The strategic role of ICT in the competition between public and private health care sectors in the Nordic welfare societies-case of Finland

Since the early 1990s the health care sector in Nordic countries has significantly increased its investments in information and communications technology (ICT). As such, major spending on ICT is not exceptional-indeed, 40 % of European industrial and commercial investments goes into ICT. However, the goals for ICT expenditure are different in the private and public sector. Investments in the public sector are not usually intended to improve the competitive position, as is the case in the private sector. But on the other hand, as in the private sector they are expected to increase effectiveness. In this article we firstly discuss the role of public health care services as a base of a welfare society in the Nordic countries. We then present the theoretical framework-the resource based approach-then apply the theory to our empirical findings. Finally we draw conclusions about the compatibility of the two. We start by explaining the general health care situation in Nordic countries and later use Finland as a case country.