Digital health encompasses a growing industry of technological health solutions that enable advancement towards patient-centred healthcare. The digital health industry is equally focussed on wellbeing with the aim of empowering patients to manage their own health and maintain their wellbeing. dConnect helps digital health innovators to address challenges through business mentoring, training, consultancy and networking opportunities.
The shift in healthcare from treating disease to managing wellbeing through user-friendly digital solutions such as apps and wearables is recognised by the WHO, EU and eHealth Ireland. What we call digital health today is likely to be the healthcare of tomorrow and as such large corporations play a substantial role in driving innovation. dConnect brings together start-ups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and multi-nationals to forge partnerships that deliver cutting edge innovation. Through education programmes, business mentoring clinics, knowledge clustering and networking opportunities, dConnect empowers collaboration between large and small industry players to deliver go-to-market strategies for products that will improve healthcare for the general population.
The official launch on 25th May began with an address from Michael Mulvey, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology. Dr Angela Duffy, Director of dConnect who encourage innovators to get in touch and avail of dConnect's broad suite of supports. Other speakers incuded Anita Finnegan of Nova Leah, Jim O'Donoghue of S3 Connected Health and Lorcan Walsh of Novartis who discussed developments, opportunities and challenges that exist in the burgeoning digital health sector.
