Global Initiative on Digital Health (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: WHO SPECIAL Envoy for the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator) recently said that the most significant achievement of the G20 health track was the launch of the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH).

Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)

• Introduced by: WHO and India’s G20 presidency.
• Managed by: It will functions as WHO Managed Network (“Network of Networks”), that will promote equitable access to digital health by addressing challenges.
• Objective: To foster equity in healthcare by converging efforts and best practices.  To consolidate the evidence and amplify recent and past gains in global digital health for health systems while strengthening mutual accountability to enhance the impact of future investments. 
• Aim:

o ALIGN: Efforts to support the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025;

o SUPPORT: Quality assured technical assistance to develop and strengthen standards-based and interoperable systems aligned to global best practices, norms and standards;

o FACILITATE: The deliberate use of quality assured digital transformation tools that enable governments to manage their digital health transformation journey.

• 4 Pillars: Country needs tracker, Country resources portal, Transformation toolbox, Convening & knowledge exchange.