Feature

Description

What is it?

WHO-managed network of stakeholders focused on implementing the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 and promoting digital health transformation globally.

Launch

February 20, 2024, by WHO and India's G20 presidency.

Goals

Support Member States in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by leveraging digital technologies for improved access, efficiency, and equity in healthcare delivery.

Address challenges of fragmentation, resource allocation, and variable quality of digital solutions: Overcome duplication of efforts and "products-focused" approaches. Ensure resources align with country priorities and global best practices. Promote quality-assured and interoperable digital solutions.

Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration in digital health: Connect stakeholders to share best practices, tools, and resources. Foster collaboration across global, regional, and national networks.

Accelerate progress towards UHC and health-related Sustainable Development Goals: Utilize digital health to improve health outcomes and address health inequities. Contribute to achieving SDGs related to health, poverty, and education.

Core Areas of Work

Assessing and prioritizing Member State needs: Conduct surveys and assessments to understand country-specific digital health priorities and challenges. Develop a data-driven approach to resource allocation.

Evaluating and reporting digital health resources in each country: Create a comprehensive map of available digital health resources, including infrastructure, tools, and programs. Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Providing technical and financial support for digital health transformation: - Offer technical assistance to countries in developing and implementing national digital health strategies. Facilitate access to funding and resources for digital health initiatives.

Building capacity and promoting adaptation of digital health technologies: Train healthcare workers and policymakers on using digital health tools and technologies. Support countries in adapting existing solutions to their specific contexts.

Addressing quality variability in digital solutions and emerging technologies: Establish standards and guidelines for developing and implementing digital health solutions. Promote the adoption of quality-assured and open-source tools. Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration on emerging technologies.

Key Components

Country Needs Tracker: Tracks country priorities for informed digital health investments.

Country Resource Portal: Maps available digital health resources and promotes transparency.

Transformation Toolbox: Shares quality-assured tools for managing digital health transformation.

Convening and Knowledge Exchange: Promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing across global, regional, and national networks.

Structure

Network of networks, built on four pillars: Country Needs Tracker, Country Resource Portal, Transformation Toolbox, Convening and Knowledge Exchange

Benefits

Improved access to healthcare: Increased reach and availability of healthcare services, particularly in remote areas. Improved patient engagement and self-management of health.

More efficient and effective healthcare systems:  Streamlined data collection, analysis, and reporting. Improved communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals.

Enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing in digital health: - Fosters innovation and development of new digital health solutions. Accelerates the adoption of best practices and lessons learned.

Acceleration of progress towards UHC and health-related Sustainable Development Goals: Digital health can play a critical role in achieving these goals by addressing various health challenges and inequities.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With increasing access to personal health data through digital healthcare, how can we ensure patient privacy, data security, and ethical use of this information, while still enabling data-driven healthcare advancements? How to balance the benefits of personalized medicine with concerns about algorithmic bias and discrimination?

Answer Structure:

1.Briefly introduce the increasing access to personal health data through digital healthcare and its potential benefits for healthcare advancements.

2.State the key challenges: ensuring patient privacy, data security, ethical use, and balancing personalized medicine with algorithmic bias.

3.Mention the importance of addressing these issues to ensure equitable and responsible use of technology in healthcare.

4.Advocate for transparency and accountability in algorithms used in healthcare. Discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in data and algorithm development to address potential biases.

5.Discuss the need for clear ethical guidelines for developing and using personalized medicine. Highlight the importance of regular monitoring and evaluation to identify and address inequalities.

6.Summarize the key points discussed and emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to address privacy, security, ethics, and fairness in digital healthcare.