the new WHO guide explains how to do it well

How to make positive and sustainable changes with digital health investments

With the right approach and effective investment, digital health interventions can be successful long-term solutions that help improve the health and well-being of the people to whom they are designed. The WHO today launched a new guide to help ensure that digital health investments are effective, sustainable and impartial – and implemented in a coordinated manner and appropriate to the local context.

A guide to investing in digital implementation: integrating digital interventions into health systems, (also known as DIIG), published by WHO and HRP in collaboration with partners UNICEF, UNFPA and PATH. These guidelines will be particularly useful for donors and ministries of health who make decisions about digital investments in health – in government, in technical bodies and in national health and / or digital systems.

Ian Askew, Director of the WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and HRP comments, “No matter where you live, there are unique health needs that digital technologies can help. But these technologies can only be effective if they recognize these unique needs, if they are appropriate to the context – and if they receive sustainable and informed investment. ”

A guide to digital health

The guide provides a step-by-step approach to planning, costing, and implementing digital health investments. Beneficiaries learn from the diverse experiences they have covered over the past ten years, from institutions that have been deeply involved in the planning and implementation of digital health technologies with national governments. Using the guide, readers learn how to design, cost, and implement significant digital health systems with confidence in a well-defined plan that will facilitate further collaboration and investment.

Realizing the potential of digital health

Digital health tools can transform health services and help achieve universal health coverage. With established sustainable and robust governance structures, it can reform public health systems by improving its reach, impact, and efficiency.

Invest smartly and well

However, wiser investments in digital health technologies are needed to reach their full potential and increase the integral role they can play in health systems – but it is crucial that such investments be responsible and well thought out.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at WHO, notes in the foreword to the guide that, “Investment must be carefully and thoughtfully coordinated for a equitable approach to meet the full range of health needs, leveraging mature digital public goods, and building on digital development and donor principles to maximize the benefits of digital investment. “

Responsible and informed investment in the right technologies, appropriate to the context and health system and the existing digital architecture, is crucial to ensure their success.

Digital health coordination

When it comes to integrating digital investments into health systems, good planning and management of digital health or investors, governments and technical bodies is needed. Coordination of digital health systems is key to ensuring the effectiveness of digital investments, promoting equal access to health and addressing the health needs of the local context.

The goal of the DIIG is to help all people involved in digital health technology decision-making to coordinate effectively to coordinate their efforts to invest and integrate digital health technologies.

Mr. Bernardo Mariano, Director of the WHO Department of Digital Health and Innovation, comments, “DIIG is a tool that encourages strategic collaboration and management. Assists decision makers to make ethical and evidence-based decisions, with sustainability and equity at their core, in coordination with people working in all sectors. ”

Principles in the heart

The guide is supported by a set of 9 principles known as the Principles for Digital Development (add an infographic / visual below the web story or a link to this) to help stakeholders apply digital technologies effectively and appropriately in their health programs.

Dr. Garrett Mehl, a scientist from the WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, including HRP comments, “If implemented in a strategically aligned manner, using the key principles and messages presented in the DIIG, these digital health systems are powerful tools to help us achieve the ultimate goal of health and well-being for all.l. “

The DIIG is based on WHO evidence and guidance and is part of a growing range of digital health tools that help countries effectively establish, expand, maintain and assess the impact of digital health interventions. It complements the WHO guidelines on digital health interventions, which have examined the evidence and issues to be considered regarding the application of digital health.

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