“The global community has work to do.”

The Global Digital Health Monitor led by the World Health Organization (WHO) aids governments in laying a strong foundation for digital transformation, thus avoiding a „patch- work approach,“ according to Prof. Dr. Alain Labrique, the WHO’s director for digital health and innovation.

The Global Digital Health Monitor, a cornerstone of WHO’s digital health strategy, represents a significant leap in understanding and guiding the digital health landscape. Encompassing data from over 100 countries, the Monitor serves as a comprehensive tool for assessing and benchmarking digital health initiatives. Its primary function is to evaluate foundational components of digital health systems, including workforce leadership, standards, investment, infrastructure, legislation, and applications.

“The mentality a decade ago was to use digital health to patch potholes as opposed to taking a more systematic, holistic approach to strengthening the health system.”

Prof. Dr. Alain Labrique

A global shift towards more mature, comprehensive digital health

At its core, the Monitor uses a maturity model based on seven pillars. This model allows countries to perform self-assessments against standardized indicators, fostering a consistent and comparable understanding of digital health progress. Through a web portal, countries can track their growth over time, generate detailed report cards comparing their progress against global and regional averages, and identify areas needing improvement.

“No country is in phase one anymore; the median is phase three. But we still have work to do as a global community to move the needle towards advanced maturity.” Source: https://monitor.digitalhealthmonitor.org/map

With the Monitor, the WHO aims to move countries beyond a fragmented approach to digital health. The tool’s data, provided largely by the countries themselves, offers an honest reflection of global digital health status. Presently, no country is in the initial phase of digital health maturity, with most residing in phase three and some advancing to phase five.

The Monitor’s impact extends beyond its assess- ment capabilities. It also influences policy and investment decisions. Development banks like the World Bank have utilized its data to understand the digital health landscapes of lowand high-income countries, tailoring their strategies and investments accordingly.

Consequently, Prof. Labrique concludes that the goal of digital health is to ensure no one is left behind. Hence, the Global Digital Health Monitortranscends its role as an assessment tool, emerging as a key facilitator in the global pursuit of health equity and universal healthcare; it is crucial in ensuring that the advancements in digital health technology are accessible and beneficial to all.

Prof. Dr. Alain Labrique, an infectious disease epidemiologist, specializes in utilizing digital innovations to address public health challenges. He currently holds the position of Director for the Department of Digital Health and Innovation at WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.

Tags: