Plenaries

Plenary presentations

Monday 8 July

Plenary 1:

Challenges for digital health education
Chris Bain

In an era where Digital Health (DH) is receiving increasing prominence in healthcare systems around the world, the fundamental notions of what it takes to be a “healthcare professional” are being challenged. The pharmacy profession is not immune from this change.

In this session, Prof Bain will present evidence from around the world regarding how DH is advancing - as evidenced by phenomena such as personalised healthcare and the empowerment of “consumers”, the usage of AI, and the invention, validation and routine use of new sensors and digital biomarkers.

He will challenge the audience to think about what that means for the future of care and of the pharmacy profession itself ... and in turn to also think about what that means for how pharmacists,  and other healthcare professionals,  should be educated in order to thrive given this new world order

Managing change in pharmacy education
TBC

Tuesday 9 July

Plenary 2: Perspectives on the development of a sustainable digital health curriculum:
Sandra Carey and Deb Rowett

A. What is that role of Pharmacists when 30% of all prescriptions are not drug molecules but digital therapeutics.
Sandra Carey 

There is tremendous change happening globally in the healthcare system as we move through the democratisation of healthcare. As patients become more participative in their own health management and integrate different healthcare providers to meet their needs, the most accessible healthcare practitioner- the pharmacist- is beginning to rise in primacy across most markets around the world. Pharmacy will become a new and more accessible health management venue aided by technological developments in diagnosis, disease management and monitoring to improve outcomes.  Most recently a new industry has emerged in digital therapeutic products influencing the way healthcare is delivered and consumed. We have entered a world where molecules are no longer considered the only treatments available. Digital therapeutics are distinguished from other health categories by delivering soft-ware generated therapeutic interventions to help patients prevent, manage or treat conditions or diseases.

This session will explore several questions

• Are pharmacists prepared to engage patients where digital therapeutics are the primary treatment regimens?
• What can pharmacists do to prepare for a world where traditional therapy is not the norm?

Wednesday 10 July