Accelerated Digitalization of the Epidemiological Measures: Overcoming the Technological and Process Complexities of Establishing the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Slovenia.

OBJECTIVE: In order to facilitate free movement of EU citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, in early 2021 the European Commission proposed the establishment of an EU Digital COVID Certificate. By 1 July 2021, all EU Member States have successfully implemented the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The technological and procedural complexities encountered while establishing the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Slovenia are reviewed in this article. METHODS: This research employs a case study methodology. Controlled focus group sessions comprising eighteen eminent experts (not including medical and other expert groups involved in the epidemiological measures) in charge of the EU Digital COVID Certificate and other national eHealth services in Slovenia were used as the primary data collection technique. Focus group discussions were preceded by an all-encompassing review of the literature and the examination of numerous materials covering the EU Digital COVID Certificate-related content. RESULTS: The study findings reveal that the technological and process complexities are associated with the fragmented data sources and complicated and abundant business rules used for the generation and verification of the EU Digital COVID Certificate. However, despite the technological, process and other impediments that arose during the establishment of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Slovenia, it can be argued that the approach used and stakeholder commitment, especially in critical pandemic conditions, offered the much-desired harmonisation and application of this digital service at the EU level. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the importance of a sound and coherent model for the impending establishment of cross-border eHealth services and suggests that the ad hoc implementation of such challenging and delicate digital solutions in the future will only be feasible with the prior construction of robust and interoperable digital health infrastructures across the EU Member States.

Introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Slovenia: Technological and Process Aspects.

In early 2021, the European Commission presented a proposal to introduce an EU Digital COVID Certificate, which should enable safe border crossings for citizens within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, all EU Member States successfully introduced the EU Digital COVID Certificate by 1 July 2021. This article focuses on a review of the technological and process aspects identified in the introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Slovenia. The research applies a case study framework, including focus group discussions, as the primary data collection method. The research findings expose the technological and process complexities related to the dispersed data sources and fairly intricate and copious business rules used for the creation of the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Moreover, the study implies that the ad hoc introduction of such demanding and sensitive digital solutions in the future will not be possible without the establishment of effective national health information infrastructures across the EU.