Digital Health Technologies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Scoping Review of Barriers and Policy Implications

This project presents a PRISMA-ScR-guided scoping review examining digital health technologies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), with a specific focus on implementation barriers, governance challenges, infrastructure limitations, equity implications, and policy priorities for sustainable digital transformation. The review synthesises evidence on DHIS2-based health monitoring systems, telemedicine, mHealth applications, electronic health records (EHRs), and artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies within post-conflict and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. A comprehensive multi-database search covering January 2003 to March 2026 was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, WHO Global Index Medicus, and supplementary grey literature sources. The study follows the Levac et al. scoping review framework and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Findings highlight major structural barriers, including fragmented governance, weak interoperability, infrastructure deficits, workforce attrition, digital literacy gaps, and the absence of comprehensive data protection legislation. This project aims to provide an evidence-informed roadmap for digital health transformation in KRI and contribute to the broader literature on digital health implementation in fragile and post-conflict LMIC health systems.