WHO’s New Collaborative Network for Digital Health Transformation

Digital technologies have been seeping into many facets of our lives. In the healthcare sector, digital health is developed to harness the potential of digital technologies to support access to quality healthcare. The World Health Organization’s Global Initiative on Digital Health aims to support digital health transformation across countries.

Digital Health Transformation

A proper and accessible healthcare system is fundamental to a functioning society. The prevalence of chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, increases over time, signaling the urgent need to bridge the healthcare gap and support universal healthcare coverage.

The potential of digital technologies to improve healthcare quality and access has long been recognized. Since 2005, the WHO has adopted multiple resolutions to develop the necessary infrastructure, policies, and mechanisms for digital health. In 2020, the organization finally adopted the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025 roadmap to support countries implementing digital health technologies and achieving health for all.

To further support the roadmap’s implementation, the WHO launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) in February 2024.

WHO’s Collaboration Platform

The GIDH aims to be a platform to build a network between countries and strengthen international cooperation for digital health transformation. The platform was launched virtually on February 20, 2024.

While digital technologies have abundant potential to support universal healthcare coverage (UHC), the implementation is not without challenges. For instance, countries have different maturity levels in digital, information, and technology infrastructures. Lack of resources, funding, and supporting policies regarding digital protection also make countries’ digital health transformation less effective.

In this light, the WHO Member States aim to establish national digital health systems and applications instead of product-focused initiatives. Additionally, they will also support national competency through capacity building to help healthcare personnel maintain and adapt to the systems.

The GIDH will focus on several core areas:

Assess and prioritize country needs for sustainable digital health transformation.
Increase the alignment of country-level digital health resources and unfunded priorities.
Support the accelerated achievement of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 strategic objectives.
Build capacity and efforts to encourage digital health technology development, maintenance, and adaptation according to ever-changing local needs.

Healthcare for All

Quality and accessible healthcare systems are key to unlocking a world where everyone can lead a healthy life. WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health will hopefully foster more collaboration between countries to advance effective digital health transformation that can answer countries’ unique needs. Of course, this transformation must go hand-in-hand with the efforts to bridge the digital divide and improve cybersecurity in countries, among others.

“A carefully planned digital health future should be one where systems speak to one another–reducing the burden on workers and the people they serve,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Madina is the Assistant Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at Green Network Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Universitas Indonesia. As part of the GNA In-House Team, she supports the organization's multi-stakeholder engagement across international organizations, governments, businesses, civil society, and grassroots communities through digital publications, events, capacity building, and research.