The World Well being Organisation (WHO) has launched a community to advance information and digital options for well being by means of a collaborative strategy.
The ‘Strategic companions’ initiative for information and digital well being‘ will carry collectively the 53 member states of the WHO European area – together with the UK – and companions within the fields of information and digital well being.
These companions embody intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organisations, WHO collaborating centres for information and digital well being, the personal sector and tutorial establishments.
In response to a press launch revealed 9 July, the community is meant “to deal with points associated to the digital transformation of well being methods and foster a future the place all sufferers and well being care staff can profit from protected, inexpensive and person-centred digital applied sciences for well being”.
Individuals of the community have shaped 4 specialised working teams targeted on: unlocking extra capability and entry to healthcare with digitalisation and accountable AI; leveraging information and digital applied sciences to carry healthcare and prevention into the house; taking an ecosystem strategy to requirements and interoperability; and strengthening public well being with a deal with psychological well being and the well being workforce.
On the launch occasion for the community in Copenhagen, Denmark on 13 June, Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe stated: “Our shared goal that brings us collectively immediately is to create a brand new dialogue that engages the correct stakeholders across the subjects that matter most.
“No single entity can unleash the complete potential of digital well being and information.
“However by means of the data and understanding cultivated by means of this platform, we are able to work collectively to make sure that the values of fairness and human rights are on the core of well being methods in a digital period”.
The WHO report, Digital well being within the WHO European Area: the continuing journey to dedication and transformation, revealed in September 2023, discovered that solely as much as 2% of the full nationwide well being funds was allotted to digital well being transformation, within the few international locations capable of report this expenditure.
It additionally discovered that solely 35% of member states have insurance policies addressing the usage of huge information and superior analytics within the well being sector.
In February 2024, WHO launched its World Initiative on Digital Well being, a community designed to amplify and align sources towards country-led digital well being transformation.
