Syntec Numérique – SIA Partners study: Digital transformation of the healthcare system

In the context of the announcement of an acceleration of the digital shift in healthcare as part of the healthcare system transformation strategy presented at the beginning of February, Syntec Numérique and SIA Partners today presented the study “Laws and multi-year action plans in healthcare: international comparison and lessons for France”.

Focusing on 5 geographical areas, this study provides useful conclusions for current discussions in France. Put into perspective with international examples, the national situation appears to be on the right track, but while the strong political backing and the creation of an e-health mission send out a positive message, the definition of a precise, quantified trajectory, with milestones between now and 2022, is necessary to make the digital transformation of the healthcare system a reality.

An international comparative study

The study provides a qualitative analysis of health laws and action plans implemented in 5 geographical areas: Anglo-Saxon countries, Scandinavian countries, other European countries, China and the European Union.

While the organization and financing of the healthcare system differ greatly between the countries studied, the plans and laws studied have the following in common:

• clear political support;
• a long-term commitment;
• specific e-health deployment objectives;
• dedicated financing ;
• Involvement of the healthcare industry in implementing the plan.

Among the notable findings:

1. The programs studied have an average duration of three years, with average funding of around 3 billion euros.
2. The themes addressed by these programs evolve over time, reflecting the progress of digitization in the healthcare systems studied. Thus, while the earliest health laws and action plans focused mainly on platforms and information systems, the subject of data is emerging in the most recent plans, around two major axes: access by citizens to their health data, and the development of the use of data to improve treatment.
3. The case of Belgium provides lessons in terms of best practices: involvement and coordination of the authorities concerned by the plan, with a clearly defined role for each, embodiment of the plan by a single personality, relay and follow-up of the plan on an educational website to inform citizens, strong communication around the progress of the action plan.

France halfway there?

In France, the recent announcement by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health of a strategy for transforming the healthcare system, which includes accelerating the digital shift as one of its priorities, bears witness to the public authorities’ growing awareness of the need to champion this issue at the highest level. The creation of an e-health mission reporting to the Minister of Health should enable greater coordination of the players involved in digital healthcare.

However, the amounts dedicated to digital healthcare in France’s Grand Plan d’Investissement are comparatively low compared to other countries: 50 million for telemedicine, 100 million for artificial intelligence in healthcare, 420 million euros for the new Hop’EN digital hospital plan. The strategy for transforming the healthcare system, on the other hand, provides for a dedicated budget of 100 million euros per year.

So, while the political will to accelerate the digital shift in healthcare is there, the investments announced are insufficient in the light of international experience.

This study reinforces the conviction held by Syntec Numérique since the 2017 presidential campaign of the need for a healthcare programming law modeled on military programming laws, because an ambitious multi-year strategy, with precise, quantifiable and annually assessed objectives, is a prerequisite for the successful digital transformation of our healthcare system.