Digital Health Convergence Meeting Tool Kit

By Win Min Thit, Jane Parry and Susann Roth

This tool kit comprises information on how to create a shared vision for digital health through a national strategy, focused on maximizing the value of resources. It supports efforts to introduce digital health solutions that make systems interoperable and less fragmented, and thus provide equitable access to health care services and offer every patient continuity of care. This tool kit provides a practical framework for structuring digital health road maps, a guide to running a digital health convergence workshop, and insights from previous country convergence workshops.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Asian Development Bank
• Release date: Nov 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9789292613679

Book preview

I. HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING IN COUNTRIES

A. Introduction to Digital Health

Digital health (also known as eHealth) is the application of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions in the health system. Digital health systems must be interlinked if they are to ensure reliable and robust communications between health centers, laboratories, clinics, and medical offices, and the wider telecommunication infrastructure. They should include reliable and user-friendly devices; integration of ICT and information management skills into the training of health workers, content that reflects local languages and culture, and surveillance systems for health risks and emergencies. The use of ICT in health supports the collection of health data, which can be analyzed and interpreted for decision-making purposes. However, a lack of health information system (HIS) policies for health information system, vertically structured and siloed health programs, and fragmented HISs are typical constraints in less-developed countries.¹

When countries try to introduce digital health solutions, it is common to run into difficulties that start with understanding what digital health solutions are needed, and how they can be best implemented to support countries to overcome their health-related challenges. This is particularly acute in resource-constrained settings. A shared vision is essential to overcoming these difficulties, building capacity in digital health, and setting plans of