From digital desert to digital exemplar: harnessing technology for public health

Successive governments have sought to harness advances in technology to transform the delivery of health and care services. However, digital transformation has been slower to make its mark in public health. Yet leveraging digital tools and taking a data-driven approach has significant potential in helping tackle major public health challenges such as worsening rates of obesity, deteriorating mental health and widening health inequalities.

Linking and utilising health data from a range of settings including within the NHS and local authorities can help us better understand the drivers of ill health and devote resources to areas where they will most effectively drive-up population health.

Technology can be used to help more precisely target public health interventions and take new approaches to delivering them. Innovations in both of these areas will help move us away from a disease and illness treatment-based model and towards a truly national health service.

Reform is delighted to be hosting a roundtable in partnership with Imperial College’s The Forum to discuss how data and technology can be used to help tackle major public health challenges.

This roundtable will be held under the Chatham House Rule. This event is kindly supported by Imperial College’s The Forum.