Centre and WHO to launch Global Initiative on Digital Health

Centre and WHO to launch Global Initiative on Digital Health

Subject: IR

Section: International Organisation

Context:

India in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) will launch the Global Initiative on Digital Health on August 19 as part of the ongoing G-20 summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)

WHO-managed network of stakeholders organized to facilitate the implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025.

Key Points of the Initiative

• Aims to focus on data convergence, health platform interface, and global investments in digital health.
• A digital platform to include an investment tracker, ask tracker, and library of existing digital health platforms.
• Innovations to enhance universal health convergence and healthcare service delivery.
• Funding support from global partners was secured for the initiative.
• Emphasis on data security with India’s citizen-centric data ownership policy.

Medical Countermeasure and Other Efforts

• Summit working on interim Medical Countermeasures (MCM) for health emergencies, led by India and WHO.
• Climate and Health Initiative (CHI) was set up in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank discussed.
• Patient and healthcare workforce mobility portal launch in progress.

Traditional Medicine Global Summit

• WHO convenes traditional medicine global summit co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayush at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Explores traditional complementary medicine’s role in addressing health challenges and sustainable development.

GIDH: A Network of Networks

It addresses challenges like duplication of efforts and product-focused digital health transformation through four key pillars:

1. Country Needs Tracker: Informs digital health investments based on country priorities.
2. Country Resource Portal: Identifies traditional and innovative resource opportunities, enhancing transparency and reducing duplication risk. Enables standards-based analysis of resourcing gaps.
3. Transformation Toolbox: Advocates for quality-assured tools and resources, empowering countries to manage national digital health transformation.
4. Convening and Knowledge Exchange: Promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing across global, regional, and national digital health networks.