Accelerating digital health transformation in Europe: a two-year progress report

Digital transformation of health care is picking up across the WHO European Region, according to WHO/Europe's progress report on the Regional digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023-2030. The report is accompanied by a new set of illustrative actions which reflect evolving needs and latest advancements in digital health. It provides an overview of significant progress made to date across all 18 key focus areas outlined in the action plan, driving innovation, improving access to care, and strengthening health systems.

"The first 2 years of our Regional digital health action plan have laid a strong foundation for long-term success. Technology has the power to fundamentally change how we approach health care. Our goal is to make sure that this change is fair and beneficial for everyone everywhere. We are grateful for the growing commitment and cooperation from our Member States in this hugely important work," said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

Guidance, capacity building and partnerships

The Region's first digital health action plan, adopted by all 53 WHO European Region Member States at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2022, aims to leverage digital transformation for better health. Together with countries, WHO/Europe has moved forward in all strategic priorities outlined in the plan: setting norms and providing guidance for digital health, strengthening countries' capacities for governance and digital literacy, fostering innovation through networks and knowledge exchange, and identifying scalable, patient-centred digital health solutions.

To address the need for evidence-based guidance, WHO/Europe has collaborated during these 2 years with countries, international organizations, academic institutions, civil society, and other partners to produce 14 technical publications. These include a flagship report assessing the state of digital transformation across the Region, as well as research on artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, digital health literacy, equity, and the implementation of digital tools.

WHO/Europe has also launched several knowledge-exchange initiatives, such as the Decoding Data and Digital Health webinar series and the Second WHO Symposium on the Future of Health Systems in a Digital Era in the WHO European Region. Also, WHO/Europe established a Strategic Partners' Initiative for Data and Digital Health, which brings together over 100 institutions from different sectors, including 24 countries, to tackle issues related to the digital transformation of health systems and foster a future where all people, patients, and health-care workers can benefit from safe, affordable, and person-centred digital technologies for health. To build digital literacy skills, over 30 countries have already benefited from several capacity-building activities related to Big Data, telemedicine, ICD-11 introduction, and strengthening health information systems. In addition, WHO/Europe has partnered with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch a special fellowship programme in eastern Europe and central Asia, which helps to improve the use of data science in public health. To date, the programme has been implemented in 8 countries.

From words to action

Since 2022, countries have been receiving increased support to improve their health information systems and establish telemedicine services to ensure that high-quality care reaches everyone, especially in rural areas. Fifteen countries have now made this a priority. In addition, the WHO European Geospatial Coordination Hub, launched in 2023, is working to improve country capacities in using geospatial data for health care. A new donor agreement was signed with the European Commission in 2023, covering all WHO European Region countries, with the aim of improving their health information systems and data governance and interoperability, based on the principles outlined in the European Union's European Health Data Space.

"We have made significant progress in advancing digital health across the European Region, but our journey is far from over. The success of our work in this area relies on continued collaboration and commitment from many different sectors, including those beyond health care. Moving forward, we will continue to build on the foundations we've established, while also addressing the emerging challenges of digital health, such as AI," said Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems at WHO/Europe.

The work ahead

As the Regional digital health action plan enters its third year, WHO/Europe will keep working closely with countries and stakeholders. The focus will remain on expanding research, fostering partnerships, enhancing capacity, and driving innovation. Much of the research will explore how digital health can contribute to climate sustainability, what role it plays in combating antimicrobial resistance, how gender-related issues manifest in digital environments, and how digital solutions can support healthy ageing.

AI remains a major area of interest for the future of health care. Work is under way to develop a regional report on the status of AI in the European Region, and to establish a technical advisory group to provide expert guidance on AI use, ensuring that its implementation is safe and effective. To foster discussions on future health-care solutions, WHO/Europe will host the third WHO Symposium on the Future of Health Systems in a Digital Era in the European Region in 2025.

WHO/Europe will continue to raise awareness of the importance of equity in digital health, ensuring that new technologies benefit those who need them most. This work will contribute to the development of a European framework for measuring digital health equity. Lastly, new policy guidance will be developed to help Member States to address the digital determinants of health, particularly for vulnerable populations, with the goal of enhancing trust in and the use of digital health solutions.