AmCham Health Care Committee launched today a website dedicated to the digital transformation of health systems and the importance of the availability of innovative technologies in medicine, including medicines AmCham Digital (http://www.digital.amcham.me).

The website is part of the activities that will precede the international conference – The Future of Health and Health Care Systems, which will be organized by the AmCham Health Care Committee, and covers topics such as digitalization process, digital health, and innovative medical technologies and drugs that have contributed to prolonging and improving the quality of life. Users will have the opportunity to listen to exclusive educational recordings of international experts and lecturers from Europe and the USA. The topics on the website and the conference are in line with the guidelines of the European Commission in the Work Program for 2020 and 2021 and its important documents: the European Cancer Plan, the European Data Strategy (and specifically health data) and the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe.

“During the current pandemic, we became aware of the importance of digital tools in healthcare and increased its use. At the heart of the digital transformation are both innovative technologies and people. We cannot and should not completely replace traditional services with the digital technologies, but we can make health services more accessible and precise, and the patient-doctor relationship even more personalized. The speed of technical adoption is very important, perhaps crucial, when it comes to innovative technologies (digital, diagnostic, therapeutic), and we mustn’t allow ourselves to lag behind the advanced world, because at some point this gap could be so large that it is insurmountable, which is happening to some countries. I will give two simple examples. The World Economic Forum stated in its annual report that as a consequence of this, the biggest difference in life expectancy between the two countries is an incredible 33 years! Also, the Swedish Karolinska Institute stated in a pan-European study that the difference in the five-year survival rate from the cancer between countries is from 40% to 64% “, says Dr. Miloš Ičević, President of the AmCham Health Committee.

Montenegro has previously made progress on the Euro Health Consumer Index, which relies on the improvement of electronic services, and the availability of medicines in the field of chronic diseases and oncology.

The process of digital transformation and digital health is a unique way to achieve universal health care. Personalized healthcare, that anticipates patient needs, requires a good connection and communication and therefore it is very important to digitally redesign healthcare systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for digitization in order to reduce personal contact and improve health outcomes through the proper use of the digital technologies. Above all, this health crisis has emphasized the importance of cooperation of all social actors in ensuring the public health.

“Digital transformation is one of AmCham’s priorities, and in this context, through the work of our committees, we create activities that aim to successfully connect the private and public sectors, and help decision makers in creating a digital and efficient healthcare ecosystem”, stated regarding the launch of the website, AmCham Executive Director, Marko Miročević, PhD.

The AmCham Health Care Committee has drafted position papers on the digital transformation of health systems and the value and availability of innovative medicines in Montenegro, which will be presented to the decision makers very soon. The aim of these documents is to point out the importance of developing national strategies and activities, cooperation of all sectors and disciplines in order to prioritize health as the basis of prosperity.

– In the Health Care Committee, guided with this principle, we actively participate in the process that leads us to achieve this great vision. Health is an investment, not an expense, but it will become if there is no investment, emphasize from the AmCham Health Committee.