Do Elderly People Enjoy the Fruits of Estonia’s e-Health System?

The article focuses on the ability of senior citizens to use the highly acclaimed Estonian e-health system. Estonians are heavy internet users and are known for their innovative e-solutions in the world. E-health is a prime example of such state-of-the-art programmes set out to improve public health. The people who need health related information the most are the elderly. But do they have access to the internet and can they find relevant information and cope with e-health solutions? Acquiring a computer or subscribing to internet service could present a major financial challenge for them. A pilot study, which is the initial step to a more comprehensive research, revealed based on a focus group interview and in-depths interviews with seniors that elderly often lack the skills and experience necessary to search for online health information as well as cope with e-health solutions. Thus, the wholesome public image of Estonia’s e-success seems not to always correspond to the reality. This paper puts the much-appreciated IT solution into a broader perspective and, instead of the lavishly praised e-health applications, focuses on outlining the serious drawbacks of the digital divide and exclusion of seniors from the digital services.