provide services not only when people need them, but also to help maintain good health and prevent potential health problems.
The accessibility and usability of the health portal indirectly affects people's health, healthy life years, awareness, and saves the environment.
Creators and maintainers of the Health Portal
The Health Portal is backed by the Health Insurance Fund, which provides the necessary content and ensures that the Health Portal will be even more useful tomorrow.
The Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre (TEHIK) is responsible for development and maintenance.
Public-facing texts are prepared by copywriter Jaana Maling.
The Health Portal is backed by the Health Insurance Fund, which provides the necessary content and ensures that the Health Portal will be even more useful tomorrow.
The Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre (TEHIK) is responsible for development and maintenance.
Public-facing texts are prepared by copywriter Jaana Maling.
Iglu is responsible for:
- usability and design
- analysis
- frontend and backend development.
Iglu is responsible for:
- usability and design
- analysis
- frontend and backend development.
Industry62 & Snowhound are responsible for:
- Scrum implementation in the team
- analysis
- frontend and backend development.
Industry62 & Snowhound are responsible for:
- Scrum implementation in the team
- analysis
- frontend and backend development.
DUX is responsible for:
- Branding and logo
- Redesign of the first services.
DUX is responsible for:
- Branding and logo
- Redesign of the first services.