Digital healthcare: from a tool for innovation to a driver of sustainability

For a long time, digital healthcare was primarily portrayed as innovation: new software, electronic health records, online services and telemedicine. Today, this definition is no longer sufficient. Digital technology must take on a more ambitious role, becoming one of the key infrastructures for the sustainability of the National Health Service, helping to manage growing demand for healthcare with increasingly limited financial and professional resources.

The challenge is clear: an ageing population, the rise in chronic conditions and expectations of a better quality of life are increasing the need for care, whilst at the same time staff shortages are forcing us to rethink our activities and care pathways. In this context, digitalisation does not mean simply transferring existing procedures onto a screen, but rather eliminating unnecessary steps, making information available at the right time and freeing up staff time to be devoted to patient care.

Some examples? An integrated medical record prevents duplicate tests and reduces the time needed to piece together a patient’s medical history. The Electronic Health Record (EHR) facilitates continuity between hospitals, local healthcare services and general practice. Telemedicine enables the monitoring of frail or chronically ill patients at home, anticipating deteriorations in their condition and reducing avoidable hospital visits. Advanced planning systems can optimise the use of operating theatres, hospital beds and diagnostic schedules.

Artificial intelligence should also be viewed in this light. Its contribution is not limited to algorithms applied to individual disciplines, such as radiology. It can support the forecasting of demand, the management of waiting lists, shift planning, appropriate prescribing, the summarisation of medical records and the early identification of risks. The value, however, does not stem from the technology itself: it requires reliable data, integration into processes, evaluation of outcomes, expertise and a governance framework capable of ensuring safety, transparency and fairness.

The PNRR has accelerated the construction of national and regional infrastructure, from the ESF to telemedicine platforms. Now comes the most challenging phase: transforming these investments into stable, measurable and sustainable services over the long term. Beyond simply completing a project or launching a platform, we must demonstrate that the technology reduces waiting times, improves accessibility, cuts waste, boosts productivity and enhances the quality of care.