Integration of COVID-19 digital health technologies for infectious diseases

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a proliferation in the development and implementation of digital technologies to support the COVID-19 response in many countries, particularly to support surveillance, testing and contact tracing.

To a varying extent, digital technologies also form part of health programs for other emerging and endemic infectious diseases. However, apart from COVID-19, the extent to which digital health technologies are supporting preparedness for and response to other outbreak-prone infectious diseases with potential to cause health emergencies in the Western Pacific region is unclear.

To improve the evidence base for use and integration of digital health technologies for infectious disease control and health emergency response in the Western Pacific region, this project will address two objectives:

1. Conduct a systematic review of the adoption, use and effectiveness of digital contact tracing technologies for COVID-19 in the Western Pacific Region.
2. Develop a background paper to explore the opportunities to increase the use and integration of digital health technologies for infectious disease control and health emergency response more broadly.