28
Jan

How can we ensure that digital health technologies are both cost-effective and equitably accessed, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing resource constraints?

Digital health technologies, such as AI-driven diagnostics, telehealth, and remote monitoring tools, are rapidly reshaping health and healthcare delivery, offering opportunities to improve healthcare, especially in resource-limited settings. Despite their promise, evaluating these technologies in terms of cost-effectiveness, equity, and long-term impact remains complex. This session will introduce two comprehensive frameworks designed to address these challenges: an economic evaluation framework, which focuses on assessing the affordability and value for money of digital health interventions for primary healthcare, and an equity-led health technologies process-driven framework that evaluates if these digital health technologies promote accountable and equitable access for all. Ensuring that underrepresented perspectives are included to build trust and foster joint solutions.

The side meeting will combine expert presentations with interactive discussions to explore the practical application of these frameworks. Digital health providers and thought leaders in digital health will provide insights on health technology innovation approaches and explore the ways in which digital health technologies can both reduce and exacerbate health inequities. Following the presentations, participants will engage in a World Café session, applying the frameworks to expanding real-world digital health interventions for primary healthcare and analysing how these tools can be adapted to suit local needs and contexts, particularly in LMICs.

The outcomes of this session will contribute to the refinement of both frameworks, which will be revised to suit the specific needs of LMICs. Insights gained from the discussions are aimed at advancing the discourse on equitable, integrated and sustainable digital health tools and interventions. By focusing on the intersections of cost, accountability, and equity, this session seeks to shape the future of digital health evaluation, ensuring these technologies are both impactful and accessible globally.