Cantabria has taken a decisive step towards the future of public healthcare with the Digital Health Plan 2024-2028, presented at the conference ‘Cantabria’s Digital Health Plan: connecting innovation and people’. This meeting, held at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, brought together healthcare professionals, technology experts and managers to discuss how digitalisation can revolutionise healthcare.
The plan, promoted by the Directorate General for Planning, Organisation, Knowledge Management and Digital Health, articulates its actions in three strategic axes: the transformation of the care model, the improvement of auxiliary processes and the strengthening of ICT governance. It also integrates digital tools that promote equity, research and more personalised care.
Key projects: research and connected health
One of the pillars of the plan is remote patient monitoring, which will enable early detection of health problems through smart connected devices. This approach aims to reduce unnecessary hospitalisations and improve quality of life, especially for people with chronic diseases. In addition, the Command Center, a centralised control centre, will coordinate the flow of patients and resources in real time to optimise hospital management.
Research also occupies a prominent place in the strategy. The COHORTE Cantabria Project, based on the analysis of large volumes of data, promises to advance in personalised medicine, facilitating the identification of patterns in chronic diseases and improving health outcomes. Artificial intelligence will also be used to optimise diagnoses and clinical decisions, positioning Cantabria as a leader in healthcare innovation.
Towards a preventive and equitable model
The Digital Health Plan emphasises the importance of empowering patients by providing them with technological tools to manage their own health. The MiSalud@SCS app will make it possible to consult medical results, receive follow-up alerts and access personalised recommendations. In addition, educational programmes will be developed to reduce the digital divide and encourage the use of these tools in all sectors of the population, with a special focus on rural areas.
The meeting also highlighted the relevance of digitisation in addressing structural challenges, such as inequity in access to healthcare and the ageing of the population. Technological solutions aim not only to improve the patient experience, but also to reduce geographical barriers and facilitate care in remote areas.
A conference to connect people and innovation
The conference, organised by IDIVAL–UC together with the Regional Ministry of Health, focused on how digital technologies can transform healthcare. Under the slogan ‘connecting innovation and people’, it encouraged the exchange of experiences and knowledge among participants, highlighting the role of research and innovative projects as drivers of change.
With an initial investment of 98 million euros and the backing of the Cantabria Digital Agenda 2024-2028, this plan positions the region as a benchmark in digital health. Cantabria is moving towards a more efficient and sustainable healthcare model that focuses on people’s wellbeing, marking a turning point in healthcare.
