Europe’s first digital health action plan

The first ever digital health action plan for the WHO Europe Region has been adopted by delegates and health ministers from the Region’s 53 Member States, at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. The action plan is intended to leverage the ongoing digital transformation in Europe and central Asia, recognising the potential digital tools have in the health sector.

Why it’s Notable:

Digital health is one of the 4 key flagship areas outlined in the WHO European Programme of Work 2020–2025 (EPW). This represents an important step towards realizing the program's aim of improving people’s health and facilitating ‘wellbeing for all’. Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, emphasized the importance of creating proper legislation surrounding digital health, as well as the importance of providing sufficient training to healthcare workers and patients to ensure the utmost value is derived from the technology. 

The WHO has recognised the critical role technology can play in enhancing the healthcare systems in the Region, eluding to an expansive range of technology types that activity under the new action plan should involve including telemedicine, health data and information systems, artificial intelligence and big data, as well as leveraging technology to fight against the online infodemic and spread of false information. 

Industry Implications: 

• Guidance for policy makers

The action plan was developed in consultation with delegates from all 53 member states of the Region. This means that the plan is designed with the specific needs of different European countries in mind. This may provide a valuable roadmap and guidance for policy makers to address barriers to digital health adoption in their respective Region states. For example the action plan is reported to take into account issues with access to digital health services among vulnerable groups. 

• Increased investment and impact on reimbursement

The reimbursement landscape for digital health in the European Region is currently quite fragmented, with a variety of models adopted by different countries. While Germany, Belgium and France have forged ahead, each introducing their own standardised reimbursement processes for digital health, most European countries are lagging behind in comparison to the US. 

The commitment made by member states to this new action plan may potentially increase investment in digital health over the coming years, and accelerate development of policies and regulations. It will be interesting to see how this may affect the reimbursement landscape in Europe, and ultimately impact adoption.