Investing an additional 24 cents per patient per year in digital health could help save more than two million lives from noncommunicable diseases over the next decade, says a joint report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

This includes interventions such as telemedicine, mobile messaging and chatbots. The investment could also avert approximately seven million acute events and hospitalisations, reducing the strain on healthcare systems around the world.

The publication was launched last month at an event hosted by the Gambia government during the 79th United Nations General Assembly, in collaboration with the ITU and WHO.

“The future of health is digital,” said WHO (www.who.int) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “But to make this vision a reality, we need both resources and collaboration. No single organisation can do it alone. We call on governments, partners and donors to come together, invest strategically, and ensure that these life-saving innovations reach those who need them most.”

ITU (www.itu.int) secretary-general Doreen Bogdan-Martin added: “The digital revolution has the potential to unleash a health revolution. At ITU, universal meaningful connectivity is a priority because digital is a catalyst for delivering targets in key sectors such as health and education. We call for greater collaboration between the health and tech sectors, including the development of strong digital public infrastructure, essential for the delivery of digital health services that can benefit people everywhere without leaving anyone behind.”

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, are responsible for over 74% of global deaths annually, many of which are preventable. While significant progress has been made in combating NCDs, the integration of digital health technologies into mainstream health systems remains a challenge. The report shows there is an urgent need to harness these technologies to scale up effective interventions and mitigate the growing burden on healthcare systems worldwide.

Four major risk factors linked to our everyday environment – tobacco use, unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol and physical inactivity – drive responses in our bodies that also increase NCD risk: raised blood pressure, obesity, raised blood glucose and raised cholesterol. Digital tools, including mobile messaging and chatbots, can help individuals understand their modifiable risk factors and encourage them to develop healthier habits.

People living with NCDs require regular monitoring and continuous management, and many need long term and specialised care. Digital tools such as telemedicine can help them overcome barriers to accessing healthcare. Real-time data and tools for healthcare professionals can also help them make informed decisions about their patients.

While over 60% of countries have developed a digital health strategy, there is often a lack of integration of new technologies into the existing health infrastructure. The report calls for countries to invest in digital public infrastructure, and promote standards and interoperability that can overcome critical barriers to realising the full potential of digital health.

More on the report can be found at iris.who.int/handle/10665/378478.