The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to explore, trial and further develop low-cost service delivery through digital technologies.
As well as making access to health care, education and arts and culture more equitable,79 these new social service delivery models have economic value.
Telehealth alone has the potential to save the health care system billions of dollars a year simply by reducing hospital admissions by one annual visit per person.80
To increase their economic contribution, these smarter digital infrastructure approaches must be improved and implemented by governments.
For more details about how governments can enhance the economic value of the health and education sectors, see Reform 8.1: Transforming social infrastructure to enhance quality of life.