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Investing an additional $0.24 per patient annually in digital health solutions, including telemedicine, mobile messaging, and chatbots, could potentially save over 2 million lives from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) within the next ten years. This insight comes from a recent report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Such an investment is also projected to prevent around 7 million acute incidents and hospital admissions, thereby alleviating pressure on healthcare systems globally.
The report titled “Going Digital for Noncommunicable Diseases: The Case for Action“ was unveiled at an event organized by the Government of The Gambia during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in partnership with WHO and ITU.
“The future of healthcare lies in digital innovation. To realize this vision, we require both resources and collaborative efforts,” stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He emphasized that no single entity can achieve this alone and urged governments, partners, and donors to unite their efforts to strategically invest so that these life-saving technologies reach those who need them most.
“The digital transformation has immense potential to catalyze a health revolution,” remarked ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “At ITU, our priority is universal meaningful connectivity because digital advancements are crucial for achieving goals across vital sectors like health and education. We advocate for enhanced cooperation between health and technology sectors to develop robust digital public infrastructure essential for delivering equitable digital health services worldwide.”
NCDs—including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions—account for more than 74% of global deaths each year; many of these fatalities are preventable. Despite notable progress against NCDs, integrating digital health technologies into existing healthcare frameworks remains challenging. The report highlights an urgent need to leverage these technologies effectively to scale up interventions that can alleviate the increasing burden on global healthcare systems.
The four primary risk factors associated with our daily environments—tobacco use, poor diet choices, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity—trigger bodily responses that elevate NCD risks such as high blood pressure or obesity. Digital tools like mobile messaging platforms can empower individuals by helping them recognize their modifiable risk factors while promoting healthier lifestyle choices.
Individuals managing NCDs often require ongoing monitoring along with specialized care over extended periods. Digital solutions such as telemedicine facilitate access to necessary healthcare services despite geographical barriers while providing real-time data that aids healthcare professionals in making informed decisions regarding patient care.
Although more than 60% of nations have established a digital health strategy framework, there remains a significant gap in incorporating new technologies into current health infrastructures effectively. The report advocates for countries to invest in developing robust digital public infrastructure while promoting standards that ensure interoperability—a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of digital health initiatives.
This publication serves as a strategic guide complementing the WHO Global Initiative on Digital Health, alongside its Global Strategy on Digital Health covering 2020-2025 timelines. In collaboration with WHO and ITU through initiatives like Be He@lthy Be Mobile program, the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on NCD Prevention & Control (UNIATF) Secretariat is dedicated to offering tailored strategic planning support along with advocacy assistance aimed at governments worldwide.
Editor’s Note:
- The “mRamadan” campaign launched in Senegal under the Be He@lthy Be Mobile initiative since 2014 utilizes mobile technology effectively during Ramadan by providing preventive advice aimed at diabetes management while encouraging healthy living practices among users exceeding 200000 participants through culturally relevant engagement strategies.
- S.A.R.A.H., WHO’s prototype chatbot designed initially during COVID-19 pandemic response efforts,
has evolved into a platform offering guidance about hypertension management alongside diabetes prevention via accessible multilingual messages distributed through popular messaging applications like WhatsApp. - Zambia’s joint initiative under Be He@lthy Be Mobile employs telemedicine combined with mobile tech innovations facilitating real-time consultations between patients residing remotely from medical facilities enabling effective monitoring concerning obesity levels or elevated blood pressure readings which ultimately enhances overall public wellness outcomes.
- Kyrgyzstan has made remarkable strides towards enhancing its national e-health framework driven by “Digital Kyrgyzstan” initiative spanning from years 2019 until present day focusing primarily upon establishing unified electronic records system coupled together alongside ICT-based solutions leading up successful pilot tests yielding substantial time savings particularly noted throughout vaccination certificate issuance processes amid COVID-19 crisis where approximately eight hundred fifty thousand hours were conserved across various governmental roles involved therein!
About UN NCD Task Force
The United Nations Interagency Task Force focused on Noncommunicable Disease Prevention & Control was initiated back in two thousand thirteen under directives issued directly from UN Secretary-General aiming towards assisting member states amplify actions addressing issues surrounding noncommunicable diseases comprehensively tackling mental well-being concerns too! By leveraging extensive networks comprising forty-six different UN agencies plus contributions made via World Bank regional development banks alike they promote holistic approaches engaging entire societies/governments alike!
You may find further details regarding UNIATF here:
https://uniatf.who.int/
For inquiries please contact:
Aleksey Kulikov
Neneh Sallah
You can access downloadable versions of this comprehensive report online:
