Quest for Value Drivers of Digital Health Solutions in the Post COVID-19 Era

Dear Colleagues,

According to some estimates, the size of the digital health market in 2019 will double by 2024 (Economist Dec 5th). We have observed that trend with our own eyes during the pandemic. The rapid implementation of telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and other digital technologies in clinical practice clearly indicates the limitless potential of digital transformation. It raises, however, a key question on how to assess the value of data-driven innovation with respect to both public healthcare providers and patients. So far, there have been limited efforts to establish guidelines for the assessment of safety, effectiveness, and the organizational impact of digital technologies. The standards introduced for pricing and reimbursement in the pharmaceutical industry may not be applicable here. In contrast with pharmaceuticals, most of the time, data are the key drivers of innovation in digital solutions. A primary example is machine learning algorithms. Some additional requirements to assess robustness and risk of bias should be considered. The debate about the adoption of mobile applications for contact tracing exemplifies the issue of data privacy, as well. How to ensure the safe use of new types of information about patient health collected by wearables, sensors, and mobile applications raises another challenge. The interoperability of healthcare systems is required to ensure that multiple sources of information, including behavioral data, enrich the decision-making processes normally based on clinical data alone. Finally, the equity of access to healthcare is another important aspect to consider during the current digital transformation. The digital literacy of seniors and lower socioeconomic groups should be taken into account while assessing the value of data-driven innovation. Papers addressing these topics are invited to be submitted to this Special Issue, especially those combining a high academic standard with real-world experience in the implementation of digital health solutions in clinical practice.

Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Kolasa
Guest Editor

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• digital health
• pricing and reimbursement
• value assessment
• digital transformation
• mobile health
• telemedicine
• patients' remote monitoring
• health policy
• cost-effectiveness