The future of virtual health and care: Driving access and equity through inclusive policies

A report by ITU and UNESCO calls for global integration of virtual health into mainstream care through inclusive policies to enhance accessibility and equity.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development Working Group published a report on the future of virtual health and care. The report provides a comprehensive review of global policies influencing the uptake of virtual health. It further calls for a worldwide movement to integrate virtual delivery into mainstream health and care through meaningful, judicious, and equitable policies. To this aim, it identifies recommendations for different stakeholders to consider while drafting relevant policies to increase the adoption of virtual health and care and to ensure that virtual technology can help make health and care accessible to all.