Achieve global scale for your digital health solutions
Pharma companies are increasingly recognizing the potential of digital health solutions to transform the healthcare landscape, and many are looking to scale their digital initiatives globally.
In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly recognizing the transformative potential of digital health solutions. As the world witnesses a growing reliance on technology to address healthcare challenges, these companies seek to scale their digital initiatives globally. We assembled a panel of industry experts to discuss the challenges and considerations involved in scaling digital health solutions on a global level.
A poll of attendees found that around a fifth (21%) have a digital health product in the market and are looking to scale it, whilst the biggest proportion (37%) have just started to explore digital health solutions.
One of the main focal points of the discussion was the need for organizations to define the purpose and positioning of their digital health solutions. According to Novartis’ Matic Meglic, organizations need to understand whether their solutions are "linked specifically to a product or... a disease pathway or a patient journey", as having that clarity is essential to set the direction for the entire initiative.
Interoperability with stakeholders emerged as a crucial factor in successful global scaling. The transformation of the healthcare industry requires collaboration beyond comfort zones, and such collaboration may involve venturing into new areas and forming partnerships with other entities. "We have to rely upon and partner with others that are working on this with different incentives than we are," BMS’ Alexandra Gonçalves said.
AstraZeneca’s Hassan Naqvi emphasized the active involvement of pharma companies in promoting healthcare interoperability. He highlighted Graphite, an initiative uniting various U.S. healthcare institutions in a common data environment, enabling improved health charge, billing and scheduling processes. He also mentioned Optima, sponsored by the European Commission, which aims to establish uniform data environments across Europe to enhance healthcare outcomes. Naqvi's remarks underscored the potential of collaborative efforts to create a more interconnected and efficient healthcare ecosystem.
When it comes to revenue generation, organizations must make a strategic decision, Meglic added. Companies need to consider whether they will "ask the digital health solution to generate revenue on its own" or if the solution will primarily contribute to brand recognition and support core business objectives.
The panel also urged organizations to look beyond traditional ROI measures when evaluating the value of digital health solutions. According to Meglic, "trying to do a pure ROI on a digital health tool does not necessarily create the same ROI as a traditional pharma asset." Instead, organizations should focus on broader implications, such as how the solution improves healthcare systems and patient outcomes.
Moreover, the panelists highlighted the importance of developing user-friendly solutions that add value to HCPs and patients rather than overwhelm. Gonçalves emphasized that healthcare providers (HCPs) are already overloaded and any additional complexity may lead to resistance. Simplifying solutions and minimizing additional burden can drive better adoption rates among HCPs.
A significant caution highlighted during the discussion was the need to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, Meglic pointed out. Simply replicating a successful solution from one country to another may not work due to differing local requirements and existing solutions, so understanding the unique context of each market is essential to avoid failure.
Watch the full webinar here to learn more about key aspects that need to be considered for enabling your digital health solutions, such as how should pharma companies work with regulators and payers, and how they can create business cases for digital health products.
Experts that contributed:
- Alexandra Gonçalves, Vice President, Medical Digital Health, Bristol Myers Squibb
- Åsa Magnusson, Chief Commercial Officer, Vicore Pharma
- Hassan Naqvi, Head of Value-Based Partnerships, Commercial Digital Health, AstraZeneca
- Matic Meglic, Global Executive Director – NCP Industry Partnerships, Novartis