The advance of digital technology continues to revolutionise all our lives on a seemingly ever-increasing basis. The provision of cancer care is no different.

As highlighted by the MedTech Week theme – Creating Solutions for a Healthier Tomorrow – healthcare stakeholders must embrace the innovations needed to shape better care.

I believe opportunities abound to improve practice in all areas of cancer care through better deployment of technology. This includes taking up tools already available, as well as harnessing rapidly emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

However, I also know that doing this in an effective and cost-efficient manner is no easy feat. Careful consideration is required with respect to avoiding implementation pitfalls, sharing best practices, and the overall vision of the future of cancer care we want to achieve together.

With this in mind, the new Digital Health Network of the European Cancer Organisation will aim to assist the European cancer community and policymakers in navigating the challenges of digital cancer care and maximising its possibilities. The network includes representatives from the Member Societies of the European Cancer Organisation, its Patient Advisory Committee, Community 365 and invited stakeholders.

The network participants have identified three initial priorities for us to focus on. We will set out to define and promote research needs, and to seek to provide a platform for promoting approved education opportunities for healthcare professionals on digital health.

We are also determined to identify and respond to relevant policy initiatives at the EU level. These include the Cancer Mission and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. Digital health topics, such as GDPR, the European Health Data Space and the EU Cancer Mission Board's proposal of a European Cancer Patient Digital Centre, will also be central to our work.

Let’s use MedTech Week as an opportunity to think about the potential positive impact of technology on cancer care, adding momentum to the new Digital Health Network. Only by working together can we identify a sustainable path to cancer care’s digital future.

Mike Morrissey is Chief Executive of the European Cancer Organisation. The Digital Transformation of Cancer Care session will feature in this year’s European Cancer Summit (18 & 19 November).