In times when health is undergoing a significant transformation, Digital Health gains space in the face of a scenario of crisis in the sector, accelerating the use of this strategy, as a solution for the improvement and expansion of the offer of health services, inserting the patient or client in the center of care1.
In this article we will discuss the different digital health scenarios, in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and USA, even taking into account the different health models.
In its National Strategy for e-Health or Digital Health Toolkit, the World Health Organization defines Digital Health as "the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to Health."2
In Brazil, Digital Health is seen as a strategy for the consistent improvement of health services through the provision and use of comprehensive, accurate and secure information that streamlines and improves the quality of health care and processes, in the three spheres of government and in the private sector, benefiting patients, citizens, professionals, managers and health organizations.3
Still, in the Brazilian context, Digital Health is defined by the use of ICT resources to produce and make available reliable information on the state of health for those who need it, at the time they need it. The term "Digital Health" in Brazil already considers that the term e-Health is more comprehensive and incorporates recent advances in technology such as new concepts, social networks applications, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), among other technologies aimed at Health.4
In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) provides universal coverage, based on the principles of equity and comprehensiveness, and is considered the largest public health structure in the world, using the digital strategy for the universalization of care in NHS Digital, whose mission is to:
Collect, transport, store, analyze and disseminate the country's health and social assistance data. Provide a safe and reliable repository for sensitive information from individuals, and build and maintain technical systems that allow that data to be used to support the care of the individual, offering better and more effective care to the community as a whole. These systems and information help doctors, nurses and other health professionals to improve efficiency and make care safer.5
According to the paper "The future of health: our vision for digital, data and technology in health and care", a new generation of technology is changing our lives, from the daily use of satellite navigation systems and smartphones, to the profound ability of genomics to help us develop personalized drugs for individuals.6
Even with all the differences of the North American health model, in the USA, the digital health initiative is coordinated by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), whose purpose is to lead the national health IT efforts, in charge as the main entity federal government to coordinate national efforts to implement and use the most advanced health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information.7
It is important to note that the ONC deals with the stimulus mechanism regarding the use of digital health in the USA, and that more than 75% of eligible providers and 90% of eligible hospitals received funds for participating in the government program that encourages hospitals to enable patients to view, download and transmit their health information.
In addition, studies show that one of the tools in terms of digital health—Artificial Intelligence (AI)—will be used exponentially, for example, in 90% of American hospitals by 2025 to allow rapid diagnoses of chronic conditions, such as cancer and diabetes.
Increasingly, digital health is perceived as a strategy in response to the needs arising from the digital transformation in health and innovations in the sector, taking into account the scenario full of uncertainties and complexities.
In the next dialogue, we will address the various ICTs aimed at better health care, as well as trends for the future of health, which is now!
Contributed by Viviane Coelho Lourenço, Information Systems and Digital Health expert
1 ROCHA, T.A.H. et al. Saúde Móvel: novas perspectivas para a oferta de serviços em saúde. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde, Brasília, 25(1):159-170, jan-mar 2016.
2 WHO, 2020. Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025. Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/digital-health#tab=tab_1. Accessed December 12, 2020.
3 BRASIL, 2020. Estratégia de saúde digital para o Brasil 2020-2028. Available at: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/estrategia_saude_digital_Brasil.pdf. Accessed December 13, 2020.
4 BRASIL, 2020. Estratégia de saúde digital para o Brasil 2020-2028. Available at: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/estrategia_saude_digital_Brasil.pdf. Accessed December 13, 2020.
5 BRASIL, 2020. Pesquisa Modelos internacionais de Governança em Saúde Digital. Available at: https://saudedigital.saude.gov.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Modelos-internacionais-de-Governança-em-Saúde-Digital.pdf. Accessed December 13, 2020.
6 UNITED KINGDOM, 2018. The future of healthcare: our vision for digital, data and technology in health and care. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-future-of-healthcare-our-vision-for-digital-data-and-technology-in-health-and-care/the-future-of-healthcare-our-vision-for-digital-data-and-technology-in-health-and-care. Accessed December 13, 2020.
7 BRASIL, 2020. Pesquisa Modelos internacionais de Governança em Saúde Digital. Available at: https://saudedigital.saude.gov.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Modelos-internacionais-de-Governança-em-Saúde-Digital.pdf. Accessed December 13, 2020.