Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Enmaeya News) — Digital health technologies are increasingly providing a lifeline for refugees worldwide, giving them remote access to diagnostics, mental health support, and continuity of care, experts said at the World Health Expo in Dubai.

The conference’s final day focused on how technology is stepping in where traditional healthcare systems can no longer meet the needs of displaced populations.

Dr. Waheed Arian, founder of Arian Wellbeing, described his work creating an online mental health assessment service specifically for migrants. After fleeing Afghanistan in his youth, he founded the charity Arian Teleheal, which allows doctors in conflict zones to consult global specialists via smartphones. The approach is sensitive to language, culture, and the trauma many refugees carry before, during, and after displacement.

In Lebanon, a 2020 digital program treating depression among Syrian refugees showed significant results. The study included 569 refugees, average age 31, more than half of them women.

Participants received weekly online or phone support with follow-up after three months. Those who engaged with the digital program and guidance from trained non-specialist helpers showed far greater improvement in mental health and daily functioning than those receiving standard care.

But challenges remain. Nadia Kadhim, human rights lawyer and CEO of Naq Cyber, noted that many refugees lack stable legal identification, complicating efforts to protect their health records. “Everyone has the right to privacy, and that includes their data,” Kadhim said, emphasizing the need for compliance and regulation for digital health providers working with vulnerable populations.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is also scaling digital healthcare, rolling out a unified electronic medical record system across 143 health centers serving Palestinian refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza.

The cloud-based system, set to replace a fragmented platform in 2026, will allow thousands of staff to improve coordination, access, and consistency of care.

Conference participants stressed that digital health for refugees must balance inclusivity with oversight. Cultural relevance, data protection, and sustained funding are key for success.

Policymakers, tech innovators, and humanitarian agencies were urged to move beyond pilot programs and integrate digital health into formal care systems for displaced people.

As global displacement continues, experts say digital tools offer scalable, cost-effective ways to provide care where traditional infrastructure is limited. Their success will hinge on addressing ethical concerns, identity verification, data security, and long-term sustainability.