E D I T O R ' S Q U E S T I O N
RANDY BOLDYGA
FOUNDER , CEO , AND PRESIDENT AT RXNT
Digital health passports offer something people care about more than ever – convenience . That ’ s incredibly valuable in an increasingly global dynamic of travel and commerce . With the prevalence of smartphones , many individuals have constant access to their digital devices , making digital health records a simple option compared to carrying around paper documents .
This convenience extends beyond personal ease to societal benefits . That was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic , where digital passports helped facilitate safer travel and expedited entry processes , minimising potential virus transmission risks . The pandemic underscored the importance of modern , agile solutions that meet the public ’ s needs amidst rapidly changing circumstances , and digital health passports emerged as a clear success story .
However , as with any technological advancement , convenience usually comes with potential trade-offs . The most obvious concern with digital health passports is around data privacy and security , as the reliance on any digital platform for healthcare purposes requires users to share sensitive personal information that could potentially be compromised .
Obviously , that means any digital health passport product or solution needs to be built with security as the number one concern . Building public trust is essential in addressing apprehensions and encouraging widespread adoption . It needs to be made incredibly clear what efforts have gone into making them a safe tool , and how users can help protect their own information .
The digital divide is also worth noting here . Varying levels of access to and familiarity with tech creates significant concerns around equitable access . Older adults , who are more likely to lack trust in new technology and are also significantly less likely to own smartphones , are particularly at risk of being excluded from the benefits of digital health passports .
For the time being , it ’ s crucial to maintain traditional methods of health record verification – but we also need to make sure digital options aren ’ t being ignored because they ’ re potentially more complex or expensive to implement .
The coexistence of traditional and digital methods is key to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for the majority of the public .
On a broader level , there are also major technical and regulatory challenges to navigate . Ensuring the standardisation and interoperability of digital health passport systems across different regions and jurisdictions is not a simple task .
Accomplishing a standard digital system would be a major international project involving hundreds of software engineers , politicians , regulators and cybersecurity experts . Laws around digital privacy and safety differ greatly between the US and European
Union , for example – and that only becomes more sensitive when personal health information is involved .
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