By Gom Mirian
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Commission (UN) have announced the launch of a landmark digital health partnership to strengthen global health security.
This is the first building block of the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) that will develop a wide range of digital products to deliver better health for all.
In a publication made public on the WHO’s website on Monday, the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, said the initiative adopted would aid in facilitating cross-border mobility and safeguarding people globally from present and potential health dangers, such as pandemics.
He said: “Building on the EU’s highly successful digital certification network, WHO aims to offer all WHO Member States access to an open-source digital health tool which is based on the principles of equity, innovation, transparency, and data protection and privacy.
“New digital health products in development aim to help people everywhere receive quality health services quickly and more effectively,” he said.
The Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides said the initiative is to enhance strategic cooperation on global health issues and to further bolster a robust multilateral system with WHO at its core, powered by a strong EU.
“This partnership is an important step for the digital action plan of the EU Global Health Strategy. By using European best practices, we contribute to digital health standards and interoperability globally—to the benefit of those most in need. It is also a powerful example of how alignment between the EU and the WHO can deliver better health for all, in the EU and across the world.
“As the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, there is no better partner than the WHO to advance the work we started at the EU and further develop global digital health solutions,” said Kyriakides.
