How is New Zealand planning to address issues around maximising value from digital health to future proof our health sector?

OECD countries are struggling to maximise the value from digital health because technologies and the data environment are often outdated and fragmented.

Digital tools and the use of health data are transforming how health services are delivered, how public health is protected, and how chronic conditions are managed and prevented. Digital health is playing an ever-increasing role in health systems through electronic health records, the use of population health data for monitoring and policy, and the integration of digital tools such as telemedicine into routine clinical care.

An integrated approach to digital health supports the responsible use of artificial intelligence and analytics, by sharing quality health data through secure technical connections across all modes of care and administration.

Digital transformation has been described as a determinant of health, as digital technologies, access, and literacy increasingly influence health, well-being and health transformations.  

While health has been slower than other sectors of the economy to leverage the potential of digital transformation, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated change. However, there are still significant barriers to overcome for countries to be ready for digital transformation.  

Governance, legal, and regulatory changes are necessary to support adaptation to a digital health future without loss of protections for the public.

At the same time, with greater reliance on digital health are growing risks of cyberattacks. Some project that the cost of cyberattacks (across all industries) may reach USD 10.5 trillion by 2025. Health is a prime target for cybercrime given the sprawl of health technologies, the value of health data, and the risk of disruption in health services from technical outages .

Countries’ ability to recognise the above factors in health data systems and to develop infrastructure, strategies, and governance frameworks to use in improving health systems is a signal of “digital health readiness”.

This is a measure of the ability to make use of analytics, data, and technology for beneficial individual, community, and public health outcomes.

Digital health readiness is the foundation from which data can be leveraged for primary and secondary uses to improve well-being, health outcomes, and resilience. It is a measure of the ability to make use of analytics, data, and technology for beneficial individual, community, and public health outcomes. Hence, “readiness” is a composite of abilities and structures across analytics, data, and technology. In addition, readiness requires human factors outlined above for capacity, co-operation, and oversight.

How does New Zealand fare?