Australia has been ranked as a world leader in a global academic study which highlighted the vision and implementation roadmap of Australia's National Digital Health Strategy 2023-2028 .
The strategy ranked number one alongside Estonia's according to Sweden's Uppsala University which evaluated the eHealth frameworks of 9 countries focusing on vision, objectives, methods of implementation, and follow-up protocols.
The Australian Digital Health Agency's CEO, Amanda Cattermole PSM, said the high ranking underscores Australia's leadership in developing and implementing a comprehensive, transformational and action-oriented eHealth strategy.
"It is an honour to have the National Digital Health Strategy's vision of 'an inclusive, sustainable and healthier future for all Australians through a connected and digitally enabled health system' acknowledged in this way," Ms Cattermole said.
"It is testament to the collective insights, engagement and cooperation of Australia's digital health sector and dedicated stakeholders across federal, state and territory governments."
The Australian Digital Health Agency's Chief Program Officer, Paul Creech PSM, said that researchers acknowledged the strategy was comprehensively integrated with broader national health and digitalisation goals.
"The researchers also acknowledged the strategy's Delivery Roadmap as having clearly identified objectives, timelines and responsible organisations," Mr Creech said.
"Progress is already being demonstrated by a range of advances including enhancements to the my health app improving access to and management of key health information for consumers, increased adoption by allied health, connecting the broader care team, and more recently the passage through the parliament of the 'share by default' legislation, that will help to ensure vital health information is available for healthcare professionals and Australian healthcare consumers when and where they need it."
National eHealth strategies: a comparative study of nine OECD health systems | BMC Health Services Research found the National Digital Health Strategy reflected a strong commitment to both innovation and evidence-based practice, ensuring that the implemented solutions are effective and scalable.
Authors also noted key strategic goals included patient involvement, preventive healthcare, telemedicine, information management, standards and consistent terminology use, and data analysis.
