Technology is making healthcare more accessible, personalized and effective. Digital health exemplifies how technology is transforming the healthcare industry worldwide while digital health applications improve individuals’ quality of life and reshape healthcare ecosystems. From AI-assisted diagnostics to wearable devices for continuous patient monitoring, a variety of digital health solutions are simplifying patient care and adding new dimensions to treatment. Now that healthcare services no longer require travel, people can manage their health more effectively.
Eczacıbaşı Evital, the Eczacıbaşı Group’s digital health and well-being platform, was established to become a pioneer in digital healthcare services. We met with Emin Fadıllıoğlu, CEO of Eczacıbaşı Pharmaceuticals, Industrial and Financial Investments and Chairperson of both Evital and Türkiye’s Digital Health Association (DİSADER), along with Berk Boyacıgil, General Manager of Evital, to discuss the current state and future of digital health, as well as Eczacıbaşı Evital’s goals.
“Digital health is one of the most heavily invested industries worldwide.”
What is the impact of new technologies and trends on digital health? What does the future hold?
Over the last 20 years, we’ve witnessed technology transform every aspect of our lives. Like information technology, education, and finance the healthcare industry has undergone remarkable advancements.
Artificial intelligence - a cornerstone of “new technologies” - continues at a pace that outstrips global transformation. While these could only process limited data in the recent past, they now handle massive data sets through applications such as ChatGPT 4 and make future predictions. We stand at a pivotal moment in history, one that promises further innovations in digital health.
Healthcare technologies, driven by emerging innovations have become one of the world’s most heavily invested sectors alongside financial technologies. The industry has produced over 100 new unicorns (companies valued at over $1 billion), with start-ups collectively valued at over $2 trillion. This growth demonstrates healthcare’s embrace of innovation and its appeal to investors.
Responding to your question about the impact of new technologies and trends, I’d say the effects of creative AI on healthcare is evident in two key areas. First, we see unprecedented access to products and services. Healthcare delivery has become location-independent and available around the clock. A 2024 Stanford University study showed that AI support increased healthcare professionals’ skin cancer detection rates from 75% to 81.1%. This improvement demonstrates AI’s crucial role in diagnosis. Moreover, AI is revolutionizing treatment approaches. By analyzing comprehensive data – including genetic codes, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors - treatments are becoming more personalized and reliable. We can expect continued breakthroughs, especially in targeted and disease-specific treatments.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of emerging technologies and trends for doctors?
Emerging technologies offer healthcare professionals significant advantages in diagnosis and treatment. Digital health solutions streamline medical processes by providing quick and easy access to patient data. AI-supported systems enable early disease detection and personalized treatment plans, leading to faster intervention and better outcomes. Remote patient monitoring allows doctors to track their patients’ conditions and respond promptly when needed – particularly valuable for managing chronic conditions that require ongoing care.
However, these digital health solutions create large pools of sensitive data, raising important concerns about data security. Strengthening cybersecurity measures and maintaining proper safeguards are essential.
In summary, while digital technologies greatly enhance healthcare delivery, their successful implementation depends on strong infrastructure and ongoing system improvements.
“These services have become crucial for reaching people with limited access to traditional healthcare.”
What benefits do digital health services offer patients?
Digital health is transforming healthcare by allowing patients to monitor their health status remotely. These services, first introduced during the pandemic to limit virus transmission, have become crucial for reaching people with limited access to traditional healthcare. The rapid growth of digital health applications continues as they provide convenient ways for patients to connect with healthcare professionals.
Smartphones have brought mobile applications and wearable devices into our daily lives, making them essential tools in digital healthcare. These technologies make it easier to monitor chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, providing real-time tracking of vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rhythm.
How would you evaluate the current state of digital health in Türkiye?
In Türkiye, as around the world, digital healthcare technologies have become vital for managing costs, enhancing service quality, delivering preventive care, and improving quality of life.
