On 10 February 2025, the College of Education (CEDU) hosted a digital health seminar at the Muckleneuk Campus, alongside leaders and experts from the College of Human Sciences (CHS) and the College of Economics and Management Sciences (CEMS), with distinguished guests from FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany, to discuss the evolving digital healthcare landscape in South Africa and Germany, including other global insights. With a focus on National Digital Health Strategy for South Africa (2019-2024) and ongoing innovations in Germany, the seminar explored key opportunities and challenges in shaping the future of digital health.

Front row: Justin August, Associate Professor: Department of Psychology of Education; Dr Cebile Tebele: College of Economics and Management Sciences; and Prof Mpine Makoe, Executive Dean: College of Education
Back row: Prof Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean: College of Human Sciences; and Dr Anita Mörth, FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany.

Appearing on-screen, keynote speaker: Prof Jenny Wesche, FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany.

The Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences, Prof Zethu Nkosi, commenced the seminar by emphasising the increasing significance of digital health in tackling South Africa’s healthcare challenges. Nkosi further underscored that digital health solutions are crucial to the country's endeavour for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Prof Justin August, Unisa Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology of Education, presented an insightful overview of the National Digital Health Strategy for South Africa (2019-2024). The strategy highlights digital health’s role in improving healthcare delivery through innovations such as mobile health apps, electronic health records (EHRs) and artificial intelligence (AI). This strategy is consistent with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and builds on lessons from the 2012-2016 eHealth Strategy. "Key principles of the strategy include a person-centred approach, expanding digital health access for vulnerable populations, fostering innovation, building a skilled digital health workforce and adopting a whole-of-government approach," asserted August. He additionally underlined several principles that aim to create a resilient digital health ecosystem that can support South Africa’s healthcare system.

Strategic priorities for digital health

Digital health priorities in South Africa focus on the full implementation of electronic health records for all citizens, digitising health system processes, and scaling mobile health initiatives such as MomConnect. Other priorities include enhancing the interoperability of health information systems across sectors and training digital health professionals to ensure the long-term sustainability of digital health solutions.

Transforming healthcare with digital health

Digital health holds significant potential to transform South Africa’s healthcare system, especially by improving access in rural and underserved areas. Programmes like MomConnect, which delivers essential health information to pregnant women via SMS, demonstrate the power of mobile health messaging in overcoming geographical and infrastructure barriers. The use of electronic health records (EHRs) can streamline patient data management, reduce errors and support faster diagnoses. AI-powered tools also offer quicker and more accurate diagnoses, particularly for conditions like tuberculosis and cervical cancer. Digital health platforms, such as telehealth services and AI chatbots, can alleviate the burden on overtaxed healthcare facilities by reducing unnecessary visits and providing patients with self-assessment tools. Additionally, tools for disease management and prevention, such as wearable devices and data-driven public health strategies, promise to improve early detection and intervention for chronic diseases.

Tackling Inequities in digital health access

Despite the promising potential of digital health, the seminar also highlighted key challenges regarding its distribution. These include disparities between urban and rural areas, digital infrastructure issues, socioeconomic barriers, and gaps between the public and private healthcare sectors. Urban centres like Johannesburg and Cape Town are better equipped with the infrastructure needed for digital health, while rural areas face limited internet access and digital illiteracy. Other challenges include the affordability of smartphones and data plans, especially for low-income communities, and the lack of digital health solutions in the public healthcare sector, which serves the majority of South Africa’s population.

Global perspective: Germany’s digital health innovation

Dr Anita Mörth, Coordinator of the Digital Health Community at FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany, shared insights into Germany’s approach to digital health. She discussed the country's efforts to leverage technology to improve healthcare quality and accessibility. Germany’s digital health landscape includes applications like telemedicine, electronic health records, AI-assisted diagnostics and virtual reality for rehabilitation.

Dr Anita Mörth, FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany

Mörth stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration with Unisa in advancing digital health. She said that the Digital Health Community at FernUniversität brings together experts from fields such as psychology, economics, medicine, management and law to address real-world healthcare challenges. "This transdisciplinary approach ensures that digital health innovations are both scientifically grounded and practically applicable," she stated.

Opportunities for Unisa in digital health and future outlook

During the discussions, the main focus was how the university can help improve digital healthcare in South Africa. Several key opportunities were identified, including

• fostering research and innovation
• offering digital health curricula
• upskilling healthcare workers
• promoting digital literacy in communities

The seminar concluded with how Unisa can play a pivotal role in public-private partnerships, policy advocacy, and supporting digital health startups and researchers with infrastructure. By focusing on these areas, Unisa can help bridge the digital divide and support the successful implementation of digital health strategies in South Africa.

Programme director Dr Cebile Tebele, from CEMS, presented the vote of thanks on behalf of Prof Ramodungoane Tabane, School Director: Educational Studies at CEDU. Furthermore, Tebele acknowledged the contributions of all key speakers and participants, stating that the seminar provided valuable insights into how digital health can revolutionise healthcare delivery in South Africa and beyond, emphasising the importance of collaboration, innovation and inclusive policies to ensure that the benefits of digital health reach all communities. "As digital health continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping the future of healthcare," she said in her closing remarks.

The seminar highlighted the need for ongoing collaboration between academic institutions, government agencies, healthcare providers and the private sector to fully harness the potential for digital health solutions. Through innovation and strategic partnerships, South Africa and Germany are poised to lead in the digital transformation of healthcare.

* By Freddy Mlambo, Acting Marketing and Communications Specialist, College of Education