World Health Organisation report on digital health inequalities, "Closing the digital health divide"
- Shoshana Bloom
- Jan 28, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 7, 2023
Digital health has the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery, making it more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective. However not everyone is able to benefit from these advancements due to barriers faced by some individuals and communities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released a report on digital health inequalities, entitled "Closing the digital health divide"[1], which highlights the significant disparities that exist in access to and use of digital health technologies around the world. The report found that nearly half of the world's population does not have access to essential health services delivered through digital means.
4.9 billion people, or 63% of the world's population, do not have access to the internet.
This lack of access to digital technologies disproportionately affects people living in low- and middle-income countries, as well as marginalised and vulnerable populations such as older adults, people with disabilities, and those living in rural communities.
Even among those who do have access to the internet, there are significant disparities in the use of digital health technologies. For example, only 12% of people in low-income countries use telemedicine, compared to 55% in high-income countries.
The digital divide in health is not just about access to technology, but also requires access to appropriate and reliable information, as well as the skills and confidence to use digital health tools. The report highlights that digital health systems are not always designed with the needs of marginalised populations in mind, further exacerbating inequalities.
These digital health inequalities have significant implications for the delivery of healthcare. Digital technologies have the potential to improve access to healthcare, particularly in remote and underserved areas. However, without access to these technologies, many will miss out on the benefits they can provide.
How can we work to address these issues?
The WHO recommends a number of actions to improve digital health equity. Some of the key recommendations include:
Investing in infrastructure: there is a need for increased investment in infrastructure, such as broadband internet access and mobile networks, to improve access to digital health technologies in low- and middle-income countries.
Supporting digital literacy: the importance of digital literacy programs to ensure that people are able to use digital health technologies effectively. This includes training on how to use digital health tools and services, as well as educating people on how to protect their personal information online.
Promoting inclusive design: digital health technologies should be designed with accessibility in mind, to ensure that they are usable by people with disabilities and older adults.
Building digital health workforce: The report also highlights the importance of building a digital health workforce, which includes training healthcare workers on how to use digital health tools and services, and ensuring that they have the necessary skills to take full advantage of digital health technologies.
Bridging the digital divide: we need to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, rich and poor, and men and women, by providing targeted policies and programs to reach disadvantaged groups and vulnerable populations.
Enhancing data privacy and security: data privacy and security measures to be in place to protect personal information and to ensure that people trust and use digital health technologies.Equiti health’s research identified gaps in data privacy legislation across the globe.
Promoting digital health research: There is a need for more digital health research to better understand the impact of digital health technologies on health outcomes, and to identify effective strategies for addressing digital health inequalities.
It's important to note that digital health is not a panacea, and that other important factors such as the availability of health workers, medicine and other resources, play an important role in ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare. However, the report makes it clear that digital health can play a significant role in reducing health inequalities and improving healthcare delivery.
Addressing equitable access to digital health requires a multifaceted and collaborative approach where governments, private sector and civil society to come together to address the digital health divide and make sure that everyone has access to the benefits of digital health. With the right investments and policies in place, we can ensure that digital health is truly transformative and that it leaves no one behind.
This report mirrors the findings of the Equiti Health’s own research which is summarised in our whitepaper.
At Equiti Health, we support organisations to through their digital health journey to consider how to ensure equitable use at each step. We help organisations to better understand:
What are the needs of their equity populations, and what barriers do they face?
How can we better design technology to meet user needs?
Do users have the skills and confidence to use technologies, and what support might they need?
How best to monitor technology reach and use across different populations?
Do clinicians have the right skills to deliver care digitally?
How can you best integrate technology to deliver digitally-enabled equitable care?
Contact us at info@equitihealth.co.uk to find out more.
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