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May 9, 2026Health Science Reports0 citationsOpen Access

Geographical Disparities in Accessing and Utilizing Digital Health and Strategies to Mitigate These Disparities: A Literature Review

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MKMuhammad Hamza KhanBPBhumiben PatelMRMehnahil Raza

Key Points

  • The review aims to identify the factors contributing to geographic disparities in digital health access and outcomes.
  • Conducted a literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
  • Examined studies related to digital health published up to March 2024.
  • Focused on terminology such as telemedicine, mobile health, and healthcare accessibility.
  • Access to digital health is restricted in several regions due to poor infrastructure and low digital literacy.
  • Rural and underserved areas experience the most significant disparities.
  • Interventions like improved internet access and training programs have shown positive effects in bridging these gaps.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Digital health technologies such as telemedicine, mHealth, wearables, and health IT have expanded rapidly, especially during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Despite their growth, geographic disparities in access and outcomes persist. This review aims to identify the factors behind these disparities and explore strategies to improve access to digital health globally. Methods A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with terms like “digital health,” “telemedicine,” “telehealth,” “mobile health,” “health information technology,” “healthcare accessibility,” and “geographical inequities.” Relevant studies published up to March 2024 were reviewed. Results Access to digital health is limited in many regions due to poor infrastructure, low digital literacy, and socioeconomic barriers. Rural and underserved areas are most affected. However, interventions such as improved internet access, training programs, and supportive policies have helped reduce these gaps. Conclusion Addressing geographical disparities is essential to ensure equal access to digital health. Focused strategies can help bridge the gap and deliver better healthcare across all regions.

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Cite This Study

Khan et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69fecf71b9154b0b82876663https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72479
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