Digital health equity gaps remain, finds WHO research

People with greater health needs and language barriers still struggle to use digital health services and technologies, according to research led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Public Health Wales.

The scoping review found that these groups experience difficulties accessing technology because of limited access, low digital literacy and services being poorly adapted to diverse needs.

It also identified that inequities in digital infrastructure between regions risk creating uneven access to innovation.

Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, director of health systems at WHO/Europe, said: “One of our main objectives with this new review was to understand what exactly drives inequity in digital health, and how equity is incorporated into regulation, implementation and evaluation processes globally.

“One of the key takeaways is that equity in digital health cannot be achieved through isolated actions but requires a coordinated, whole-system approach to ensure equitable regulation, implementation and evaluation of digital health.”

The scoping review covers literature published between 2015 and 2024, assessing 154 articles to identify where good practices and persistent gaps exist.

While equity is increasingly referenced in digital health strategies, it often lacks operational standards to guide its inclusion or mechanisms enabling governments to provide oversight, risking the benefits of digital health and AI being unevenly distributed.

Dr David Novillo Ortiz, regional adviser for data, AI and digital health at WHO/Europe, said: “Equity should never be treated as an afterthought in the development and implementation of digital health technologies.

“If someone in a rural area cannot access a telehealth consultation because it requires high-speed internet that is unavailable in their village, then innovation is failing the very people it should serve.”

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Source: Digital Health, 23 March 2026