Digital Health Policies and Their Broader Economic Impacts: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This study conducts a systematic literature review to examine the economic impacts of digital health policy implementation across various global contexts. While digital innovations such as telemedicine, mobile health (mHealth), and artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly improved healthcare delivery, their broader economic outcomes remain varied and dependent on contextual factors like infrastructure readiness, regulatory frameworks, and digital literacy. The review, based on several peer-reviewed articles, reveals that digital health policies contribute to cost efficiency, labor productivity, and job creation in health-tech sectors. However, disparities across regions particularly in low and middle income countries highlight barriers such as limited connectivity and institutional support. Additionally, the lack of standardized economic evaluation tools poses challenges in assessing the long-term macroeconomic value of these interventions. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for unified assessment models, infrastructure development, and cross-sector collaboration to maximize the economic potential and equity of digital health transformations.