Bridging the Digital Divide for Equitable Digital Health

While digital health holds promise for improving healthcare access, its effectiveness is threatened by disparities in access to digital tools and infrastructure. This study explores how the digital divide affects the implementation and impact of digital health initiatives in Kenya and Liberia. Drawing on a comparative qualitative case study approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders across both countries to examine infrastructural, economic, and sociocultural barriers to equitable access. The findings reveal that while Kenya has made notable progress in digital health integration, both countries face persistent challenges, including limited ICT infrastructure, high data costs, low digital literacy, and governance gaps. These barriers disproportionately affect rural and vulnerable populations, hindering the realisation of the benefits of digital transformation in health. The study identifies evidence-informed strategies such as infrastructure investment, subsidised access, inclusive design, and cross-sector partnerships as critical for addressing digital exclusion. Our findings contribute to the growing discourse on digital inclusion in public health and offer practical insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to ensure equitable digital health outcomes in resource-constrained settings.