Unified for Better Health: Dr. Arber Shehu Keynote on Digital Health’s Role in Team-Based Care

Today, 7 November 2024, Dr. Arber Shehu, Medical Director of Lung Cancer at AstraZeneca, delivered a compelling keynote titled ‘Unified for Better Health: The Impact of Digital Health on Team-Based Patient Care’ at the MedTech Malta conference. ‘It may be a complicated title,’ Dr. Shehu acknowledged, ‘but it’s a simple topic: How can we unite to improve healthcare?’

Speaking at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Dr. Shehu stressed the transformative role of digital health in advancing healthcare delivery through team-based patient care. “The biggest challenge in healthcare, from my experience,” Dr. Shehu explained, “is changing the way physicians work and helping them integrate the innovations we’re discussing today at conferences like MedTech, which are filled with phenomenal ideas. The issue is not a lack of willingness but a lack of time. Many healthcare providers don’t have the bandwidth to incorporate the innovations we see today. For me, a team-based approach is the answer to this challenge.”

Global health challenges and innovative solutions

Dr. Shehu, as a health professional, is nothing short of enthusiastic when it comes to new health technologies. “AI won’t replace doctors”, he assured, “but it will replace those who don’t learn how to use it effectively.”

Focusing on urgent global health challenges—ageing populations, rising chronic illnesses, disparities in access, and mental health pressures—Dr. Shehu highlighted the importance of innovation in digital health. He noted that the digital health market is projected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2033, marvelling at new tools like wearables (devices that patients attach to their bodies to collect health data) and health apps that already empower patients with real-time information.

Industry leaders like Google, Apple, Nvidia, and Amazon are advancing the digital health landscape. These companies, he reminded the audience, are already integrating AI into diagnostics, treatment, and monitoring, with tools like Google’s AI for cancer diagnostics and Nvidia’s BioNeMo platform, which accelerates drug discovery. However, in his view, ‘There is a lot of focus on disruption, but not enough on collaboration.’

The power of collaboration

The role of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) is central, especially in complex care areas like oncology. Dr. Shehu noted, “MDTs are becoming the gold standard for cancer care and beyond,” adding that digital tools allow these teams to collaborate seamlessly, providing comprehensive, data-driven treatment strategies.

“The more healthcare professionals connect, the more brain power can be focused on solving unsolved healthcare problems”, explained Dr. Shehu, “That’s the power of networks and collaborations.” He underscored how integrating an omnichannel approach—incorporating telehealth, wearables, and in-person care—could create a seamless patient experience, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and tailored care.

Dr. Shehu concluded by stressing the role of partnerships between the private sector, which drives innovation, and government, which provides secure infrastructure and data protection. This collaboration, he argued, is crucial to realising the full potential of digital health and ensuring consistent, high-quality care worldwide.

As Dr. Shehu concluded, “The future of digital health is now,” and the full potential of collaboration has yet to be realised.

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