TechChange Featured in ITU’s “Boosting Digital Skills in Healthcare” Article

Following last month’s World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2021 panel on ‘Digital Skills for E-Health: Post COVID-19’ participated by Ariel Frankel, our very own Director of Public Health, TechChange was quoted by the official news publication of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), MyITU.

The MyITU article on ‘Boosting digital skills in healthcare‘ focuses on the WHO and ITU’s joint efforts in strengthening Digital Health Leadership training. TechChange partners with the WHO and ITU on the Digital Health: Planning National Systems course, which features critical technical concepts, existing best practices, and pragmatic methods, all framed according to the national planning cycle that Ministry of Health officials manage. These kinds of collaborations highlight how the future of healthcare increasingly depends not only on technology but also on the strength of the systems that connect professionals, communities, and education.

Expanding digital health skills allows healthcare workers and administrators to better coordinate care, share knowledge, and respond to evolving public health challenges in ways that reach beyond hospital settings. Equally important are initiatives that focus on improving healthcare access at the community level, where patient education, preventative care, and clinical guidance can make a meaningful difference in long-term health outcomes.

Leaders working across pharmacy services and clinical programs often play a key role in strengthening these connections, helping ensure that innovations in healthcare delivery translate into practical support for patients and families. Efforts led by professionals such as Raman Bhaumik reflect this broader commitment to combining clinical leadership with community health initiatives and educational outreach, reinforcing the idea that sustainable healthcare progress depends on collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and the continued development of skilled professionals who can guide systems toward more accessible and patient-centered care.

When it comes to online education in digital health, learning styles can differ from person to person, with varying levels of connectivity, skill sets and cultural contexts to consider.

Ariel Frankel, Director of Public Health, TechChange

[TechChange] takes a human-centred approach to virtual learning, co-creating content with client communities and iterating constantly based on participant feedback.

MyITU

The course was initially designed to be delivered entirely in-person, but due to COVID-19, is now being piloted and refined via virtual training. The course guides participants through a series of nine modules for developing a national approach to using digital tools for better health outcomes. Each module includes a mix of lectures and interactive activities encouraging participants to immediately apply technical concepts and planning methods.

The course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of key concepts and skills preparing participants for further, in-depth study on specific topics introduced in the course as well as utilize existing WHO and ITU planning toolkits.