Can Investing in Digital Health Really Yield a 24-Fold Return?

Highlights

• WHO stresses investing in health, including digital health, to improve health outcomes and save billions
• 5 billion people lack healthcare access, while 5.52 billion are online globally, mainly via smartphones

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the significance of investing in health to improve overall health outcomes. According to a recent analysis from iris.who.int, telemedicine and chatbots have the potential to save lives while also safeguarding billions of dollars.

WHO’s Evolving Perspective on Digital Health

Currently, 4.5 billion people worldwide lack access to essential healthcare services due to economic or geographical barriers. In contrast, 5.52 billion people are online as of October 2024, representing 67.5% of the global population. Among these, 96.2% access the internet via mobile devices. As smartphones become more affordable and accessible, they present a promising opportunity for delivering healthcare services, particularly for those facing limited access to traditional care. It can also play a vital role in preventive care for

Healthcare organisations have historically been hesitant to assess the potential benefits of digital health, viewing it as an expense and dividing traditional healthcare from digital health.

The World Health Assembly passed a resolution in 2005 on eHealth, encouraging member states to develop long-term strategies for eHealth services and infrastructure. In 2018, the WHO Member States approved a resolution on Digital Health, recognising the importance of digital technologies in overcoming healthcare access barriers. The WHO has since embraced digital health as a key tool for global health challenges. A landmark shift occurred with the introduction of the global digital health strategy for 2020–2025.

From Assumptions to Evidence

The recent report – Going Digital for Noncommunicable Diseases: The Case for Action – by the WHO and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reported that investing in telemedicine, mobile messaging, and chatbots could prevent over 2 million chronic disease deaths and generate USD 199 billion in economic benefits over the next decade, highlighting significant advancements in WHO’s digital transformation efforts.

The report emphasises the WHO’s stance on digital transformation as a crucial

component of healthcare, particularly in addressing the growing NCD crisis. NCDs, including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, account for 74% of global deaths and consume significant healthcare budgets, especially in low- and middle-income countries with limited healthcare access.

Beyond causing avoidable deaths, NCDs are expected to cost the global economy USD 30 trillion in lost productivity by 2030. If mental health disorders are included, this figure rises to USD 47 trillion.

The Time Factor of NCDs and How Digital Health Can Help

Lifestyle-driven diseases like NCDs often develop slowly, making traditional medicine less effective. Digital health solutions like mobile apps and chatbots offer real-time monitoring, personalised treatment, and support for healthy lifestyle changes, making them scalable as well as cost-effective.

WHO’s report outlines how digital health can address key NCD challenges:

• Risk Factors: Portable devices provide real-time health monitoring and behaviour change support to help individuals manage risks.
• Continuous Management: Digital tools overcome barriers like distance and cost, ensuring ongoing care.
• Long-Term Care: Real-time data plus decision support improve the Quality of care and health outcomes.

Although digital health is thriving in high-income countries, about a third of the population in low-income regions lacks internet access. Digital transformation requires collaboration between public and private sectors, along with international support. WHO stresses that empowering patients and enhancing preventive care with digital tools could be transformative in the battle against NCDs.

Digital health is thriving in high-income countries, but a third of low-income populations lack internet access. Collaboration between public and private sectors along with international support is needed for digital transformation, with WHO highlighting its potential for empowering patients.