Digital transformation of healthcare may allow more inclusive, equitable and ethical use of resources, but the full potential of this evolution cannot be achieved without interoperability, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) said in a new policy statement.
Interoperability must be a prerequisite for any digital technology development, including usage of internationally recognised standards, terminology and taxonomy, the federation stated on September 21.
Jacqueline Surugue, chair, FIP Technology Forum, said: “We expect the impact of digital advances, such as predictive and personalised medicine, facial recognition, natural language processing and augmented reality, to gain even greater significance. We must be prepared to tackle the challenges to usher pharmacy into its digitally supported future.”
The statement highlighted the need to have a confident, capable, agile and digitally enabled pharmaceutical workforce to leverage the potential of digital health.
Surugue added: “With this policy statement, FIP is leading on preparations for the future so that the pharmacy profession is prepared to improve health and well-being through digital therapeutics.
“The statement also makes clear that FIP is committed to advocating the adoption of common digital standards, to promoting the importance of interoperability, and to supporting its member organisations to develop in this area.”
