We are excited to introduce the “EDiHTA talks”―our first episode on the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) Podcast, hosted by EPF, for discussions on Digital Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and its impact on healthcare innovation. As digital health technologies continue to evolve, ensuring that they are effectively assessed, accessible and patient-centred is crucial.
The first episode of the series features a conversation with Sheila Khawaja, a Patient Engagement and Advocacy Expert and active member of the EDiHTA Patient Advisory Group. The discussion highlights the importance of patient involvement in the development and evaluation of digital health solutions, including telemedicine, AI-driven healthcare and mobile health applications.
The Role of Patients in Digital Health Innovation
Digital health technologies offer enormous potential to improve healthcare accessibility, efficiency and outcomes. However, as Sheila explains, their successful implementation depends on early and meaningful patient engagement. Without patient insights, there is a risk of developing technologies that do not align with real-world needs, leading to poor adoption rates and wasted resources.
Sheila’s advocacy work allows her to bring a broad perspective on patient needs and expectations. She emphasises that the most effective digital health technologies are those developed in collaboration with the people who will use them—patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Overcoming Barriers to Digital Health Adoption
One of the key challenges discussed is digital health literacy. While many people can understand a medical diagnosis, using digital tools to manage health requires a different set of skills. Sheila points out that improving digital health education is essential to ensure patients can fully benefit from these innovations.
Another important factor is trust in AI and data security. Patients are increasingly open to AI-driven healthcare solutions, but they need assurance that their data will be protected, used ethically and not exploited for commercial purposes.
Additionally, the conversation highlights the importance of cultural and ethical considerations in digital health adoption. Healthcare systems across Europe vary in their readiness to integrate AI and digital technologies, and these differences must be addressed to create inclusive and scalable solutions.
What’s Next in the EDiHTA Podcast Series?
This episode is just the beginning of a series that will bring together different perspectives of patient engagement and advocacy experts across Europe to discuss the evolving landscape of Digital Health Technology Assessment. In EDiHTA we want to ensure that the voices of patients are heard. Stay tuned for more EDiHTA podcast episodes! Stay informed as we continue to explore the future of digital health technology assessment in Europe.
You can also listen to the full interview on our YouTube channel and EPF’s Spotify channel.
Special thank you to our guest speaker Sheila Khawaja and the European Patients’ Forum team.
