With a new WHO guideline, digital health takes center stage
In its first-ever digital health guideline, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently outlined ten ways countries can use digital health technologies to enhance healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, for example, to improve (digital) tracking of patients’ health status and service utilization, and to deliver targeted patient communication.
The WHO’s new recommendations are timely as digital health services are really taking off — some recent examples:
- The FDA’s recently approved NightWare, a smartwatch app designed to detect and stop (by waking up the patient) nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Freespira, a ‘digital therapeutic’ for PTSD, panic disorder and other panic symptoms.
- Researchers have also developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool can distinguish between voices of people with or without PTSD with 89% accuracy.
- A smartphone-controlled ‘electroceutical’ wearable device also received FDA approval for the treatment of migraines.
- In the U.K., the National Health Service has been running a pilot program using A.I. and wearable devices to track patients’ health status after discharge from the hospital. The program’s reduced hospital readmission rates and emergency room visits. Visits to patients’ homes also fell by 22%, and patient adherence to treatment plans increased to an impressive 96% (the industry average is 50%).
- A (small cohort) study found the Kaia digital health coaching app reduced back pain intensity more than traditional physiotherapy alone, with half the intervention group reporting a 50 to 100% pain reduction, compared to 30% in the control group. Patients with a higher pain score at the start of the study used the app more frequently.
- In Hong Kong, AXA’s partnered with The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Oxford VR to launch a pilot clinical study (kicking off in June) to evaluate the use of virtual reality-enabled immersive therapy to treat mental health conditions and symptoms, including social avoidance, anxiety, and depression. VR therapy will be offered in English and Cantonese.
- And in the U.K. first, NHS patients suffering from clinical acrophobia (extreme fear of heights) can now access Oxford VR’s clinically-validated automated immersive therapy program. Here are five other ways VR’s transforming mental healthcare.
These are just a few examples of innovative digital health services in action.
In my work with Munich Re, we’re also doing our part to support progress in digital health innovation. For example, in Australia, we’re collaborating with a life insurer on the Cancer Aid Coach Program.
In line with the WHO’s new digital health guideline, Cancer Aid’s Coach program combines evidence-based practice, digital innovation, and personal support to empower cancer patients to achieve better health outcomes.
The adoption of digital health services by life and health insurers is progressing rapidly, catalyzed by recent technology and AI advances that have transitioned smartphones, smartwatches and other wearable devices (including VR headsets) from customer engagement and basic health tracking, to a wide range of innovative use cases in healthcare.
Evidence-based digital health services, when delivered appropriately (per the WHO’s guideline) and effectively, could help improve the quality of care, long-term health outcomes and longevity among individuals, and potentially contribute to population-wide health improvements at a global scale.
About the author:
Aamer Fattah is a scientist, innovation leader and deep tech expert.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer or company.
