The impact of digital technologies on health care and health can be beneficial, if both needs and risks are properly managed and if technologies are fully integrated in strong healthcare systems. There are many pitfalls such as further fragmentation of health systems, data extractivism (data colonialism) and the problems of e-waste. In particular, digital health technology should not be seen as a substitute for strong primary care-based services on the ground, nor viewed as a cost-cutting measure, where services by trained health workers are replaced by digital tools. It should not accelerate privatization of public services.
In the field of international cooperation in digital health, we have seen lots of pilot programs, but bringing them to scale remains a significant challenge. There is too much waste of scarce resources based on technologies promoted by international donors or technology companies, at the expense of proven interventions. This is both a challenge for practitioners and for those promoting good policies, strong regulation and good governance.
Bring along your stories and realities on Tuesday, 27 April 2021, at 15.00-18.00 hours CEST. We will share our plans. Then let us talk…Join us