Fulvio Michelis & Emre Ozcan
Digital Health –Boosting Value Creation for the Whole Health Ecosystem
Healthcare budgets are straining under aging populations and chronic disease, while fee-for-service models reward activity, not outcomes. Digital health reframes the equation—linking patients, HCPs, and payers through companion apps, connected delivery, wearables, and AI so support becomes continuous, evidence-rich, and measurably valuable across the care journey.
Digital health is a strategic pillar for pharma: by personalizing support, generating real-world evidence, and enabling value-based engagement, it improves outcomes for patients, decisions for HCPs, and reimbursement strength for payers.
Companion apps help patients overcome knowledge gaps, build acceptance, and sustain adherence; connected devices and smart injectors capture behavior and comfort settings; wearables and at-home tests surface vital signs and biomarkers; and AI turns high-volume signals into timely, actionable guidance. The same data that assists patients and clinicians also powers payer discussions through real-world evidence—supporting earlier diagnosis, proactive management, and clearer demonstrations of benefit. To scale, commercialization must evolve as well: field teams need new skills, privacy and ethics must be designed in, and partnerships with payers and policymakers should align digital solutions with standards, reimbursement, and trust.
When Value Becomes Continuous:
From Products to Outcomes
What you’ll learn
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How companion apps, connected devices, and wearables personalize support and sustain adherence across the patient journey
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How AI and advanced analytics transform dense patient data into clinician decision support and early-risk signals
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How real-world evidence strengthens payer negotiations by demonstrating effectiveness, adherence, and outcomes in practice
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Which commercialization shifts are required—skills, privacy and ethics, and field enablement—to integrate digital without friction
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Where partnerships with market access, payers, and regulators unlock reimbursement pathways and ecosystem adoption at scale
Fulvio Michelis is a Strategy Director for Digital Health and Analytics at Merck Group. With extensive experience in managing digital health products across various therapeutic areas, he orchestrates strategic decisions that impact tens of thousands of patients in over 40 countries. Fulvio holds a PhD in Physics from École Polytechnique and has previously worked as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, leading digital transformation for large corporations. His passion for blending business strategy and technology enables him to deliver meaningful impacts in the healthcare sector.
About the Author
Fulvio Michelis
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Emre Ozcan is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the biopharma and MedTech industries, currently serving as the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Digital Health & Devices at Merck Group. He has a strong background in strategy development, digital transformation, and operational excellence. Emre holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Oxford and has previously worked with esteemed organizations such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Boston Consulting Group. His leadership is characterized by a commitment to innovation and a deep understanding of emerging technologies in the healthcare landscape.
About the Author
Emre Ozcan
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