Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organization launches a new regional initiative to accelerate adoption of digital health wallets across Southeast Asia, aiming to modernise healthcare systems and improve cross-border access to medical records.
Announced in partnership with the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and backed by the Temasek Foundation on Monday, the three-year programme targets member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The initiative focuses on replacing paper-based records with secure, interoperable digital systems. Officials say the move will strengthen continuity of care, enhance portability of health data and reduce fraud.
“The COVID-19 pandemic showed how important it is for health records to be trusted, verifiable and able to travel across borders,” said Kee Kirk Chuen of Temasek Foundation.
The programme aligns with the International Health Regulations (2025), which promotes internationally recognised digital health certificates.
Under the plan, countries will first deploy digital vaccination certificates before expanding to maternal health, child immunisation and broader personal health data. Systems will rely on cryptographic verification through WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network to ensure security and interoperability.
Dr Alain Labrique, WHO’s digital health director, said: “Digital health wallets are more than a technological upgrade – they are a commitment to building trusted, people-centred health systems.”
The programme also includes technical support, infrastructure development and capacity building to help governments integrate digital health tools into national systems.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 
Korede Abdullah 
