Union Health Minister Urges Global Collaboration for Digital Health Framework

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union minister of health and family welfare, urged all member countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to join hands to strengthen the global digital health framework, which will empower countries to ensure universal health coverage.

He was virtually addressing the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) public launch event. The GIDH is a WHO-managed network that was unanimously adopted by all G20 countries, invited countries, and international organizations and collectively launched as a key deliverable of India’s G20 Presidency during the Health Ministers’ Meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 19 August 2023.

Addressing the session, Dr Mandaviya said, “Our collaboration with the WHO on the GIDH is a testament to our shared commitment towards transforming the digital health ecosystem.”

Dr Mandaviya said that the GIDH will allow the democratization of digital health technologies in national digital health transformation, particularly in the Global South. The success of the GIDH also requires strong regional cooperation. He also urged the WHO-SEARO (Southeast Asia Region) Director to implement the GIDH in the region.

The Union health minister highlighted “India’s ground-breaking digital health transformations, particularly through the flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, which promotes healthcare digitization and creates an interoperable digital ecosystem.”

Reiterating India’s unwavering support to the GIDH for its implementation, advancement and sustainability, he urged all member countries to join hands to strengthen the global digital health framework. He said this will empower countries in their journey towards ensuring universal health coverage.

As a WHO Managed Network (“Network of Networks”), GIDH aims to consolidate and amplify recent and past gains in global digital health while strengthening mutual accountability and serving as a vehicle for implementing the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020 - 2025 and enhancing future investments' impact. We hope the GIDH can do it as an educational institution and independent intermediary, organizing resources and activities to build a social infrastructure for health that allows for health reform and recommendations for life on the island.