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Last updated: November 2009
Portal
Thematic Portals
Until March 2008, the Swedish Administrative Development Agency (Verva - now closed down) was managing the eGovernment portal 'Sverige.se'. Since that time period, this portal has no longer been in operation due to the fact that no other Government Agency was handed over this task by the Government.
Instead, thematic portals have been built; a number of Government Agencies cluster around a theme and set up their own portal. As part of the initiative, health, crisis and GIS portals have been built.
Here follows a brief description of the features of the previous eGovernment portal 'Sverige.se':
Launched in October 2004, the 'Sverige.se' portal replaced the website 'SverigeDirekt.se'. While SverigeDirekt was merely a directory of public agencies, the 'Sverige.se' was intentions-based. However, it was not intended to become a single entry point to the public sector but to serve as an orientation portal; a starting point for people looking for public sector information and services.
'Sverige.se' provided links to:
'Verksamt.se' - the Swedish Business Link to Government
The www.verksamt.se portal provides a comprehensive single-point for entrepreneurs and enterprises to access relevant and official eServices and information from three public authorities - the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket), the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket). The contents, not only from the three partners but from many relevant official sources - approximately 70 Swedish public authorities -, are available and presented in a user-centric way.
This initiative takes the service for entrepreneurs and enterprises to a new and higher level as it develops, improves, joins and replaces two existing eServices; the online guidance for those willing to start and/or run a business (Företagarguiden) and the company registration service (Foretagsregistrering). Verksamt.se joins up the guidance and information parts with both the company registration and company tax filing eServices. It furthermore introduces a new tool to create a business plan, where information can be transferred and re-used in other eServices.
By developing the portal from the users' perspective through the mapping of the processes of starting and running a business and the use of focus points, Verksamt.se simplifies the starting-up and running of a business. It thus provides new tools and relevant information in a structured, easy-to-use and easy-to-access way.
More information on Verksamt.se may be found on the relevant ePractice case page: http://www.epractice.eu/en/cases/verksamt.
Network
Swedish Government Secure Intranet (SGSI)
SGSI is an intranet service for secure communication within the country between Swedish Government agencies, and among EU Member States and EU bodies via TESTA, the European Community's own private IP-based network for secure information exchange among the European Public Administrations. SGSI is an IP service, a virtual private network which has no direct connection with the open Internet.
According to the security target in force, the SGSI may be used by Government agencies which have been accredited. The security target defines requirements relating to management, organisation, IT operation and accessibility to SGSI. A panel of agencies connected to SGSI approves which agencies will be accredited, i.e. which ones will have the possibility to communicate within the SGSI.
Accreditation implies that case sensitive information which has been classified according to the EU Council's security regulations as 'Restreint UE' can be transferred to TESTA and to connected agencies.
SGSI has a wider function than that of TESTA-traffic channel as it allows for communication between the police and judicial agencies. The network is also expected to become increasingly important for national crisis communication among Swedish Government agencies.
eIdentification/eAuthentication
‘Official’ electronic ID card
On 1 October 2005, the Swedish Government introduced the ‘official’ electronic ID card containing biometric data. The new ‘national identity card’ (nationellt identitetskort) is not compulsory and does not replace previous paper ID cards.
It can be used as a proof of identity and citizenship and as a valid travel document within the Schengen area. It complies with ICAO standards for biometric travel documents; it is issued by the passport offices and manufactured by the same supplier as the biometric passport.
In addition to the contact-less chip containing a digital picture of the holder, it also has a traditional chip which may be used to securely access eGovernment services in the future.
e-Legitimation - Non-official eID cards and software-based eIDs
So far, Swedish citizens have been using non-official electronic ID cards issued by the Swedish Post and software-based electronic IDs like the BankID (developed by the largest Swedish banks) and SteriaeID to access certain eGovernment services.
In November 2006, approximately three millions of such eIDs had been issued. A rough estimate of the use of eIDs in Sweden is that over one million users make approx. 2.5 million transactions (including both authentication and signatures) a month using eIDs for both eGovernment and other services on the market.
Any physical person with a Swedish personal identity number (a unique identification number for Swedish citizens) can obtain an eID. This number appears on the eID and its microchip.
Legal entities can also use an eID. In this case, two types of certificates come in question, namely the server and stamping certificates, for authentication and signing respectively. The certificates contain the name of the organisation and the organisational number, and may also contain a URL. The contact person ordering organisational certificates must have an authorisation for this purpose from a person authorised to sign on behalf of his/her organisation.
Furthermore, Steria introduced a new type of eIDs in Sweden; the organisational certificates for personal use. This type of certificate contains the organisational number, the name of the organisation, as well as the name and the role of the person. It is worth noting that none of the organisational eIDs contain the personal identity number which is considered to be sensitive information.
eIDs exist both as smart cards and as files stored on the hard disk. Some issuers provide one or the other, whereas some give the option to choose the form of the eID. eIDs are issued in two ways; by ordering and downloading them from the user’s Internet bank while being logged on (and thus identified by the bank), or by ordering the eID on the Internet. If the eID is issued on a smart card, the user, after having ordered it via the Internet bank, will need to collect the eID at a bank or post office, showing a physical ID.
As the eIDs are issued by different suppliers, the authority which provides eServices must be able to authenticate users, verify eSignatures and apply for revocation checks in different ways and towards different eID-suppliers. This problem can be handled by using certified software (köparprogramvara): through this software the eService can handle authentication, eSignatures and revocation checks, regardless of which eID supplier’s environment is concerned. Another alternative for the public authority is to use the ‘Infra Service’ (Infratjänsten) which allows contacting the service supplier in order to verify eID from all eID suppliers under the Infra Service framework agreement.
