HL7 FHIR Adoption in European Laboratory Systems: Lessons from Sweden

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This article summarizes content from an HL7 Europe webinar series titled “Labs-on-FHIR.” The context is set by the upcoming implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which aims to advance international standards and improve healthcare interoperability across Europe. Laboratory data is crucial for diagnostic decisions, chronic condition management, and overall system efficiency, making interoperability a necessity. The webinar focused specifically on Sweden's journey to implement FHIR in laboratory systems. Featured speakers included Daniel Karlsson from the Swedish eHealth Agency (E-hälsomyndigheten), which coordinates government e-health initiatives, and Gunnar Nordin from Equalis, a company managing the NPU terminology system for Swedish labs. The discussion provided insights into the practical challenges of adopting international standards like FHIR—including navigating legacy systems, stakeholder engagement, and operating within complex political environments. The webinar also covered experiences from other European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany. This case study offers valuable lessons for Japan regarding achieving interoperability and utilizing data through international standards in a highly regulated healthcare setting.