Between May 28 and 29, Geneva, Switzerland, hosted the World Summit on the Information Society +20 High-Level Event, offering new insights to continue the journey towards global digital health transformation
The Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) called on diverse leaders, policymakers, and technologists for a multi-stakeholder dialogue to advance the future of digital health worldwide.
The event, co-hosted by the Global Initiative on Digital Health, the Brazil G20 Presidency, and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) under Action line C7: E-Health, was designed to build on the foundation of twenty years of progress since the WSIS in 2003 and 2005. With over 60 countries and 150 organisations in attendance, the gathering became a platform for collaborative discussions on the transformative role of digital health in today’s global landscape.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus set the tone for the event, delivering an opening message alongside other global leaders. This event celebrated the achievements in the digital health field and looked ahead to future challenges and opportunities in leveraging technology for better health systems worldwide.
Digital health’s key role
Participants exchanged ideas across various critical themes. One of the main focuses was the role of digitalisation in health financing and the need for strong digital public infrastructure in the healthcare sector.
As digital health tools and platforms become more integral to healthcare delivery, ensuring that these systems are well-funded and sustainable is a top priority for governments and health organisations.
Policy frameworks, legislation, and regulations enabling the adoption of digital health technologies, as well as the importance of data sharing and interoperability standards, were key topics of conversation.
The challenges and opportunities of internet connectivity, digital literacy, and data governance in shaping national digital health strategies were also explored. These discussions highlighted the necessity of bridging the digital divide to ensure that all nations can harness the potential of digital health systems effectively.
Another area of focus was identifying the characteristics of a successful digital health investment. With limited resources, stakeholders highlighted the need for clear metrics and frameworks to track investments in digital health and ensure long-term value and impact.
Collaboration and partnerships for better digital health
A major outcome of the convening was the agreement on fostering stronger collaboration between governments, the private sector, and international organisations. Partnerships between these sectors can enhance the resilience of digital health systems and enable faster, more equitable progress in health transformation. Government-to-government collaboration, especially in terms of strengthening national digital health governance, was also recognised as a key driver for success.
Public-private partnerships were identified as essential to creating resilient, adaptable, and scalable digital health systems that can respond to evolving health challenges. These collaborations bring together innovation from the private sector with the reach and resources of public institutions to make digital health solutions more accessible and impactful.
Digital health architecture and monitoring
One of the most notable milestones from the event was the launch of the development of the WHO-ITU Digital Public Infrastructure Reference Architecture for Digital Health Transformation. This reference architecture aims to provide countries with a blueprint for building and scaling digital health systems to ensure inclusivity, security, and sustainability.
The event saw the official launch of the Global Digital Health Monitor and Complementary Report, a significant step in tracking progress on the Global Strategy on Digital Health. The first data collection efforts will focus on the WHO Africa Region, in collaboration with the Africa CDC, reflecting the global commitment to ensuring that digital health systems benefit all countries, particularly those in the Global South.
The second GIDH global convening is set to be in May 2025, when participants will gather again in Geneva to continue their collaborative efforts and track the progress of the initiatives launched at this year’s event.