Several eGovernment applications and services require the use of such eIDs. These include: Income taxes declarations and submissions of tax or VAT returns online; Parental services delivered by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency; Registration of a new company to the Companies Registration Office; Application for and renewal of driver’s licence; Registration and un-registration of vehicles.
The Swedish eID is becoming more and more well-known and established as “the” means to authenticate the user and for the user to sign electronically in eGovernment applications. The newer the eService, the more likely it is that the application will require the user to obtain an eID in order to use the service.
In June 2006, the former Swedish Administrative Development Agency (Verva - now closed down) was requested by the Government to stimulate the use of the Swedish eID (“e-Legitimation”). Two years later, Verva issued a series of proposals regarding eIdentity Management in the long-term.
Verva proposed that the Government guarantee that there is a regulated system for eIDs which provides support for both qualified and advanced electronic signatures, provided that the terms 'Swedish eID' and 'Swedish official eID' are defined in a suitable manner in order to be given an adequate legal basis and that a certification system is formulated for the proposed eIDs. In addition, Verva suggested assigning a coordination function, to be defined by law, to an authority which will supply technical services to affiliated authorities and manage relations with issuers in a consistent way for both the Administration and the users.
Biometric passports
In October 2005, Sweden became the second European country to start issuing biometric passports compliant with the standards recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The ePassport has an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) microchip embedded in its polycarbonate data page containing a digital photo and personal information of the holder.
eProcurement
Privately owned and operated portals
The Swedish Government has not implemented a central electronic public procurement portal, as this is deliberately left up to private operators. Several privately owned and operated portals exist instead, some of which concentrate on public procurement (e.g. Opic and Allego).
According to the document 'Smarter, Faster, Better eGovernment - 8th Benchmark Measurement' (November 2009) produced for the European Commission, Sweden is, for the pre-award eProcurement process, in the top ten countries of the EU27+ ranking, with all sub-phases developing according to high standard notices.
Public Procurement information portal
This portal maintained by the Swedish National Financial Management Authority serves as an information database on the different framework agreements which were procured centrally by Verva (the Swedish Administrative Development Agency - now closed down). The portal is available to national authorities, Government agencies, regions and municipalities.
An authority can thus use the information portal to locate the necessary information on a framework agreement, whereas the procurement process is further handled by the authority itself, either by electronic or traditional means.
eInvoicing Standard
The Swedish National Financial Management Authority leads the work on the procurement of an eInvoicing infrastructure, and develops support for agencies.
The Swedish Government announced in December 2006 that as from July 2008, all public agencies shall process all incoming and outgoing invoices electronically.
A standard for electronic invoicing in the public sector has been suggested and, on 12 January 2007, regulations requiring Swedish Government agencies to comply with the Single Face to Industry (SFTI) Basic invoice specification in their processing of electronic invoices were issued. These regulations also state that agencies shall choose a method of transport for transferring electronic invoices in an appropriate manner.
Knowledge Management
The Platform for Co-operative Use
There is currently no central knowledge management infrastructure in Sweden.
However, local authorities have their own ‘Platform for Co-operative Use’ whose purpose is to exchange best practice and speed up the development of eGovernment in the municipalities. Today there are 30 municipalities collaborating and 5 pilot projects underway to identify, design and introduce common systems architecture, technical platforms and basic functions for eServices in the municipalities.
eHealth
The National Patient Summary
Patients nowadays often receive care from more than one health and/or social care provider, each of which registers and stores its information records locally. As this makes it difficult to obtain an overall picture of the patient, uncertainty about medical assessments and additional contacts with providers may arise.
The National Patient Summary service enables authorised users to find and view important patient data registered in the various care systems of county councils, municipalities and private care providers, provided that the patient gives his/her consent. Important information such as diagnoses, test results, previous medical prescriptions and care plans becomes available to all subscribed users via a web interface.
The procurement of the National Patient Summary was completed in April 2008. The first authorities to subscribe to the service were the Örebro County Council and the Örebro municipality in May 2009. The service's implementation in the remaining county councils will take place during the 2009-2011 period.
Basic ICT infrastructure for healthcare
Since 2002, all hospitals, primary care centres and pharmacies in Sweden have been connected via Sjunet, the joint broadband communication network dedicated to health care. This network furthermore links together all county councils, healthcare regions, pharmacies and several other healthcare entities.
Sjunet is a fibre-optical network separate from the Internet which allows for the secure and reliable exchange of confidential data, including images. It also incorporates the possibility for video conferencing. Other features include order entry, a national directory of health professionals, a knowledge database, clinical care planning and remote diagnostic services, as well as telemedicine services such as home care monitoring. The scalability of Sjunet eases the connection of new institutions and organisations.
ePrescriptions and Telemedicine
Different eServices supported by Sjunet include the national ePrescription system. The percentage of ePrescriptions reached 75 % in December 2008. The ePrescription system is being further developed and comprises a national database of prescribed and dispensed pharmaceuticals. Telemedicine is used in over 100 applications and more than 75 % of the hospitals are already using telemedicine applications.
The 1177.se website provides up-to-date, easy-to-read, fact-checked texts on questions frequently asked by patients and members of the public. The service promotes health and advances knowledge of health and medical care among patients and the general public. It is part of the health services and provides information before, during and after care. It also strengthens the patient's position and involvement. Images and animations are available for children of pre-school and primary school age.
A part of this service enables citizens to reschedule appointments online, apply to renew a prescription, ask questions and receive advice. More services are being developed and made available on an ongoing basis. The web site is supported by a national health helpline (1177) that provides citizens with round-the-clock access to advice given by nurses, supported by expert advisory services. The aim of the service is to increase accessibility to information on care and guide members of the public to the right care provider.
