Digital health tools have already proven their power to transform healthcare. Electronic health records, telemedicine platforms, and AI-assisted diagnostics are no longer experimental; they’re mature technologies with well-documented benefits.

Countries such as Denmark and Finland demonstrate that progress accelerates when integrated systems and strong governance structures are in place. Yet, across the OECD, adoption remains patchy and inconsistent. The paradox is clear: the technology is ready, but the institutions are not.

Institutional Barriers to Digital Health Adoption

Governments hesitate not because of technical limitations but because of structural and organisational challenges. Health systems are notoriously fragmented, with ministries, regional authorities, providers, and private firms working within incompatible systems.

The OECD reports that while 35 member countries now have digital health strategies, these differ greatly in ambition and execution. Too often, strategies remain aspirational, lacking the enforcement mechanisms and coordination needed to be transformative.

The Challenge of Data Silos

Interoperability standards such as HL7 FHIR should, in theory, allow health data to flow seamlessly across providers. In practice, uneven adoption means patients and clinicians still face barriers in accessing and sharing vital information.

The OECD’s survey highlights this gap: almost 90% of member countries provide patient portals, yet only 42% reported the public could access and interact with their health data through the portal. Without the ability to integrate and link datasets, health systems cannot fully harness analytics or AI.

Balancing Privacy, Security, and Innovation

Health data is sensitive and valuable, making it a prime target for cyberattacks. With the projected cost of cybercrime expected to hit USD 10.5 trillion by 2025, governments understandably tread cautiously.

Yet overregulation can become a barrier in itself, stifling innovation and preventing the timely adoption of digital tools. Striking the right balance is essential: protecting citizens’ data while enabling its safe use for public health, system improvement, and research.

Human Factors: Adoption and Literacy

Technology alone is not enough. Digital tools should ease clinicians’ workloads, but many perceive them as added administrative overhead. Instead of reducing burnout, poorly designed systems often contribute to it.

On the patient side, digital health literacy remains uneven. In some countries, fewer than half of the population possesses basic digital skills. Without investment in education and engagement, neither patients nor providers will likely embrace new technologies.

Artificial Intelligence: Potential vs Reality

Artificial intelligence (AI) vividly illustrates the institutional barriers. Countries like the United States, China, and Singapore rank at the top of the Global AI Index, reflecting their research and investment capacity. The Global AI Index measures national AI capacity across implementation, innovation and investment, using 122 indicators spanning talent, infrastructure, regulation, research, development, strategy and commercial activity.

Global AI Index Rankings
Source: Tortoise Media – Global AI Index

However, investment alone does not guarantee an impact on healthcare. AI depends on high-quality, integrated data and trusted governance frameworks. Without these, even the most advanced algorithms remain underused. By contrast, countries like Denmark and Finland, where governance and interoperability are prioritised, are successfully translating digital health into better patient outcomes.

Building Institutional Readiness

Ultimately, the most significant barriers are institutional, not technical. To unlock the full potential of digital health, governments need:

  • Coherent national strategies that align governance, interoperability, literacy, and security.
  • Investment in trust by engaging clinicians and patients, addressing privacy concerns, and ensuring equity of access.
  • Integrated approaches that combine infrastructure with strong governance frameworks.
OECD Digital Government Index
Source: OECD Going Digital Programme

The path forward requires more than technology; it demands institutional readiness. Until then, digital health will remain a fragmented collection of tools rather than a truly integrated care system.

The Technology Is Ready, Institutions Must Catch Up

Digital health is no longer about proving the technology works. The evidence is clear. The challenge lies with governance, coordination, and trust. Progress will come when governments treat digital health not as a side project, but as core health policy infrastructure.

Authored by Tom Varghese, Global Product Marketing & Growth Manager at Orion Health.

References

Ene, C. (2023, February 22). 10.5 Trillion reasons why we need a united response to cyber risk. Forbes. Forbes Technology Council. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2023/02/22/105-trillion-reasons-why-we-need-a-united-response-to-cyber-risk/

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (n.d.). OECD Digital Government Index (Indicator 58). OECD. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://goingdigital.oecd.org/indicator/58

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2023). Health at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators – Digital Health at a Glance. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/7a7afb35-en

Tortoise Media. (2024, September 19). The Global AI Index. London: Tortoise Media. https://www.tortoisemedia.com/data/global-ai