New European network for better data and digital health innovation

Healthcare systems in Europe are facing major challenges, intensified by COVID-19, an ageing population and tight budgets. Many healthcare workers are leaving their profession due to stress and increasing administrative tasks, which in turn affects patient care.

Technology solutions such as artificial intelligence and information extraction can free up time for healthcare professionals, reduce stress and errors and improve interactions with patients. Increased digitalisation and automation, if used correctly, can increase capacity and create more patient-centric healthcare.

Gathering of international experts

Together with the European Commission, the WHO Regional Office for Europe launched a new Strategic Partners’ Initiative for Data and Digital Health (SPI-DDH) in Copenhagen on 13 June 2024.

This is a network for the 53 Member States of the WHO's Wider Europe Region, which aims to improve health services for the nearly 1 billion people living here.

The Norwegian Centre for E-health Research participates in the network together with over 100 representatives from Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as from the private sector and academic institutions.

Here we will identify and address gaps in data systems and digital health to support the building of safe, more cost-effective and person-centred health systems in Europe.

Since 1997, the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research has been an official collaboration centre for the World Health Organization (WHO) in the field of digital health and telemedicine. This means that we provide advice to the WHO and its member countries on ICT in healthcare.

Important

"This collaborative network, established at the request of the European Region's Member States and led by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, addresses public health challenges related to the digital transformation of health systems. The aim is to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, safe, affordable and person-centred digital care," says Luis Marco-Ruiz, Senior researcher in the Department of Patient Pathways at Norwegian Centre for E-health Research.

The network is working to improve:

📄 Governance and resources

📲 Digitalisation

📊 Data collection

🔍 Analysis and reporting

The nearly 1 billion people living in the region of the member states deserve evidence-based policies that prioritise their health. The network exemplifies the commitment to improving data management and interoperability for decision-making, which is at the heart of the ongoing partnership between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the EU Health and Food Safety.

The challenges

Financing and implementing new technologies and handling large amounts of personal data presents significant challenges for countries in the region. The problems they face in digitising their healthcare systems are very similar, but the solutions are often duplicated in national settings.

"No single entity can succeed alone in making the digital transition in healthcare and unlocking the value of data for health. Digital health tools used alone or out of context are not sustainable over time and very little is being done to evaluate the impact of their use," says Marco-Ruiz.

Discussions about the digital transformation of the health system among the relevant stakeholders often take place in isolation, leading to fragmented and uncoordinated results.

On the agenda

SPI-DDH is a country-led and action-focused initiative. The discussion is centred around the challenges and opportunities for digital transformation that countries see and experience.

Main focus:

• Identifying challenges:
  To uncover the key challenges and promote actions to improve the uptake of digital health that is safe and equitable.
  
  
• Promote collaboration:
  Supporting collaborations that build solidarity and knowledge sharing in digital health.
  
  
• Safe harbour for Member States:
  Provide an independent environment where Member States can learn from each other and collaborate with external partners to explore new digital health solutions.
  
  
• Development of future scenarios:
  Creating scenarios for the future of healthcare and the use of data, which can guide the transformation of healthcare systems and the re-profiling of healthcare professionals.

Participating as a collaboration centre and partner

"Having an independent, international platform like this network represents is crucial for the sustainable digital transformation of health systems, sharing ideas and fostering new partnerships while protecting individual rights," Marco-Ruiz concludes.

➡️ Visit the WHO website for more information.