Digital Health Platforms in Pharmacy: Transforming Patient Engagement and Care

Pharmaceutical services have a unique opportunity to expand their clinical role and become actively involved in the future patient-focused/centred system through digital health. The objective of the present study is to illustrate how, in addition to other digital health innovations (e.g., wearables, telemedicine, and mobile health applications as well as AI and other biosensors), these new breakthroughs can converge to enhance patient care, reduce drug delivery timeframes, and improve accessibility of healthcare. These digital tools can innovate, using business models such as telehealth consulting and apps that track drug compliance, to expand offerings while reaching the underrepresented in society and promoting health. There is also discussion of the practical ways in which digital health can be integrated into pharmacy practice, in particular, focused mainly on the requirement for education and learning, partnership with tech and pharma players, and overcoming obstacles, including financial/legislative impediments. Whilst providing specific examples for how chemists might practically utilise digital health tools, the summary of the analysis does suggest that best case, a patient-centred and flexible approach is likely needed to maximise the influence of digital health innovations in practice from pharmacists.