Türkiye stands out in this field through its problem-solving capabilities and intellectual capital. The country has advanced ahead of many others in healthcare access and data management through innovative solutions: personal health record systems (e-nabız), hospital management systems, electronic prescription systems, integrated digital health records, AI-assisted diagnostics, data-driven imaging and robotic surgery. This leading position strengthens the entire digital healthcare ecosystem and its stakeholders.
Investment remains crucial for the industry’s continued growth. Quick access to funding and a global mindset are essential for advancing digital health innovations and initiatives. Building a global business ecosystem and fostering international companies from Türkiye demands both investment and regulatory improvements. Simply being successful domestically isn't enough in health innovation - we must create solutions that work globally. Therefore, to establish Türkiye as a global digital health leader, we need to prioritize swift investment access and internationally competitive regulations.
Toward this vision, we established the Digital Health Association (DİSADER) in 2023. The association monitors developments in digital healthcare, supports ecosystem growth and aims to boost our country's global competitiveness. As industry leaders, we focus on expanding digital health applications, sharing legislation, fostering national and international partnerships, developing policies for global competitiveness, and building an ethical, open ecosystem.
“We continuously improve Evital to meet evolving needs.”
We talked to Berk Boyacigil, General Manager of the Eczacıbaşı Group's digital health and wellbeing platform Evital. The platform enables individuals to schedule online meetings with psychologists, dieticians and health professionals based on their needs and availability.
What sets Evital apart in the industry, and how does it differentiate from other applications?
Evital is a remote digital health and wellbeing platform founded by the Eczacıbaşı Group about two years ago. We aim to help individuals manage their healthcare from a single location while making healthcare services more accessible. We recognize that a healthy life involves both preventing and treating conditions. At Evital, we offer our users a comprehensive healthcare experience that combines both preventive and curative services. Our team includes psychologists, dieticians and physicians from well-established universities who help people develop healthy living habits, while addressing their individual needs.
The primary advantage of our digital services is simple: users can access healthcare instantly, anytime and anywhere. Through technology, Evital makes healthcare services more accessible. Users can quickly schedule psychological support, dietary consultations, or doctor appointments, through our platform. By removing geographical and time constraints, Evital helps you manage your health more effectively.
Our platform holds a Remote Health Information System (USBS) license and integrates with e-nabız, ensuring doctors can access patients’ complete health histories when needed. These systems help us provide a reliable healthcare platform. We continuously enhance Evital with emerging technologies to meet our users' changing needs. Our recently updated application now incorporates AI technology. Joining our platform is free—simply select your desired service area and answer a few questions. Our AI system then matches you with the most suitable healthcare professional to begin your health journey.
Through Evital’s library of visual, audio, and written content, users can monitor their health more effectively and access professional support when needed. Our digital platform makes your health journey more efficient, effective, and personalized by providing both preventive and curative services.
How does technological integration fit into your processes? How significant is innovation within your business operations?
Our strategic approach centers on providing integrated solutions to patients in the healthcare ecosystem. We aim to become a key player in offering personalized solutions and services. Collaboration with strong solution partners is essential to our business model. We seek partnerships with companies that excel in data processing, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation — organizations that share our commitment to prioritizing patient and community health through innovative approaches.
“We aim to transform Evital into the ‘super app’ of digital health.”
What are Eczacıbaşı Evital's future goals?
Eczacıbaşı's vision for Evital is built on embracing new technologies. We've developed a long-term strategy that positions us not just to keep pace with rapid advances in digital health, but to pioneer them. This strategy is shaped by our anticipation of future technologies.
We’ve launched a B2B business model to foster collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, insurance companies and other healthcare stakeholders. We're also enhancing our "employee well-being" packages by making healthcare processes more trackable and measurable for both employees and companies.
Our goal is to establish ourselves as the technological leader and pioneering platform in digital health services. We are dedicated to continuously advancing Evital, transforming it into the “super app” of digital health, and working toward a healthier future.
Furthermore we aspire to become a global digital health company, using strategic partnerships and collaborations to create broader impact.