Transforming Global Health with Digital Technologies: CHRF in The Lancet Digital Health
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health crisis that threatens the efficacy of treatments, placing millions at risk and straining healthcare systems worldwide. The rise of resistant microbes underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to manage infections, reduce antibiotic misuse, and improve outcomes.
Digital health technologies (DHTs) are emerging as powerful allies in this fight. Leveraging advancements in diagnostics, data analytics, and connectivity, these tools enable real-time monitoring, targeted interventions, and improved coordination across healthcare systems. Their impact is particularly profound in resource-limited settings, where traditional laboratory infrastructure is often inadequate.
This promise is explored in The Lancet Digital Health series, featuring three key papers:
- Using digital health technologies to optimise antimicrobial use globally
- Advancing the management of maternal, fetal, and neonatal infections through harnessing digital health innovations
- Innovative diagnostic technologies: navigating regulatory frameworks through advances, challenges, and future prospects
Key Insights from the Series
Transforming Infection Management
DHTs combat AMR by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance. Tools like wearable biosensors, point-of-care diagnostics, and AI-driven prescribing systems empower healthcare providers to make data-driven decisions, ensuring targeted antimicrobial use.
For maternal and neonatal infections—areas with significant disparities—DHTs are revolutionary. Early detection and real-time responses facilitated by wearables and point-of-care tools save lives, while linked health data fosters seamless care coordination. These innovations not only improve outcomes but also reduce antibiotic misuse, a major driver of AMR.
Addressing Implementation Challenges
Sustainable adoption of DHTs requires addressing healthcare disparities. Without careful planning, these technologies could exacerbate inequalities. Aligning tools with evidence-based practices and tailoring them to marginalized populations is critical to creating inclusive solutions.
The Global Roadmap for DHTs
Defining standardized data requirements is essential for effective antimicrobial decision-making. A One Health approach—bridging human, animal, and environmental health—fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, regulatory innovation, and equitable access.
These papers highlight the transformative role of digital health in addressing one of the most pressing global health threats.
CHRF: Turning Insights into Action
At the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF), the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is more than just a mission—it is deeply personal. Every accurate diagnosis, every equitable healthcare system established, and every life saved represents a meaningful step toward building a healthier, safer Bangladesh for all.
Representing CHRF in two of the papers featured in The Lancet Digital Health series, Senjuti Saha, PhD and Mohammad Shahidul Islam, PhD, brought Bangladesh’s perspectives and innovations to the global conversation. Their work exemplifies CHRF’s commitment to bridging gaps in healthcare delivery through science, technology, and compassion.
Driven by the belief that science paired with humanity changes lives, CHRF continues to lead the fight against AMR.
To explore the insights fully, read the Lancet Digital Health series here:
Addressing antimicrobial resistance with digital approaches