New digital platform brings the principles of fair data usage to medical treatment research
9.6.2020
Oriola has developed a digital research platform as part of Sitra’s, the Finnish Innovation Fund, IHAN® project that aims to lay the foundations for a fair data economy. The research platform increases transparency of health data usage for the patient in real world evidence studies, which investigate effectiveness of medical treatment. Research participants have an opportunity to strong identification, give electronic consent and control the usage of their own data.
The digital research platform is used in Oriola’s real work evidence (RWE) studies, which combine national register data and patient-reported outcomes from medical treatment. RWE studies help to develop quality of treatment and improve opportunities to get new medical treatments for Finnish patients.
“In healthcare, utilising data helps to develop more effective treatment and to allocate resources cost efficiently. Our national data is internationally unique and combining that to patients’ own experiences gives Finland advantage in a competition for medical research investments. Patients’ trust in the fact that their health data is used in appropriate manner, is the prerequisite for real world evidence studies,” says Heli Salminen-Mankonen, Head of Data Driven Business and Research Services at Oriola.
“Utilisation of health data enables more preventive and targeted healthcare. In our IHAN® project, we are creating a model for a European data economy, which provides a framework for digital services to utilise data with individual’s consent, with trust. It is great to see that the outputs from the pilots of the project are being taken in a wider use,” says Ilkka Räsänen, Leading Specialist from Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.
The research platform developed by Oriola is based on strong identification and secure data handling. The research platform uses pseudonymisation, which means that patient’s personal data is encrypted after identification and researchers handling the research data are not able to connect responses to an individual. In the platform, examinees can at any stage change their consent to use their data in research or give their consent to a new study.
National cancer study combines register data and patient-reported data for the first time in larger scale
The digital research platform was first taken in use in May in national cancer study, which is a joint project of Oriola, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare and the Association of Cancer Patients in Finland. The study that started in 2019 takes a comprehensive look at the total costs of cancer treatment and at the effectiveness of the treatment, including effects on a patient’s quality of life.
“The aim of the study is to promote the implementation of cost-effective cancer treatments. It is also the first study that combines national register data to patient-reported data in this scale,” Salminen-Mankonen says.
For more information:
Heli Salminen-Mankonen, Head of Data Driven Business and Research Services, Oriola, heli.salminen-mankonen@oriola.com, tel. +358 40 719 2945
Tuula Lehto, Vice President, Communications and Sustainability, Oriola, tuula.lehto@oriola.com, tel. + 358 40 5885 343
Ilkka Räsänen, Leading Specialist, Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, ilkka.rasanen@sitra.fi, tel. +358 (294) 618 328
Oriola is a health and wellbeing company operating in the Nordic countries. We help people to lead healthier lives by giving them access to sustainable health and wellbeing products and services. In Sweden, Oriola owns the country’s third-largest pharmacy chain, Kronans Apotek. In addition to pharmacies, our dose-dispensing, medical information and patient support services enhance the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical care. Our expert services support pharmaceutical companies throughout the entire lifecycle of medicines. Oriola’s supply chain ensures reliable and safe delivery of pharmaceuticals to pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, veterinarians and other healthcare operators. In 2019, Oriola Corporation’s net sales were 1.7 billion euros and we employed nearly 4,300 professionals. Oriola Corporation is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.oriola.com
