Advertise on podcast: TalTech Digital Health

In this episode, Priit Kruus talks with Professor Erkki Karo, Director of TalTech’s Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance. The discussion was inspired by this year’s Nobel Prize in Economics, awarded for research on creative destruction - Schumpeter’s innovation theory widely taught and applied at Nurkse. Priit and Erkki ask: Is creative destruction needed, happening, or even possible in healthcare? They explore how change unfolds in a complex and tightly regulated system. Erkki explains how innovation takes place at different levels and through many interacting actors. They discuss why timing and framing are crucial for reform. Regulation and incentives can both enable and hinder transformation. The conversation concludes with reflections on why healthcare is so hard to change, how measuring real outcomes remains a challenge, and why payment models must evolve to strengthen primary care and value-based innovation.  

  In this episode, Priit Kruus talks with Elli Valla, a recent TalTech PhD graduate, about her research using AI and microkinematic analysis to detect Parkinson’s disease through fine motor skill assessment & handwriting on tablet devices. With 96.6% accuracy achieved through synthetic data and deep learning, Elli shares how this method could transform remote diagnostics. We also dive into the realities of healthcare AI—regulatory hurdles, real-world implementation, and the promise of digital twins in personalized medicine.

Live from the Health Data in Motion conference, a panel of leading experts explored one critical question: Can data standards actually fix the mess in healthcare data?  Moderated by Priit Kruus, the discussion featured Grahame Grieve (FHIR), Kerli Linna (TEHIK), Hanna Pohjonen (openEHR), and Sulev Reisberg (University of Tartu). From HL7 v3 and CDA to FHIR, openEHR, and OMOP, the conversation went far beyond formats. Panelists tackled the limitations of Estonia’s document-based system and the pressure to move toward event-based, API-driven architectures. They questioned whether Estonia’s centralized approach is a powerful asset—or a growing bottleneck. AI readiness was a hot topic: can we really train useful healthcare algorithms with imperfect, siloed data? The discussion also hit on the true cost of transformation—not just in money, but in shifting mindsets across the system. Everyone agreed: the challenge isn’t choosing a standard, it’s agreeing on how and why to use it. Whether you’re a policymaker, developer, or clinician, this episode unpacks the real-world complexity.  

Kust tuleb arstitarkvarasse nupu tellimus – kas praktiseerivalt arstilt või hoopis ministrilt? Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller avab ausalt tervishoiusüsteemi kitsaskohti, räägib sellest, miks digiarendus ei tohi toimuda arstist mööda minnes. Juttu tuleb ka tervishoiu rahastusmudelite kohatisest absurdsusest ja sellest, kuidas süsteem võib premeerida mõttetuid uuringuid, aga ei toeta piisavalt ennetust ja tulemuslikkust. Lisaks arutleb saatejuht Priit Kruus Karmen Jolleriga meditsiinieetikast, regulatsioonidest ja inimese motivatsioonist püsida terve.

🎙️ #21 Sigvards Krongorns: It’s not just about the product—it’s about the fit. Kicking off our first-ever special episode on Baltic Health Tech with Sigvards Krongorns, Associate at Verge HealthTech Fund and ex-founder who dared to 3D-print a smarter cast (yes, like Iron Man, but for broken bones) and shake up a system that doesn’t like being shaken. He’s battled the three-headed beast of clinical inertia, regulation hell, and scale-up chaos—so you don’t have to. 💡 Sigvards shares the highs, lows, and “did-that-just-happen?” moments from his startup journey, and how those lessons shape his work now backing early-stage founders at Verge. In this episode, Sigvards and Priit get real about: What it really takes to get innovation into the hands of doctors (spoiler: it’s not just building cool stuff)Why the Baltic health tech scene is quietly cooking up some serious magic.How  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania differ in the approach to health tech landscape.How cross-border collabs might be the secret sauce to making it all scale.👉 👀 P.S. This is just the beginning. More Baltic stories coming soon. Follow-up episodes will dive deeper into the ecosystem—because one episode ain't enough!

Our 20th episode dives into policy, as our guest is Jaarika Järviste, Head of Development at the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. In addition, Jaarika shares her experience of working in a hospital and the deeply rooted hierarchy in healthcare as compared to other fields. Jaarika and Priit also talk about what is the government’s role to incentivize the emergence of publicly procured and privately owned digital solutions. The episode is wrapped up with a discussion about the importance of a product manager’s skillset and how to acquire it. In addition to her work at the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, Jaarika contributes to the development of the Digital Health Master’s programme as a member of the Programme Council.

For the second time, Tartu Biotechnology Park hosted a week focused on innovation, technology, and digital transformation in healthcare - the Estonian Health Tech Week. In terms of the event TalTech Digital Health curriculum hosted a panel discussion on bridging the gap between healthcare professionals and technological transformation, moderated by Kadi Lubi from TalTech. The panel members were Member of the Estonian Parliament Andres Sutt, Deputy Chancellor of the Ministry of Social Affairs Nele Labi, family doctor Laura Prett and Priit Kruus from Dermtest.  The recording is now available for the listeners of the TalTech Digital Health podcast. 

Seekordseks külaliseks Digital Health podcastis on Eesti terviseminister Riina Sikkut. Podcastis räägivad Priit Kruus ja Riina Sikkut sellest, mis tervishoius toimub ja kuidas minister oma tee tervishoidu leidis. Saates arutatakse selle üle, kas digilahendused välistavad inimkesksuse ning kas innovatsioon ja avalik sektor kuuluvad kokku. Kuulda saab ka sellest, mis peaks juhtuma, et me saaks riigina jätkata 7% SKP suurust tervishoiu rahastust.

