Digital Health Literacy Policy Brief | October 2024 | Download PDF
As the European Union (EU) moves towards greater digitalisation, ensuring high levels of digital health literacy amongst individuals is essential for equitable access to healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined digital health literacy as “the ability to search, find, understand and evaluate health information from electronic resources and to use the knowledge gained to solve health-related problems”. People already vary widely in their ability to manage their health and healthcare, a concept known as health literacy.
Digital health literacy introduces an additional dimension: the ability to navigate digital environments, which is increasingly required for accessing healthcare.
In this policy brief, we first outline the importance of digital health literacy in the EU and any current challenges. Second, we make key recommendations to ensure that all people in the EU can benefit equally from healthcare services.
Recommendations
- Develop a Comprehensive EU Digital Health Literacy Strategy
- Promote Inclusive Digital Health Literacy Education
- Enhance Access to Digital Health Tools and Resources
- Strengthen Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
- Monitor and Evaluate Digital Health Literacy Initiatives
- Safeguard Offline Access to Healthcare
Digital health literacy is essential for ensuring that everyone in the EU can understand and benefit from digital healthcare innovations. Beyond digital health literacy, it is imperative that the European Union commits to the comprehensive regulation of digital health tools to ensure their safety, trustworthiness and benefit to patients. By addressing the current challenges and implementing these recommendations, the EU can promote health equity, improve health outcomes, and empower people to take control of their health in the digital age. We urge the European Commission, Member States, and relevant stakeholders to prioritise digital health literacy.
Download the policy brief to find out more, including the full list of recommendations.
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