WHO releases first guideline on digital health interventions| harnessing power of digital technology

WHO guideline on digital health interventions

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first guideline on digital health technologies. The guideline provides 10 ways that countries can use digital health technology – accessible via mobile phones, tablets and computers – to improve people’s health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable individuals.

The guideline makes note “that digital health interventions are not a substitute for functioning health systems”; however, “harnessing the power of digital technologies is essential for achieving universal health coverage,” states WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The objective of the digital health guideline is to present recommendations and implementation considerations for health policymakers and public health practitioners to utilize when making informed investments in digital health interventions for their populations. These suggestions are based on a critical evaluation undertaken by the WHO from evidence of emerging digital health interventions. Along with health system improvements, assessment of the benefits, harms, acceptability, feasibility, resource use and equity considerations are also considered in the study.

This guideline reviewed the following topics:

• birth notification via mobile devices

• death notification via mobile devices

• stock notification and commodity management via mobile devices across all health conditions

• client1-to-provider telemedicine across all health conditions

• provider-to-provider telemedicine across all health conditions

• targeted client communication (TCC) via mobile devices (spread across five population groups for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health [SRMNCAH])

• health worker decision support via mobile devices across all health conditions

• digital tracking of patients’/clients’ health status and services via mobile devices across all health conditions

• provision of training to health workers via mobile devices (mLearning) across all health conditions

Digital health is not a new focus for the WHO. Aware that a national perspective is needed to achieve universal health coverage, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution in 2018 calling on the WHO to develop a “global strategy on digital health”. These efforts are underway with the digital health guidelines.

And, on 6 March 2019, “Dr Tedros (WHO General-Director) announced the creation of the Department of Digital Health to enhance WHO’s role in assessing digital technologies and support Member States in prioritizing, integrating and regulating them.”

“Ultimately, digital technologies are not an ends in themselves; they are vital tools to promote health.”

World Health Organization (WHO). 17 April 2019. WHO releases first guideline on digital health interventions.

https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/17-04-2019-who-releases-first-guideline-on-digital-health-interventions

World Health Organization (WHO). 6 March 2019. WHO unveils sweeping reforms in drive towards “triple billion” targets. Dept of Digital health: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/06-03-2019-who-unveils-sweeping-reforms-in-drive-towards-triple-billion-targets