¹Karolina Mackiewicz, ²Robyn Freiheit

¹ECHAlliance - The Global Health Connector
²Independent

DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v8-i2-11

Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT

Digital health is rapidly transforming European healthcare systems, offering opportunities to improve patient outcomes, enhance service delivery, and drive innovation. However, its future is shaped by numerous uncertainties related to regulation, technological advancements, and societal acceptance. The CONNECTINGHEALTH project conducted a structured foresight exercise to explore these dynamics through a series of thematic workshops engaging key stakeholders from across the sector. Four future scenarios were developed, each reflecting different potential directions for digital health in Europe by 2030. These scenarios highlight the critical role of policy development and public empowerment in determining the pace and scope of digital health adoption. This paper presents the methodology, findings, and recommendations derived from the workshops, providing a roadmap for decision-makers aiming to navigate the evolving digital health landscape.

KEYWORDS:

digital health, multi-stakeholder ecosystems, future preparedness, futures workshops, future thinking

REFERENCES
1) Baudier, P., Kondrateva, G., Ammi, C., Chang, V., & Schiavone, F. (2022). Digital transformation of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patients’ teleconsultation acceptance and trusting beliefs. Technovation, 120, 102547.

2) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102547

3) Cordova-Pozo, K., & Rouwette, E. (2023). Types of scenario planning and their effectiveness: A review of reviews. Futures, 149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2023.103198

4) Deloitte. (2020). Prioritizing scenario planning in health care: How health plans and providers can plan dynamically for the future. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/prioritizing-scenario-planning-in-health-care.html

5) European Commission. (2024). The future of European competitiveness Part A: A competitiveness strategy for Europe.

6) Eurofound. (n.d.). COVID-19 and digitalisation. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/covid-19-and-digitalisation

7) Freiheit, R., & Mackiewicz, K. (Eds.). (2024). Fostering innovation in the digital health sector: Policy recommendations for the EU. CONNECTINGHEALTH. https://echalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Connectinghealth-Policy-Recommendations-for-the-EU-1.pdf

8) McKinsey & EIT Health. (2020). Transforming healthcare with AI: The impact on the workforce and organizations. Retrieved 15.04.2023, from https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/transforming-healthcare-with-ai#/

9) Nordic Health 2030 Movement. (n.d.). Philosophy. Retrieved 03.05.2023, from https://nordichealth2030.org/philosophy/

10) OECD. (n.d.). Strategic foresight. https://www.oecd.org/strategic-foresight/

11) Ringland, G. (2006). Scenario planning: Managing for the future. Wiley.

12) Schwartz, P. (1996). The art of the long view: Planning for the future in an uncertain world. Doubleday.

13) Snowdon, A. (2020). Digital health: A framework for healthcare transformation. HIMSS.

14) Wade, W. (2012). Scenario planning: A field guide to the future. Wiley.

15) WHO Regional Office for Europe. (2023). Regional digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030 (RC72). https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/EUR-RC72-5

16) Zebra Technologies. (2022). The future of healthcare: 2022 hospital vision study. Retrieved 08.05.2023, from https://www.zebra.com/content/dam/zebra_new_ia/en-us/solutions-verticals/vertical-solutions/healthcare/white-paper/2022-hospital-vision-study-en-global.pdf

17) Boston Consulting Group. (2023). The future of digital health. Retrieved 05.05.2023, from https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/driving-the-future-of-digital-health

18) CONNECTINGHEALTH. (2024). D2.3 Paper: Lessons learned from other domains of health. https://echalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CONNECTINGHEALTH_D2.3-Paper-Lessons-learnt-from-other-domains-of-health.pdf

Volume 08 Issue 02 February 2025