[Ambitions and main conclusions of the conference "Global health, local decisions" organized by the Digital Health Network]

Abstract

Health is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". Health must therefore be considered in its entirety. To begin with, however, it is vital to move swiftly from the concept of holistic health to its practical implementation. This is what the first Digital Health Network symposium proposed on May 30 and 31, 2024. The Digital Health Network was originally set up by a group of players from the healthcare sector, industry, research and elected representatives, with the aim of pooling feedback from experience as close as possible to local realities. The following points were addressed: i) rebalancing the curative approach with a greater emphasis on prevention and health promotion; ii) rebalancing the genetic approach with a greater emphasis on exposomics; iii) insufficient use of digital technology to improve the health of local populations; iv) governance and organizational challenges from the point of view of local decision-makers and observers, with a focus on research; and v) the ambitions of the Digital Health Network. The symposium provided an opportunity to share case studies of public health challenges in local areas, and possible responses in terms of infrastructure and stakeholder participation: citizens, patients, healthcare professionals, service providers, experts and other stakeholders. The challenges of ageing and geriatric frailty underline the importance of a global, preventive and multidisciplinary approach to promote successful, independent ageing.

Keywords: digital; exposome; global health; governance; health promotion; prevention.