According to Karlsson, the use of paper referrals can in the worst case lead to patients falling between the cracks – or, for example, a cancer treatment being delayed.
If the government is serious about digitizing healthcare and being "the best in the world in e-health" by 2025, the fax machines must be scrapped, Karlsson claims.
She urges the government to "take the step out of the past" and instead invest in digital referrals and a national system for patient records, where documentation, test results, and medication lists can be accessed regardless of where the patient previously sought care.
"Investments in digitization contribute to solutions that can both reduce costs, lead to a wiser use of resources, and a more equal and patient-safe healthcare. But then we must stop seeing Sweden as 21 countries when it comes to healthcare", writes Karlsson, referring to the country's 21 different regions.
