Assessing the effects of digital technologies on health financing and UHC universal health coverage objectives - A guide with key questions

Overview

The use of digital technologies Ifor health financing, as part of the broader domain of digital health, receives increased attention in policy, practice and research. However, so far, not much solid evidence exists on the effects of digital technologies in health financing on the universal health coverage (UHC) objectives. The purpose of this WHO guide is to support the generation of evidence on how digital technologies (positively or negatively) influence health financing functions and tasks, and how this may (or may not) contribute to progress towards the UHC goals. The ultimate objective is to inform the improvement of the design and implementation of a digital technology in order to optimize the impact on health financing and UHC.

The guide provides key questions and possible indicators to help assess the potential effects and risks related to revenue raising, pooling, purchasing, beneficiary entitlements and public financial management. Likewise, examples of digital technologies used for the various health financing functions are presented. 

Ultimately, sound and tailored health-financing policy design remains the key success factor for progress towards UHC, and digital technologies need to be designed and implemented such that they can support and simplify health financing tasks.