The Bucharest Meeting of the WHO Europe Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Hub: A Focus on Digitalisation 

The Bucharest Meeting of the WHO Europe Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, held on March 24, 2024, served as a platform for discussing the impact of digitalisation on nursing and midwifery. Moderated by Dr Alba Llop-Girones, the session titled “Digitization and Impact on Nursing and Midwifery” brought together experts and stakeholders to share insights, experiences, and strategies for leveraging digital transformation to enhance healthcare delivery.

The session featured presentations by Mr. Clayton Hamilton, Dr. Henrique Martins, and Professor Alan Kearns, who discussed the implications of digital health for nursing and midwifery, the ethics of telehealth, and the need for policy development to integrate these technologies. Additionally, representatives from Romania, Israel, Norway, Estonia, Greece, and Azerbaijan shared their countries’ experiences and responses to digitalisation in healthcare.

The meeting reflected on the integration of digitalisation in nursing and midwifery and recommended policies that can promote this integration. Key themes included the impact of digitalisation on healthcare sectors, ethical considerations of digital care, and the need for upskilling nurses and midwives to handle new digital technologies. Participants emphasisedthe importance of embracing digital health technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), telehealth, and genomics-based approaches to improve patient care and health outcomes.

Among the notable speakers was Lampros Bizas, Psychologist, MSc, PhD, and Treasurer of the Executive Board and the 1st Department of the Hellenic Regulatory Body of Nurses. Bizas presented the significant impacts of digitisation on nursing and midwifery practice and education, emphasising the transformative potential of telehealth services and medical devices enabled by digital technologies.

Mr. Bizas highlighted how digitalisation has revolutionised nursing education through simulation technology and online programs. He pointed out the essential role of digital health tools in improving patient care, citing the use of wearable devices and robotic surgical aids, and emphasised the importance of investing in telehealth services and adopting Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

Among these new digital services figures, the EU TeleNursing program aims to develop a digital transformation plan to enhance the digital skills of healthcare professionals. This project addresses gaps in digital skills among nurses and midwives, which hinder seamless telecare service provision. By empowering nurses with digital competencies to operate remotely, the program seeks to improve efficiency, utilise fewer resources, and increase the quality of life for citizens.

The Bucharest Meeting provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities induced by digitalisation in nursing and midwifery. Through the contributions of experts, the session successfully highlighted the necessity for strategic policy development, continuous education, and adaptation to digital tools to enhance healthcare delivery. This meeting marked a significant step towards a digitally empowered future for nursing and midwifery in Europe.