Digital health and universal health coverage: opportunities and policy considerations for Pacific Island health authorities

The emergence of digital health tools offer opportunities to complement and support the health system in the delivery of health services, especially in resource-constrained settings. Low- and middle-income countries have implemented various digital health interventions to support a range of health functions including patient information collection, diagnostics, supply-chain management, and remote clinical monitoring. The use of digital health in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) is increasing. Effective implementation is hampered by misalignment between system design and contextual realities among other factors. Health service delivery in PICTs are highly resource sensitive, digital health must add demonstrable benefit to justify the expenditure of resources that could otherwise be allocated to facilities, equipment, staff, medicines and other commodities.