Digital transformation to overcoming access barriers

Silva Jr.

[Extract] The digital transformation of the health sector offers innovative solutions to overcome significant barriers to health care access, which vary across regions and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. This transformation goes beyond simply adopting new technologies; it involves a fundamental rethinking of health care delivery to make it more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered through digital tools and platforms. Digital health solutions, such as telemedicine, mobile health applications, electronic health records, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools, have the potential to bridge gaps caused by geographical isolation, socioeconomic disparities, and systemic inefficiencies. Key access barriers addressed by digital health include financial constraints, geographical limitations, socioeconomic factors, cultural and language differences, availability and organizational inefficiencies, lack of health education, discrimination, mental health stigma, and restrictive policies. Digital solutions offer cost-effective alternatives, remote consultations, tiered pricing models, translation services, streamlined processes, and discreet access to care, but their effective implementation requires a paradigm shift in health policies, infrastructure development, and education. [...]

Article's language
English
Editorial