Introducing the Digital Health Literacy Competency Framework

Digital technologies are now part of how care is delivered across Africa, from electronic health records and telemedicine to AI-supported clinical decision-making. As these systems expand, healthcare professionals need a shared, evidence-based understanding of the digital competencies that modern practice requires.

Today, InnovateHealth Africa is introducing the Digital Health Literacy Competency Framework for Frontline Healthcare Professionals in Africa. Developed over two years (2025 - 2026) through a rigorous, evidence-based methodology and grounded in frontline practice across Africa, the Framework defines the digital health competencies healthcare professionals need to practise safely and effectively in digitally enabled care.

For healthcare professionals, it offers a clear picture of the digital competencies expected in modern practice and a basis for directing their own professional development. For ministries of health and regulators, it provides a reference for setting competency expectations and professional standards. Training institutions and professional bodies can use it to shape curricula and continuing professional development, and healthcare organisations can draw on it to plan training and prepare staff for new digital systems. For funders and development partners, it provides a consistent basis for designing and measuring investment in workforce capacity.

The Framework is available to download/read at: https://tinyurl.com/dhl-framework

In the coming weeks, InnovateHealth Africa will also launch the Digital Health Literacy Self-Assessment Tool (DHL-SAT), an online platform through which healthcare professionals across Africa will be able to assess their own digital health literacy against this Framework. The DHL-SAT will go beyond measuring digital health literacy: it will give users personalised insights into their current competency level, and targeted recommendations for development in the areas where gaps are identified, helping them build the competencies most relevant to their practice. Further details on this will be shared ahead of the launch.

We are grateful to the expert reviewers, contributors and partners who supported the development of this Framework, and to the healthcare professionals across Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Africa whose participation made it possible.

The Framework is available to download/read at: https://tinyurl.com/dhl-framework