Digital Healthcare Transformation Initiative

About

Accelerating responsible digital transformation of healthcare ecosystems globally.

1 year

The time a person spends in ill health has increased compared to a decade ago.

4.5 billion

People worldwide lack access to essential healthcare services.

10 million

Global shortage of health workers expected by 2030, with the greatest impact in developing countries.

The healthcare challenges

Digital, data, and AI are opportunities to tackle our three key perennial healthcare challenges globally.

Increasing burden of chronic diseases

The rising prevalence of chronic conditions are causing major pressure to healthcare systems globally.

Inequitable outcomes and access

Wide and persistent inequities across the world as well as within countries.

Resource constraints

Unsustainable cost growth and healthcare workforce crisis.

Our workstreams

The initiative operates through 3 complementary workstreams:

Global Insight Exchange, which enables knowledge sharing via global public-private community, advancing thinking on key innovations & enablers

Ecosystem shaping, which serves as neutral public-private and cross-industry broker on policy across key markets (primarily US, Europe, Asia)

Regional Pathfinders, which deliver localized impact by building coalitions and implementing digital solutions to address specific healthcare challenges. Together, they accelerate global progress while ensuring practical, context-driven results.

Global Insight Exchange

Facilitates the exchange of insights to increase visibility on opportunities and risks, advance thought leadership through targeted deep dives, inform policies and governance, and support stronger alignment across sectors. 

Thought leadership deep dives: 
Life sciences and Medtech Horizons

Providing foresights into AI driven future of life sciences and MedTech, new business models and value drivers enabling the transformation, exploring the implications for collaboration and ecosystem shaping.

Cross-sector insights exchange


Cross-sector insights exchange, ideation, inputs and feedback on relevant DHT deliverables and tracks via quarterly virtual DHT community meetings, in person convenings and other communication tools. 

Curation of high value AI use cases

in collaboration with AI Frontier Minds programme (part of the AI Governance Alliance  - AIGA)

Ecosystem Shaping

Aims to convene high-level public–private dialogue to build consensus on policies and pathways for scaling impact, while establishing guiding principles for the future structure and roles within the ecosystem. It seeks to strengthen narratives linking these efforts to productivity and competitiveness, and to act as a global “network of networks” connecting stakeholders across sectors and regions.

Regional focus: US

Key policy areas: Health tech ecosystem, payments, TEFCA, fed & state AI, rural health

Key strategic topics:

Value assessment, System-wide adoption, Health data economy, Ecosystem structure

Regional focus: Europe

Key policy areas: EHDS, AI Act / AI Office, MDR/IVDR, Biotech Act + National policies 

Key strategic topics:

Innovation & competitiveness, Scaling amid fragmentation, Data and trust, Public-private alignment

Pathfinders

Multisectoral coalitions at the global, regional, national or subnational level that support advancements in digital health and health systems transformation.

Spotlight pathfinders

Amplify learnings, share best practices. Pathfinders are catalysts for digital transformation in health.

Strengthen connections

Leverage the DHT networks and partner institutions.

Shape future guidance and collaborations

Co-create a targeted pathfinder network to develop collective guidance and support the scale up of digital health strategies globally.

From value to transformation: a new vision for healthcare

Building on insights from the Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare initiative (2016-2023), the Forum's Centre for Health and Healthcare has launched this flagship initiative to drive digital transformation in healthcare systems with a value-driven approach.

Cross-initiative Collaboration

Digital healthcare transformation is collaborating with other relevant workstreams across the Forum.

The Quantum Economy Network

Part of the Centre for Frontier Technologies and Innovation (CFTI), this is a global platform for governments, businesses and academia to understand the potential of quantum technologies, shape their development and prepare for their introduction into the economy.

AI Governance Alliance

The Alliance unites leaders across sectors to promote transparent, accountable AI aligned with human values, and develops practical frameworks for global implementation.

Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare

The initiative is committed to scaling value-based healthcare and strengthening the resilience of our healthcare through public-private collaboration.

Join us in shaping the future of digital healthcare

Collaborate to drive innovation, improve access, and transform healthcare systems globally.

Digital Healthcare Transformation Initiative

A World Economic Forum Initiative
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