JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978 initiated a global focus on universal health, supported by WHO through healthy cities policies. The concept emerged at the 1984 Toronto “Beyond Health Care” conference, leading to WHO’s first pilot project in Lisbon in 1986. The WHO continues to support regional healthy city networks, emphasizing digital transformation and data-driven health management in the digital era.

Objective:

This study explored the capabilities of digital healthy cities within the framework of digital transformation, focusing on member countries of the Asian Forum of Healthy Cities. It examined the cities’ preparedness and policy needs for transitioning to digital health.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted of nine countries—Australia, Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Vietnam—from August 1 to September 21, 2023 utilizing the SPIRIT checklist, modified for assessing healthy cities’ capabilities. The survey leveraged Chat GPT 4.0, developed by AI and accessed via Python API. A qualitative analysis was conducted on the collected data by five healthy city experts through a group deep-discussion.

Results:

The results indicate that these countries should establish networks and committees for sustainable digital healthy cities. Internet usage rates were highest in Malaysia (97.4%) and Korea (97.2%). Cambodia showed the lowest access to electricity (70%) and significant digital infrastructure disparities. Efforts to sustain digital health initiatives varied, with countries like Korea focusing on telemedicine, while China aimed to build a comprehensive digital health database, highlighting the need for tailored strategies in promoting digital healthy cities.

Conclusions:

The study highlights the importance of big data-driven policies and personal information protection systems. It emphasizes collaborative efforts across sectors for effective implementation of digital healthy cities. The findings also suggest that the effectiveness of digital healthy cities is diminished without adequate digital literacy among managers and users, suggesting a need for policies to improve digital literacy.