The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, virtually addressed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) public launch event of the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH). This event marked a significant collaboration between the WHO and the Government of India, showcasing their joint commitment to revolutionizing the digital health landscape.
The GIDH, a WHO-managed network, was unanimously endorsed by all G20 countries, along with invited countries and international organizations. It was officially launched during the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on August 19, 2023, as a key outcome of India’s G20 Presidency.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized India’s leading role in this initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, as acknowledged in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration of the G20 Summit. He highlighted that the GIDH aims to democratize digital health technologies, focusing particularly on national digital health transformations in the Global South. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of robust regional cooperation for its success.
During his speech, Dr. Mandaviya urged the WHO Southeast Asia Region (WHO-SEARO) Director to implement the GIDH across the region. He underscored India’s pioneering digital health advancements, notably through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, which has significantly contributed to healthcare digitization and the creation of an interoperable digital ecosystem.
Dr. Mandaviya reaffirmed India’s unwavering support for the GIDH, stressing its vital role in enhancing and sustaining the global digital health framework. He encouraged all member countries to collaborate in strengthening this framework, as it is crucial for achieving universal health coverage.
The GIDH, launched during the G20 Health Ministerial Meeting in Gandhinagar, India, in August 2023, serves as a WHO Managed Network. Its objective is to unify and amplify global digital health advancements, ensuring mutual accountability and acting as a conduit for the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025. By functioning as a knowledge hub and neutral broker, GIDH aims to align resources and efforts toward establishing digital public infrastructure for health, essential for sustainable and evidence-based national digital health transformations.