Digital accessibility: an essential driver of innovation in healthcare

Transforming the Patient Experience Starts with Designing for Everyone

In an increasingly digital world, the healthcare industry faces a constant imperative to innovate. However, in this race toward efficiency and technological sophistication, one fundamental pillar is often overlooked: digital accessibility. For innovation and technology leaders in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical organizations, understanding and implementing accessibility is not just a matter of regulatory compliance—it is a powerful lever for innovation, equity, and ultimately, the success of their products and services.

Beyond Compliance: Accessibility as a Strategic Value

Today, accessibility is often seen as a legal obligation or an optional enhancement. However, in the context of healthcare and pharma—where access to information and services can be vital—this view is too narrow. We’re talking about digital products ranging from patient portals and telemedicine apps to hospital management platforms and clinical trial tools. If these products are not accessible to everyone—including individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor disabilities—a significant portion of the population is being left behind.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), set to take effect in June 2025, is a clear example of this paradigm shift. This directive mandates that businesses and organizations within the European Union ensure that their products and services—including websites and applications—are accessible to all. Non-compliance can lead to fines and legal action, underscoring the urgency of taking action.

But beyond the legal framework, accessibility is also an ethical imperative. In healthcare—where people’s well-being and dignity are at stake—ensuring no one is excluded from accessing digital services and information is fundamental. It’s about fostering an inclusive experience, aligned with the accessibility criteria established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Being unable to book a medical appointment online, understand medication instructions through an app, or participate in a digital clinical trial due to accessibility barriers is a matter of fundamental rights.

Take, for example, a patient with low vision who needs to manage medication through an app. Or a healthcare professional with dyslexia who uses software to consult clinical records. Lack of accessibility doesn’t just cause frustration—it can seriously impact treatment adherence, diagnostic accuracy, and operational efficiency.

Well-Implemented Digital Accessibility Leads to:

• Greater Reach and Equity: Ensures that more patients and professionals can benefit from digital solutions, democratizing access to health information and services.

• Improved User Experience for All: Accessibility design principles—such as clarity, simplicity, and flexibility—benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. Accessible design is, by definition, more intuitive and user-friendly.

• Innovation Driven by Diversity: Considering the needs of a wider range of users fosters a more inclusive and creative design mindset, often resulting in more robust and versatile solutions.

• Reduced Legal and Reputational Risks: Meeting accessibility standards helps avoid potential litigation and protects the organization’s reputation, signaling a genuine commitment to corporate social responsibility.

• Competitive Advantage: In a market where user experience is increasingly valued, offering accessible digital products and services can set your organization apart from the competition.

Practical Application: From Concept to Implementation

For innovation and technology leaders, the challenge lies in integrating accessibility from the earliest stages of product development. It’s not a last-minute add-on but a foundational pillar of the product life cycle. This involves:

1. Accessibility Audits: Assess the current state of existing digital products to identify barriers.

2. Inclusive Design (Design for All): Incorporate accessibility principles from the product’s conception, using tools and methodologies that ensure it is usable by as many people as possible.

3. Accessible Development and Testing: Train development teams to write accessible code and perform thorough testing with users who have diverse needs.

4. Training and Awareness: Raise awareness across the entire organization—from senior leadership to customer support—about the importance of accessibility.

In the pharmaceutical sector, this may mean ensuring that medication information websites, dosage tracking apps, or clinical trial platforms are fully accessible. In hospitals, it involves ensuring that appointment systems, medical result portals, and internal communication tools function seamlessly for all users.

How Can You Know If Your Digital Products Are Accessible and Compliant with European Regulations?

With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) approaching (June 2025), it is crucial for hospitals and pharmaceutical and medical companies to ensure their digital products are not only innovative but also fully accessible.

At Sngular, we understand the complexities and specificities of the Health sector. Our team of experts in digital consulting and product development—highly specialized in accessibility—offers a free, no-obligation personalized digital accessibility assessment to evaluate the current state of your products, identify barriers, and build a roadmap toward an inclusive, robust, and compliant user experience.

What does the assessment include?

• Accessibility Analysis Based on WCAG Criteria: We evaluate your digital platforms using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from the W3C—the global standard for digital accessibility.

• Usability Evaluation for Users with Varying Abilities: We go beyond technical compliance to understand how users with different visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor abilities interact with your products.

• Practical Recommendations for a More Inclusive Experience: We provide a clear, actionable roadmap with concrete steps to improve your product’s accessibility—transforming barriers into opportunities.

If your hospital or pharmaceutical company is looking to integrate digital accessibility as a strategic advantage—or if you need guidance to audit and enhance your existing products—we invite you to explore how we can help you build barrier-free digital health experiences.

Learn more about how we can drive digital accessibility in your organization here.

A Digitally Accessible Health Future for All

Digital accessibility is more than a requirement—it’s the foundation on which the future of health and technology will be built. By embracing it, organizations not only fulfill a social responsibility but also unlock new paths to innovation, efficiency, and growth, creating a truly inclusive digital health ecosystem.