Navigating digital transformation—8 trends defining the future of global digital health

Whether on the political, scientific, or cultural front, the world today is in a state of flux. Reviews from BCG, McKinsey, Deloitte, and Accenture highlight major demographic shifts, the increasing importance of technology in health, and the convergence of business and technical considerations. Digital platforms and solutions are emerging as a source of hope, inspiration, and connection.

The Digital Health team at PATH has spent the last year reviewing global analyses, listening to end users and partners in the field, and exchanging perspectives throughout the global digital health community about issues that are both driving and impacting the global health sector.

The 2017 Global Digital Health Forum–Celebrating new ways of thinking for global digital health

The annual Global Digital Health Forum is scheduled for December 4-6th in Washington DC.  Though the Forum features amazing presentations every year, one of the most valuable aspects of this event is having the world’s digital health implementers, donors, and champions in one space.  The dialogue and strong relationship building between ministries of health leaders, technical developers, and other players in our field is what makes this conference special.

This year’s theme – The Evolving Digital Health Landscape: Progress, Achievements and Remaining Frontiers – captures the spirit of progress made in the past several years to improve digital health systems and takes a critical look at the continued need for innovation to improve health outcomes. PATH joins the Forum once again to share our experiences and technical knowledge through a variety of workshops and presentations.

What is a global good? Harnessing DHIS 2 to strengthen HIV/AIDS reporting in DRC

Capturing health information data is essential to track patient services, manage resources, and support decision-making in a health system. Digital systems can improve accuracy of data captured, increase visibility throughout the health system, and enable new kinds of analytics that are costly or difficult with paper-based systems. However, implementation of robust digital health information systems is not easy in resource-constrained countries. One notable challenge to building digital health systems is the relatively low level of digital access in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). For example, less than 5% of the DRC population uses the internet, and less than 40% have a mobile SIM card. 

Welcome to Digital Square

Last week we launched Digital Square, a new global initiative connecting the world for better health.

Development dollars are scarce. Digital Square introduces an innovative approach to funding in the health sector. It’s a simple but powerful concept called co-investment. Through co-investment, we maximize the impact of digital health financing from individuals and organizations in public and private sectors.

Digital Square is led by and housed at PATH, the leader in global health innovation.