WHO/Europe has designated Public Health Wales in the United Kingdom as a new collaborating centre for digital health equity. This partnership will play a pivotal role in shaping WHO’s initiatives on digital health equity and fostering collaboration and advocacy among stakeholders across the European region.
A 2022 study by WHO/Europe and Public Health Wales highlighted significant disparities in access to digital health tools in Europe. People with poor health, migrants, older adults, ethnic minorities, and those facing language barriers encounter the greatest challenges, while individuals with higher education and income levels benefit more. Digital health technologies are also more prevalent in urban areas, leaving many populations underserved. Dr. Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director of Health Systems at WHO/Europe, emphasized that the most vulnerable populations are often the first to be left behind and stressed the importance of understanding and addressing these inequities.
As a WHO collaborating centre, Public Health Wales will contribute to technical reviews, research, and evidence-gathering to advance digital health equity at regional and global levels. The collaboration will support the implementation of the Regional digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030, help identify best practices, and guide inclusive digital health policy development.
Professor Alisha Davies of Public Health Wales highlighted that while digital technologies and electronic health records hold great promise for improving health outcomes, overlooking issues like unequal access, digital literacy, and bias risks widening existing health disparities. She emphasized that the partnership with WHO aims to ensure digital health innovations are guided by user needs, equity, and systems thinking, helping to reduce, rather than reinforce, health inequalities.
With this designation, the WHO European Region now has four collaborating centres focused on digital health. WHO/Europe reaffirmed its commitment to expanding this network to accelerate digital transformation in health systems and ensure equitable access to digital health solutions.
