Digital Strategy for Aotearoa highlights digital health innovations

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

A new Digital Strategy for Aotearoa sets out a vision for harnessing the potential of the digital economy and features digital health projects as examples of innovations in the pipeline.

Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, David Clark, launched Te Rautaki Matihiko mō Aotearoa - The Digital Strategy for Aotearoa, on September 15 saying it revolves around three key pillars: Mahi Tika – Trust, Mahi Tahi – Inclusion and Mahi Ake – Growth.

Clark describes the strategy as “incredibly ambitious” as it sets targets to have fewer cyber incidents than comparable countries, high-speed internet available to all New Zealanders and to have the digital and ICT sector on track to becoming the country’s leading export earner.

A case study included in the strategy says the New Dunedin Hospital will be a leader in digital health solutions once completed in 2028.

Tony Lloyd, programme director of the new hospital, says it will be New Zealand’s first digital hospital with a strong focus on digital solutions to replace the existing paper-based and digital interactions that occur with patients.

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The strategy says one of the options under consideration for the new hospital is the introduction of digital twin technology.

“This would show the origin, composition and likely replacement date of each item used in both constructing and running the hospital, mapping thousands of items digitally,” it says.

Lloyd says the new Dunedin hospital teams want to extend the use of digital twin technology to include items used to run the hospital, such as heart monitors, scalpels, and ventilators.

“Using digital twin technology increases efficiency and enables significant cost savings over time, even when factoring in the upfront cost of purchase and installation,” he says.

The programme team are also working closely with the Dunedin-based Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE), which is working on ‘Games for health’ to improve health outcomes.

Another case study in the new strategy focuses on Hira, which it describes as a “gamechanger”.

“Hira is a digital capability that enables consolidated health information to be delivered to all New Zealanders wherever they are and whenever they need it,” it says.

The cast study compares Hira to online banking, saying it pulls data from different systems into one place to create a single view, using application programming interfaces (APIs).

“In time, New Zealanders will be able to access and control their health information through their smartphone, tablet or computer. There will also be other accessible options for people who don’t have access to technology or prefer not to use it.”

It says conversations with whānau, communities and health providers have inspired the Hira team to “reimagine what technology could do for health care, not what it should or already does”.

“The team is thinking about the impossible and working backwards from there, all the while making sure Hira will be meaningful for those who use technology and those who don’t,” the strategy document says.

The strategy says insights derived from Hira will also provide an invaluable pipeline to the digital health industry.

“Fuelled with ideas, and driven to create purposeful technology and integrated solutions that combine actual needs with right-time data, contexts and settings, vendors are helping to bridge the gap between better use of data and building a smarter health care system,” it says.

Growth of New Zealand’s digital industries is a key pillar of the strategy, including the creation of a Digital Technologies Industry Transformation Plan: a government / industry partnership to support the future growth of New Zealand’s digital tech sector.

Digital Health Association chief executive Ryl Jensen says there are many innovative New Zealand born digital health companies that could benefit from the type of support and focus the Digital Strategy for Aotearoa outlines.

She says the strategy is a vital step in the realisation of the potential of digital technologies to be transformational for the health system and to improve the health outcomes of all New Zealanders.

"Digital technologies can help address equity and access issues, drive efficiency, reduce medical errors, and provide a much better continuity of care for consumers. However, the focus on innovation and co-designing with industry partners must not be put on the back burner and words need to be followed by actions," Jensen says.

Picture: Minister Clark launching the Digital Strategy of Aotearoa



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