How Inclusive Is Digital Inclusion?

Digital inclusion is increasingly at the forefront of debates across sectors—from the development of healthcare technologies and the sharing of personal health data to education systems and public policy. Yet, beyond its growing prominence, key questions remain: what does digital inclusion actually look like in practice? Which strategies are truly effective, and for whom? Who continues to be excluded? And what unintended consequences arise when efforts focus primarily on training and digital literacy?

This interactive session will explore these issues by bringing together perspectives from policy, practice, and ethical research in an interdisciplinary dialogue. While digital technologies promise enhanced participation, user empowerment, and improved healthcare outcomes, they can also risk reinforcing existing inequalities if not carefully implemented.  Participants will reflect on how digital inclusion can move beyond policy ambition to deliver fair, structured, and meaningful outcomes for diverse communities—particularly those already underserved.

The discussion will feature an interactive panel with experts from different disciplines and will be moderated by VPH social scientist Zita Van Horenbeeck. The session will be held in Dutch and is open to researchers from various backgrounds.

Registration is now open