Erki Mölder is the name that always comes up when anyone in Estonia or the Nordics say “Healthcare” and “Investing.” About 25 years ago Erki jumped into the business of healthcare via coincidence and has not looked back since. In this episode of Digital Health Podcast, Priit Kruus welcomes Erki Mölder to talk about his founder journey, how he has developed a systematic approach to business and investing and what should current health tech founders keep in mind to tackle this difficult yet also intellectually rewarding path

Is digital health about just another app development or collaboration methodology? In this episode of the TalTech Digital Health podcast, host Priit Kruus talks with digital health curriculum program manager Doris Kaljuste and e-health professor Peeter Ross about the early days of the curriculum and its current role in the healthcare landscape. The discussion highlights the need for specialists who can mediate the collaboration between IT and healthcare. Doris Kaljuste comments about the program's impact and the need to train more specialists who can advance the digitalization of healthcare. Additionally, we ask whether and how AI should be taught, and why it is necessary to discuss financial incentives to adopt digital solutions. EST Kas e-tervis on äpiarendus või koostöö-õpe? Miks õppekava loodi? Selles TalTech Digital Health podcasti episoodis räägib saatejuht Priit Kruus e-tervise õppekava programmijuhi Doris Kaljuste ja e-tervise professori Peeter Rossiga õppekava algusaegadest ja tänapäeva rollist Eesti tervishoiumaastikul. Arutelus tuleb välja vajadus spetsialistide järele, kes suudavad vahendada IT ja tervishoiu koostööd. Doris Kaljuste räägib programmi mõjust ja vajadusest koolitada rohkem spetsialiste, kes suudavad edendada tervishoiu digitaliseerimist. Veel küsime, kas ja kuidas peaks AI-d õpetama ning kuidas ja miks on vaja rääkida finantsstiimulitest.

Taskuhäälingu viieteistkümnendas episoodis keskendume ennetusele ning selle rakendamisele innovatsiooni ja tehnoloogia abil. Külas on e-tervise magistriprogrammi juht, Kadi Lubi ning Praxise tervise programmi juht, Mariliis Öeren.  Küsime kui suur peaks olema inimese enda vastutus oma tervise eest hoolitsemisel ning milline peaks sealjuures olema riigi roll. Kas ennetuse mõju võib olla ka kahjulik ning miks on oluline allikakriitilisus? Ühtlasi arutleme, kuidas hinnata digilahenduste mõju ning milline võiks selles protsessis olla teadusasutuste roll. 

Taskuhäälingu värskes episoodis keskendume vaimsele tervisele. Saate külaliseks on Triumf Health tegevjuht Kadri Haljas. Arutame, milline roll võiks olla tehnoloogilistel lahendustel vaimse tervise toetamisel. Miks on rakenduse välja arendamisel oluline lõppkasutaja kaasamine ning kuidas läbi mängustamise kutsuda esile käitumuslikke muudatusi? Vaatame lähemalt, miks on innovaatiliste lahenduste loomisel oluline teadus- ja tõenduspõhisus ning mis lihtsustaks vaimse tervise lahenduste turule jõudmist ja kättesaadavust? Taskuhäälingu neljateistkümnes episood on salvestatud 16. veebruaril.

Taskuhäälingu kolmeteistkümnendas episoodis on külas Ida-Tallinna Keskhaigla radioloog ning TalTech külalisõppejõud Dr. Julius Juurmaa. Arutame, milline on arstlik mõtlemine ning miks tuleks teadmistest rohkem usaldada protsessi. Küsime, kas mõtlemisprotsessi erinevaid etappe on võimalik lihtsustada tehnoloogiliste lahendustega. Miks on meditsiinis oluline süstemaatiline lähenemine ning kas tulevikus võiks arsti asendada tehisintellekt?

Uues episoodis vestleme Ellex Raidla juhtivpartneri ning vandeadvokaadi Ants Nõmperiga. Ants on Eesti üks tunnustatumaid meditsiiniõiguse eksperte ning Eesti ainukese meditsiiniõiguse õpiku autor. Taskuhäälingu kaheteistkümnendas osas arutame, kui paindlik on Eesti õigusruum tervishoiuinnovatsiooni suhtes. Kuidas võiks süsteem anda inimesele tõuke oma tervisekäitumise muutmiseks ja parendamiseks? Mis on mittesüüline vastutuskindlustus ning miks ei ole seda seni Eestis rakendatud? Vaatame ka lähemalt, milline võiks olla usaldusele suunatud tervishoiusüsteem ning millised võimalused on üleeuroopaliste tervishoiuintegratsioonide loomiseks.

Taskuhäälingu uues episoodis on meil külas Tervise ja Heaolu Infosüsteemide Keskuse andmekorraldustalituse juhataja Kerli Linna. Räägime terviseandmete tähtsusest ning milline mõju oli andmekasutusele COVID-19 kriisil. Mis on andmekvaliteet, kuidas andmeid kogutakse ning milliseid standardeid selleks kasutatakse? Arutleme, kuidas hõlbustada tervishoiutöötajate andmete kasutamist, tagades sealjuures lõppkasutaja mugavus. Ühtlasi vaatame lähemalt, milline nägi välja COVID-19 sertifikaadi loomisprotsess nii Eesti kui ka Euroopa tasandil.