ANALYSIS
DIGITAL HEALTHCARE: ARE THE MOST IN NEED BEING EXCLUDED?
Tech is being used to make it easier for people to access healthcare services. But it’s not working for everyone
From artificial intelligence algorithms that spot early cancers, to the ‘doctor-in-your-pocket’ smartphone video consultation, a string of next-generation healthcare technologies are being unveiled at a rapid rate.
For instance, as recently announced in England, users of the NHS app can now collect medications from a pharmacy without having to visit a healthcare centre – the usual paper slip given by doctors being replaced by an in-app barcode.
Such innovations have brought huge benefits to millions of patients. But the advantages of such digitisation are not distributed equally. According to a 2023 Ofcom report, one household in 13 has no access to the internet and a similar proportion has no home computer. Yet even within connected households, the so-called ‘digital skills gap’ means many people could still struggle.