Digital health
Digital health technologies impact every aspect of the innovative pharmaceutical industry value chain. From drug discovery and clinical development to product launch and support for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
Overview
The innovative pharmaceutical industry is investing in digital health to transform and to enhance the contributions it makes to patient well-being and health systems around the world.
To do this sustainably, the industry is collaborating with key private and public players to foster changes in policy environments that will deliver benefits to patients and health systems.
The innovative pharmaceutical industry recommends seven new policies for global health stakeholders at national and international levels to deliver sustainable benefits from digital health worldwide:
1. Implement digital health strategies
Such as digital literacy initiatives and build innovative multistakeholder ecosystems to support national strategies
2. Develop infrastructure
In terms of connectivity, digital health platforms, and electronic health records and ensure interoperability between platforms
3. Support collaborations and partnerships
Between diverse stakeholders
4. Implement appropriate data governance
Including cross- system/cross-border data flows
5. Create appropriate regulatory and payment pathways
To ensure more agile and harmonized regulatory networks across borders
6. Accelerate innovative R&D frameworks
To support the growth of digital tools that facilitate clinical and AI-based research that are aligned with appropriate regulations
7. Provide sustainable financing and incentives
To help nations manage the burden of diseases and combat future pandemics.
The COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically highlighted the efficiency of digitalized health systems along with the need to have appropriate policies in place to enable digital health to benefit all equally.
IFPMA is a member of the Digital Connected Care Coalition. This brings together diverse stakeholders around a common goal of achieving universal health coverage in LMICs by accelerating the digital transformation of healthcare.
Biopharmaceutical Industry Global Policy Principles on Digital Health
This offers more detailed information about the industry’s policy principles and how we hope to work together with stakeholders to harness the potential of digital technologies for better health.
Related news and resources
See allBiopharmaceutical Industry’s Global Policy Principles on Digital Health
Today’s global health challenges and priorities require innovative approaches, including digital health and data-driven solutions. These solutions have proven their real world value by helping to combat COVID-19. At the same time, the pandemic has reinforced how critical it is to accelerate the digitalization of health systems around the world, and to have appropriate policies and resources that enable digital health benefits to reach all who need them.
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IFPMA Data Ethics Principles
These Data Ethics Principles are intended to help the pharmaceutical industry use data responsibly and sustainably, in alignment with the IFPMA Ethos of care, fairness, respect, and honesty. Ethical data use is critical to innovation, advancing scientific and medical understanding, ensuring patient safety, and improving healthcare for the benefit of individual patients and broader society....
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WHO EB 146 Agenda Item 20: Data and innovation: draft global strategy on digital health
This Statement is made by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, the Global Diagnostic Imaging, Healthcare IT & Radiation Therapy Trade Association, and the Global Self-Care Federation (previously called the World Self-Medication Industry).
Read moreOther health systems topics
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Universal Health Coverage
IFPMA works in partnership with other members of the global health community to achieve Universal Health Coverage targets and contribute to a world where no one is left behind in receiving the healthcare they need.
Vaccines
The innovative pharmaceutical industry supports the discovery of new vaccines and their access to prevent and control diseases, improve the health of people everywhere, and make the world a safer place.
Rare diseases
We are driving a mindset shift regarding rare diseases that pose unique challenges to patients, their families, society, healthcare professionals, and healthcare systems.