The Norwegian project "Safer health apps" has looked at different approaches to increase the use of patient- and citizen-oriented health technology such as health apps and other digital tools in the health service. The most important thing for citizens and healthcare professionals is that there is "something" that can assure them that the apps/tools are safe and useful.

The project has described a long-term target image for extensive use of health apps as a fully integrated part of the public health service, even with reimbursement. In fact, the Norwegian health portal for citizens helsenorge.no has already functionality where health professionals can prescribe apps for users/patients.

The project has as a first step narrowed its scope to include apps and tools that are not medical devices – can be referred to as "wellness og lifestyle apps" – and what we can do in the short picture to put them into use.

In line with this, the project has piloted an evaluation framework and a quality mark for health apps, mainly based on the ISO standard 82304-2 "health and wellness apps", supplied with national regulations on issues like usability.

The "Safer health apps" project has eventually developed a guide for use by health entities that are going to acquire/develop apps and digital tools that are not medical equipment. The guide points to ISO 82304-2.

The "Safer health Apps" final report is particularly interesting to read in the context of the recently published report from the Norwegian "Health Personnel Commission" which stresses the importance of "personnel-saving technology"