The Future of Inclusive Health: Ensuring Digital Innovation Leaves No One Behind

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Sadia Khalid, a Scientist-Physician (MBBS, MD) at Tallinn University of Technologye. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

The future of healthcare is undeniably digital. Advances in telehealth, artificial intelligence, genomics, and data-driven care promise improved efficiency, safety, and access to services. Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health has rapidly become embedded across healthcare systems worldwide. However, without intentional and inclusive design, digital transformation risks deepening existing health inequities rather than reducing them. The future of inclusive health, therefore, depends not on technological advancement alone, but on how equitably these technologies are implemented.

Digital technologies now function as a key social determinant of health, shaping access to education, employment, information, and healthcare across the life course. Yet assumptions of universal digital access remain deeply flawed. Millions of people experience digital exclusion due to poverty, age, disability, marginalisation, literacy, rurality, or mistrust of institutions. Intersectionality further compounds exclusion, particularly for groups such as people experiencing homelessness, Roma, and Traveller communities, and older people. If digital health services become the default mode of care without parallel non-digital alternatives, those already experiencing the poorest health outcomes may face additional barriers to accessing care.

The future of inclusive health requires a shift from equality-based digital provision to equity-driven design. This means recognising that different groups require different levels and types of support to achieve meaningful access. Inclusive digital health must be co-produced with communities, incorporate alternative access routes, and be supported by digital intermediaries, champions, and training initiatives. Importantly, responsibility must not be placed on individuals or communities to “catch up” with digital innovation; instead, healthcare systems must adapt to the realities of people’s lives.

Nurses and midwives will play a critical role in shaping this future. As trusted professionals working at the interface between health systems and communities, they are uniquely positioned to identify digital barriers, build trust in technology, and advocate for inclusive service design. However, digital inclusion must also extend to the workforce itself. Investment in digital capability, infrastructure, and leadership, such as Chief Nurse Information Officers, is essential to ensure that nurses and midwives are empowered rather than excluded by technological change.

Looking ahead, inclusive health systems must embed equity evaluation into all digital innovations, measuring not only efficiency and uptake but also who is excluded, why, and how barriers can be removed. The future of inclusive health will be defined by our ability to harness digital innovation while upholding health as a human right. If designed with care, participation, and social justice at its core, digital health can become a powerful tool for reducing inequities. If not, it risks entrenching them. The challenge, and opportunity, lies in ensuring that no one is left behind.

About the author

Sadia Khalid is a Scientist-Physician (MBBS, MD) at Tallinn University of Technology. She is driven by a commitment to advance public health and scientific understanding. With research interests spanning molecular medicine, infectious diseases, bacteriology, hepatology, and gastroenterology, she aims to contribute meaningful, evidence-based insights that support health, safety, and community awareness.