Last week, some of our team members went to DMEA, one of Europe’s biggest digital health conferences. Now that we’ve had a bit of time to reflect, we’re taking a moment to share how it went.
Why did we attend DMEA?
After nearly a decade of helping transform Estonia’s healthcare system through digital innovation, we started thinking - what if our experience could help others? In autumn 2024, we began exploring opportunities to support other regions pursuing healthcare digitalisation. Germany quickly drew our attention. We had heard about the transformations happening there, and the ambition behind them resonated with us.
But the more we looked into the German healthcare system, the more we understood how truly complex it is. Its scale, structure, and diversity of stakeholders made it clear: to contribute meaningfully, we first needed to listen, observe, and learn. We spoke with professionals across the sector - and many of them pointed us to one place: DMEA. By the end of 2024, attending the conference was already on our agenda.
For us, there is no room for compromise when it comes to quality of what we do. We knew that to support Germany’s digital transformation in a relevant and responsible way, we needed to fully understand the ecosystem. Being at the heart of the healthcare community at DMEA was the best way to fill the knowledge gaps, meet key stakeholders, and continue building a foundation for meaningful collaboration.
What topics or trends stood out?
It was clear for us that the core themes of DMEA 2025 reflected key challenges and opportunities in healthcare digitalisation. Prominent topics included artificial intelligence, electronic patient records, interoperability, health data utilization, data security, and the digitalization of care. These discussions highlighted both the significant progress made and the work still ahead, underscoring the importance of continued innovation and collaboration.
What conversations inspired us?
Before we talk about conversations, we have to start with a moment that set the tone for the entire event: the keynote speech by Acting Federal Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach, on the first day of DMEA. His message was both urgent and visionary. He spoke about digitalisation not as a buzzword, but as a practical solution to some of the most underestimated problems in healthcare. From threatening gaps in care due to a shortage of skilled workers to the lack of prevention and specialization, he argued that digital tools can and must be part of the solution.
At the heart of the transformation he placed the electronic patient record - Germany’s largest digitalisation project - and emphasized how tools like e-prescriptions and telemedicine are not just technology for technology’s sake. They are key to better medicine, more efficient systems, and above all, stronger patient safety. It was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.
Now, turning to the conversations - these were just as inspiring. We were incredibly thankful for the chance to speak with people across the entire spectrum of the healthcare field. From infrastructure providers to university hospitals, every conversation brought us a unique piece of the larger picture. Each one helped us understand a little more of the incredibly rich, diverse, and layered German healthcare ecosystem.
What was the atmosphere like at DMEA?
Vibrant. That is the word that comes to mind first - but it was more than that. DMEA 2025 had the kind of atmosphere that comes when people are not just showing up, but showing up with purpose. The scale of the event was massive - thousands of people, hundreds of booths, ideas and innovation buzzing in every direction. And yet, within that scale, there was a surprising sense of cohesion.
You could feel that everyone was moving toward the same goal: to improve care, strengthen systems, and ultimately achieve what matters most - a future where the people we love can feel safe, supported, and stay with us longer.
There was optimism in the air, but also focus. A quiet, collective understanding that the challenges in healthcare are serious - and so is the work required to solve them.
What stood out most was how personal it all felt. Conversations were not just about strategy or systems; they were about outcomes - about safer patients, more informed doctors, and care that reaches people when and where they need it. DMEA 2025 was not just a showcase of technology. It was a gathering of people who believe that better care is possible - and who are commited to building it, together.
How does this connect to our work at Kodality?
At Kodality, we do not just move data - we move healthcare. We design digital solutions that unlock better access, smarter decisions, and more connected care, bridging the gap between information and action. From national health records and terminology servers to clinical decision support tools and hospital information systems, our focus has always been on creating solutions that are not only technically strong, but deeply meaningful in their real-world impact.
DMEA reaffirmed what we already believe: that digitalisation must serve people. It must help clinicians make safer, faster decisions. It must empower patients to better understand and manage their health. It must break down silos and enable smarter, more connected care. These are not abstract goals for us - they are the foundations of our everyday work.
Core themes of the event - interoperability, electronic patient records, data security, and AI application - are exactly the areas we have been addressing through our work transforming the Estonian healthcare system. And it is this experience that we are now ready to share. What we have learned locally can support Germany in moving forward with confidence, clarity, and proven approaches tailored to its specific needs. We do also believe that every challenge we solve in Germany considering its size and complexity will give us unique experience we could translate back to contribute to Estonia’s healthcare digitalization.
What’s next?
The direction Germany is taking in healthcare digitalisation aligns closely with the work we have already carried out in Estonia, but DMEA reminded us that context matters. Every country, every system has its own complexity. That is why we came to listen first. And now, having listened, we are more motivated than ever to bring the depth of our experience to the table - in ways that fit the German ecosystem, respect its uniqueness, and help build the future it envisions.