Economist Impact report, Advancing the frontier of health and technology integration: The 2023 Digital Health Barometer highlights opportunities in digitalisation of healthcare

Rhea-AI Summary

The Economist Impact report commissioned by Roche Diagnostics reveals that integrating digital health technologies into healthcare systems remains challenging, but all countries surveyed have some foundations in place. Data privacy concerns and stakeholder collaboration are key factors for the future of digital health technology.

Positive

• Integrating digital health technologies into healthcare systems is challenging, but all countries surveyed have regulatory frameworks and interoperability standards in place.
• Two thirds of healthcare consumers are comfortable with health providers using their data for preventive treatment in the future.
• Stakeholder collaboration in equity and fairness, financing and reimbursement, patient centricity, and adoption and acceptance is critical for the successful integration of digital health technologies.

Negative

• The report highlights fragmented national-level electronic health record systems and a lack of established health technology assessment mechanisms in some countries.
• Data privacy concerns, especially in Australia, France, Mexico, and Spain, could negatively impact the adoption of new health technologies.
• Some respondents in South Korea and Japan are skeptical about the ability of health technology to safeguard patient data.

• The report shows digital health technologies demonstrate value, yet integrating them into care systems remains challenging. Involving healthcare professionals and patients in technology design and development is also critical for patient-centred care.¹
• The report surveyed 10 countries, all of which have some foundations in place to use digital health technologies, such as regulatory frameworks and interoperability standards.
• The report illustrates additional challenges, such as fragmented national-level electronic health record systems and a lack of established health technology assessment (HTA) mechanisms for digital tools in some countries.²

BASEL, Switzerland, Sept. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) –  The Economist Impact report, Advancing the Frontier of Health and Technology Integration: The 2023 Digital Health Barometer, commissioned by Roche Diagnostics, examines the digital health environment in and across ten diverse countries from advanced economies to emerging markets:  Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, the UK and the US.

The report reveals that despite continuing challenges to integrate new technologies into healthcare organisations and systems, all countries have some foundations in place to use digital health technologies, such as regulatory frameworks and interoperability standards. Only half of the countries surveyed had integrated electronic health records in place at the national level, which could support healthcare systems in improving patient care and productivity.³ The report emphasises that ongoing education and support around digital health topics for healthcare professionals and patients is essential for building trust and driving adoption.

"We are confident that these insights will stimulate robust discussions about how to best integrate innovative digital technologies into healthcare systems," said Moritz Hartmann, Global Head, Roche Information Solutions at Roche Diagnostics. "We work with labs and hospitals around the world to bring them the latest digital health technologies and we know the importance of  inclusive stakeholder collaboration and designing with healthcare professionals  and patient needs in mind."

The report also included a survey of 1,000 healthcare consumers across the 10 countries, and highlighted that two thirds indicated they would be 'somewhat comfortable' or 'very comfortable' about their health providers using their data for preventive treatment in the future. Data privacy remains a top concern, especially in Australia, France, Mexico and Spain where 48%, 45%, 45% and 54%, respectively, of the surveyed population considered it to be the most important factor in their decision to use a new health technology. Respondents in South Korea and Japan are the most sceptical about the ability of health technology to safeguard patient data.

According to the report, the future of digital health technology relies on collaboration in four areas: 1) equity and fairness, 2) financing and reimbursement, 3) patient centricity, and 4) adoption and acceptance.  The report emphasised that stakeholder collaboration across these areas is critical for integrating digital health technologies into systems successfully.

Roche commissioned the report as part of its ongoing commitment to bring innovative solutions to health systems that support in the effort to improve access, experience and delivery of care, including its navify digital solution portfolio.

About Roche
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world's largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice.

In recognising our endeavour to pursue a long-term perspective in all we do, Roche has been named one of the most sustainable companies in the pharmaceuticals industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the thirteenth consecutive year. This distinction also reflects our efforts to improve access to healthcare together with local partners in every country we work.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.

For more information, please visit www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

References
¹ Economist Impact:  Advancing the Frontier of Health and Technology Integration: The 2023 Digital Health Barometer, visit diagnostics.roche.com or Economist Impact for more information.
² Countries in the report with a digital mechanism in the HTA process are Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, Spain and the UK. The countries in the report without: Brazil, Japan, Mexico, and the USA. Countries without integrated national-level electronic health records in the report include: Germany, Japan, Mexico, UK and the US.
³ The countries in the report that have integrated national-level electronic health records (EHRs) include Australia, Brazil, France, South Korea and Spain.

For further information please contact:

Roche Group Media Relations Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com
Hans Trees, PhD Phone: +41 79 407 72 58	Nathalie Altermatt Phone: +41 79 771 05 25
Karsten Kleine Phone: +41 79 461 86 83	Nina Mählitz Phone: +41 79 327 54 74
Kirti Pandey Phone: +49 172 6367262	Rebekka Schnell Phone: +41 79 205 27 03
Sileia Urech
Phone: +41 79 935 81 48

 

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SOURCE Roche

FAQ

What are the challenges in integrating digital health technologies into healthcare systems?

The report shows that integrating digital health technologies into healthcare systems remains challenging due to fragmented national-level electronic health record systems and a lack of established health technology assessment mechanisms in some countries.

What foundations do all countries surveyed have in place for using digital health technologies?

All countries surveyed have regulatory frameworks and interoperability standards in place for using digital health technologies.

What is the attitude of healthcare consumers towards their data being used for preventive treatment?

Two thirds of healthcare consumers are 'somewhat comfortable' or 'very comfortable' with health providers using their data for preventive treatment in the future.

What are the key factors for the future of digital health technology?

Stakeholder collaboration in equity and fairness, financing and reimbursement, patient centricity, and adoption and acceptance are critical for the successful integration of digital health technologies.

What is Roche's role in bringing innovative solutions to health systems?

Roche commissioned the report as part of its commitment to bring innovative solutions to health systems, including its navify digital solution portfolio.