№2, 2025
The rapid evolution of digital technologies has created unprecedented opportunities for transforming healthcare systems worldwide. Experiences from countries such as Estonia, Sweden, Singapore, and China demonstrate how digital tools – including electronic health records, telemedicine, mobile health, and artificial intelligence – can enhance healthcare accessibility, quality, and efficiency. This thesis explores digital health's role in addressing healthcare challenges and its adaptation to the Azerbaijani context. Although Azerbaijan has initiated digital reforms like e-prescriptions and telemedicine, significant challenges remain, including infrastructural gaps, regulatory needs, and digital literacy barriers. This study analyses the current landscape, identifies key obstacles and opportunities, and offers strategic recommendations. By leveraging global best practices and investing in infrastructure, capacity building, and governance, Azerbaijan can build a resilient, equitable digital health ecosystem that advances public health goals. In an era of increasing global interconnectedness, the adoption of digital health strategies by Azerbaijan holds considerable potential for enhancing the effectiveness of its health system, thereby contributing to the improvement of population health outcomes. Furthermore, this initiative will play a pivotal role in ensuring the country's preparedness for future public health challenges (pp.39-46).
- Ahmad, S., Chitkara, P., Khan, F. N., Kishan, A., Alok, V., Ramlal, A., & Mehta, S. (2021). Mobile technology solution for COVID-19: surveillance and prevention. Computational intelligence methods in COVID-19: Surveillance, prevention, prediction and diagnosis, 79-108.
- Alguliyev R.M., Mammadova M.H. (2017). Essence, opportunities and scientific problems of e-medicine, Problems of Information Society. 8(2), 3–17. http://doi.org/10.25045/jpis.v08.i2.01
- Bakibinga, P., Kamande, E., Kisia, L., Omuya, M., Matanda, D. J., & Kyobutungi, C. (2020). Challenges and prospects for implementation of community health volunteers’ digital health solutions in Kenya: a qualitative study. BMC health services research, 20, 1-12.
- Barbu, M., Vevera, A. V., & Barbu, D. C. (2024). Standardization and interoperability—Key elements of digital transformation. In Digital transformation: Technology, tools, and studies (pp. 87-94). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Birinci Ş. (2023). A Digital Opportunity for Patients to Manage Their Health: Turkey National Personal Health Record System (The e-Nabız). Balkan medical journal, 40(3), 215–221. https://doi.org/10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2023.2023-2-77
- Deniz-Garcia, A., Fabelo, H., Rodriguez-Almeida, A. J., Zamora-Zamorano, G., Castro-Fernandez, M., Alberiche Ruano, M. D. P., Solvoll, T., Granja, C., Schopf, T. R., Callico, G. M., Soguero-Ruiz, C., Wägner, A. M., & WARIFA Consortium (2023). Quality, Usability, and Effectiveness of mHealth Apps and the Role of Artificial Intelligence: Current Scenario and Challenges. Journal of medical Internet research, 25, e44030. https://doi.org/10.2196/44030
- Elangovan, D., Long, C. S., Bakrin, F. S., Tan, C. S., Goh, K. W., Yeoh, S. F., ... & Ming, L. C. (2022). The use of blockchain technology in the health care sector: systematic review. JMIR medical informatics, 10(1), e17278.
- ESPON. (2020). Estonia and Finland – A question of centralisation and decentralisation in digital healthcare. ESPON. Retrieved from https://archive.espon.eu/estonia-and-finland-%E2%80%93-question-centralisation-and-decentralisation-digital-healthcare
- Ezeamii, V. C., Okobi, O. E., Wambai-Sani, H., Perera, G. S., Zaynieva, S., Okonkwo, C. C., ... & Obiefuna, N. G. (2024). Revolutionizing Healthcare: how Telemedicine is improving patient outcomes and Expanding Access to Care. Cureus, 16(7).
- Fatehi, F., Samadbeik, M., & Kazemi, A. (2020). What is digital health? Review of definitions. In Integrated citizen centered digital health and social care (pp. 67-71). IOS Press.
- Gao, J., Fan, C., Chen, B., Fan, Z., Li, L., Wang, L., ... & Zhao, J. (2022). Telemedicine is becoming an increasingly popular way to resolve the unequal distribution of healthcare resources: evidence from China. Frontiers in public health, 10, 916303.
