In 2026 the global conversation on digital health policy and care standards has moved from theory into action as governments, international organisations, and tech innovators confront the realities of a digital healthcare future. Digital health — once an aspirational goal — now underpins critical decisions about how societies manage health data, how care is delivered, and how technologies like artificial intelligence are regulated to ensure safety, equity and interoperability worldwide.
At the centre of these debates is the World Health Organization’s continued push to implement its Global Strategy on Digital Health, which spans from supporting countries in adopting interoperable digital health systems to making digital services accessible across all income levels and geographical regions. This strategy aims to strengthen health systems through data, connectivity, and technology, promoting healthy lives and equitable wellbeing for everyone, everywhere.
One example of tangible policy movement is the European Health Data Space (EHDS) — a landmark regulatory framework enacted by the European Union that sets standards for the exchange and use of electronic health data across member states. The regulation, officially in force since March 2025, aims to give citizens better control of their health data while enabling researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to utilise anonymised health information securely. By harmonising data standards and building infrastructures like MyHealth@EU to support cross-border healthcare, the EHDS represents one of the most ambitious efforts to unify digital care standards globally.
In parallel, collaborations between WHO/Europe and national regulatory agencies — including the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) — have launched new initiatives to tackle specific segments of digital health, such as digital mental health technologies. By establishing a Knowledge Community focused on regulation of these services, stakeholders from member states, academia, industry and civil society are working together to define regulatory expectations that protect users while encouraging innovation.
The urgency of digital health standardisation is not limited to Europe. Across regions, policymakers face complex questions about privacy, security, equity, and data governance. For instance, studies show that while mobile health applications and electronic health records can significantly improve healthcare delivery, inadequate training, technical limitations, and fragmented infrastructure remain major hurdles. These gaps highlight why global policy frameworks must not only set standards but also support implementation, training, and robust cybersecurity measures.
Another pressing aspect of the digital care landscape is ethical AI integration in healthcare. Organisations like HealthAI have responded to the need for clear policy by launching communities of practice focused on responsible, ethical and equitable AI use in healthcare. These groups bring together experts from government, technology and healthcare to share insights, develop best practices, and help countries craft regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with patient safety and fairness.
Despite significant progress, global health policy debates continue to grapple with the tension between innovation and regulation. Digital solutions promise improved efficiency, lower costs, and better patient outcomes, especially where traditional healthcare access is limited. Yet without standards that ensure interoperability, data privacy, security, and equitable access, these technologies can widen disparities rather than close them, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Experts emphasise that policy alignment across countries, public-private collaboration, and inclusive stakeholder engagement are essential for maximizing the benefits of digital health. This includes adopting frameworks that support not only high-tech solutions in developed economies but also practical, scalable models in resource-constrained settings. As the EHDS model demonstrates, harmonised regulations can empower individuals with control over their health data while enabling cross-border research and innovation.
The stakes of these debates are high. Health systems worldwide face challenges ranging from ageing populations and workforce shortages to rising costs and uneven access to quality care. Digital technologies — from telehealth and electronic records to AI diagnostics — represent powerful tools to confront these trends, but only if paired with policies that protect citizens and ensure system reliability.
As global health policy continues to evolve in 2026, stakeholders are watching closely how standards for digital care are shaped, negotiated, and implemented. The work being done now on regulation, interoperability, ethics, and data governance will likely determine not just the technological future of healthcare but how equitable and effective that future will be for people around the world.