Health policy articles from across Nature Portfolio

Return-to-work (RTW) after long-term absence due to ill health (or other factors) can be fraught with psychological, physical, and organisational challenges which may require continuous management to ensure successful employee reintegration. While digital interventions have emerged to support reintegration, a recent systematic review revealed that few explicitly address RTW needs, despite growing interest in e-mental health. Early online interventions demonstrate promise in improving psychological outcomes, yet face limitations in scalability, personalisation, and integration into workplace systems. Smartphone-based interventions via applications/apps offer a scalable alternative, leveraging ubiquitous technology to deliver support beyond bespoke settings through self-monitoring, continuous learning, and communication tools. However, existing RTW-focused apps remain narrowly tailored to specific conditions, with limited adaptation to individual needs and insufficient evaluation of long-term effectiveness. Future developments must prioritise personalisation, rigorous evaluation in diverse populations, and integration within occupational health and real-world employer systems with organisational support. Addressing these gaps is essential to fully realise the potential of digital solutions in supporting sustainable work reintegration that is respectful and compassionate.

To facilitate the safe and effective implementation of autonomous artificial intelligence agents in healthcare, regulatory frameworks must evolve beyond static device paradigms to incorporate adaptive oversight and flexible pathways.

People in the USA who are incarcerated, or have a history of incarceration, face worse access to cancer care, leading to poorer outcomes. In this Comment, Zhao and colleagues highlight the need to address these inequities through coordinated action across research, healthcare, policy and correctional systems to ensure all individuals have access to high-quality cancer care.

Systemic integration and equitable adoption of Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) require timely, comprehensive, harmonised policies. This paper presents five complementary key enablers: defining DHTs in the scope of fit-for-purpose policy interventions, implementing AI-ready regulatory approaches, adopting dynamic assessment criteria, establishing dedicated reimbursement models, and promoting evidence generation, clinical guidelines, interoperability, and education. Cross-border and multistakeholder collaboration are also crucial to reducing fragmentation, addressing inequities, and driving scalable, systemic value.