- Gill, J., Chávez, D., Main, C., Miracolo, A., Fontrier, A. M., & Kanavos, P. (2024). Sustainable healthcare financing for SDG3 in ASEAN‑6. London School of Economics and Political Science. https://doi.org/10.21953/lse.n02sh3yxlet8
- Graefen, B. (2023). The doctor‑patient relationship in the era of e‑health. ESTÜDAM Halk Sağlığı Dergisi, 8(2), 220–229. http://dx.doi.org/10.35232/estudamhsd.1239685
- Graefen, B., & Fazal, N. (2024). Quality as a driver of progress: Tuberculosis care in Azerbaijan. The Indian journal of tuberculosis, 71(3), 344–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijtb.2023.06.012
- Graefen, B., Abdullayeva, A., Jabrayilov, A., Alakbarova, G., Tahmazi, K., Gurbanova, J., & Fazal, N. (2023). Land of Fire, Hearts of Ice: Psychological aspects of involuntary childlessness in Azerbaijan. European Journal of Public Health Studies, 6(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v6i2.158
- Graefen, B., Hasanli, S., Jabrayilov, A., Alakbarova, G., Tahmazi, K., Gurbanova, J., & Fazal, N. (2023). Instagram as a health education tool: Evaluating the efficacy and quality of medical content on Instagram in Azerbaijan. medRxiv, 2023.12. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.03.23299316
- Gurbanli, U. (2025). Application of the word2vec algorithm for clinical diagnosis determination. Problems of Information Society, 26–33. http://doi.org/10.25045/jpis.v16.i1.03
- International Trade Administration. (2023). Singapore: Healthcare. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved from https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/singapore-healthcare
- International Trade Administration. (n.d.). Healthcare resource guide: Sweden. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved from https://www.trade.gov/healthcare-resource-guide-sweden#:~:text=Sweden%20spends%20about%2011%25%20of,and%2084%20years%20for%20women
- Islind, A. S., Snis, U. L., Lindroth, T., Lundin, J., Cerna, K., & Steineck, G. (2019). The virtual clinic: Two‑sided affordances in consultation practice. Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 28(3–4), 435–468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-019-09350-3
- Iyanna, S., Kaur, P., Ractham, P., Talwar, S., & Islam, A. N. (2022). Digital transformation of healthcare sector. What is impeding adoption and continued usage of technology-driven innovations by end-users? Journal of Business Research, 153, 150-161.
- Mirzoyev U. (2025). Target 130/80: a future-focused initiative for hypertension management in Azerbaijan. European heart journal, 46(4), 341–343. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae749
- National Health Authority. (2022). Digital health: Global leading practices. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Retrieved from https://abdm.gov.in:8081/uploads/Digital_Health_Global_Leading_Practices_d59390d92d.pdf
- Paul, M., Maglaras, L., Ferrag, M. A., & Almomani, I. (2023). Digitization of healthcare sector: A study on privacy and security concerns. ICT express, 9(4), 571-588.
- Polaris Market Research. (2025). Digital health market size, share & trends analysis report by technology, by component, by region, and segment forecasts, 2024–2032. Polaris Market Research. Retrieved from https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/digital-health-market
- Soares, B., Ferreira, A., & Veiga, P. M. (2023). The benefits and challenges of blockchain technology and eHealth implementation in Estonia: A literature review. Applied Medical Informatics, 45(4). Available from: https://ami.info.umfcluj.ro/index.php/AMI/article/view/990
- Stoumpos, A. I., Kitsios, F., & Talias, M. A. (2023). Digital transformation in healthcare: Technology acceptance and its applications. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3407. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043407
- Tan, S. H., Goh, L. G. H., Ong, B. S. K. and et al. (2024). Impact of value‑driven healthcare strategies for biosimilar adoption: The Singapore story. PharmacoEconomics‑Open, 8(5), 679–688. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41669-024-00491-w
- World Bank. (2021). Walking the talk: Reimagining primary health care after COVID‑19. World Bank Group. Retrieved from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/814591624897277544/pdf/Walking-the-Talk-Reimagining‑Primary‑Health‑Care‑After‑COVID‑19.pdf
- World Health Organization. (2020). Global strategy on digital health 2020–2025. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/gs4dhdaa2a9f352b0445bafbc79ca799dce4d.pdf
- Yu, P., Xue, W., & Mahendran, R. (2022). The development and impact of China's digital transformation in the medical industry. In Impact of digital transformation on the development of new business models and consumer experience (pp. 97-128). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.