Digital health for the End TB Strategy: developing priority products and making them work

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Global Health

Background:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the End Tuberculosis (TB) Strategy in 2014, aiming to eradicate the global TB epidemic by 2035.
• Significant advancements are required to overcome challenges in TB care, affecting healthcare professionals, patients, and communities.
• Information and communication technology (ICT) offers promising avenues for innovative TB interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the approach of the WHO Global Task Force on Digital Health for TB in advancing digital health innovations.
• To align digital health strategies with the three pillars of the End TB Strategy.
• To identify priority digital health concepts and products for enhancing national TB programs.

Main Methods:

• The WHO Global Task Force on Digital Health for TB was established in April 2015.
• The task force's approach focuses on stewarding the development of digital health innovations.
• Target product profiles were developed to define priority digital health concepts and products.

Main Results:

• Nine priority digital health concepts and products were identified by early 2016.
• These innovations are strategically positioned to improve TB action at the country level.
• Successful large-scale implementation necessitates engagement from patients, caregivers, innovators, policymakers, and communities.

Conclusions:

• Digital health holds significant potential to support TB patient care, surveillance, program management, and e-learning.
• Collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders are essential for the effective development and deployment of digital health solutions.
• The identified digital health innovations are critical for achieving the global End TB Strategy goals.