Abstract
COVID-19 poses a significant burden to healthcare systems. Healthcare organisations with better health innovation infrastructures have faced a reduced burden and achieved success in curbing COVID-19. In Saudi Arabia, digital technologies have played a vital role in fighting SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In this paper, we aimed to summarise the experience of optimising digital health technologies in Saudi Arabia as well as to discuss capabilities and opportunities during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. A literature search was conducted up to September 2021 to document the experience of using DHTPs in Saudi Arabia in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We also considered any published data, press briefings, and announcements by the MOH in Saudi Arabia. The findings were synthesised in narrative form. Health officials succeeded in optimising and maintaining a strategy to mitigate the spread of the virus via different digital technologies, such as mobile health applications, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The quick digital response in Saudi Arabia was facilitated by governmental support and by considering users and technology determinants. Future research must concentrate on establishing and updating the guidelines for using DHTPs.
Highlights
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has already infected more than 186 nations and claimed thousands of lives, incapacitating even more
The strategy was to implement e-health and optimise digital health technology platforms (DHTPs) to control the spread of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia
There has been a strong drive to implement and accelerate DHTPs, led by governments and health authorities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19
Summary
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has already infected more than 186 nations and claimed thousands of lives, incapacitating even more. Responses to the pandemic have varied dramatically, and the demand on healthcare professionals has increased due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak [1,2,3,4]. Healthcare officials are constantly reviewing appropriate public measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. [5] These public health measures have increasingly encouraged the use of technology to support daily activities and healthcare delivery [5]. In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) recently established a strategy to mitigate COVID-19. The MOH strategy includes using digital health technology platforms (DHTPs) to provide long-distance follow-up and control COVID-19 outbreaks [6]. The aim of this paper is to document the experience of using digital health technologies in Saudi Arabia and to discuss determinants for optimising DHTPs during the COVID-19 pandemic
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