World Health Assembly Extends Global Digital Health Strategy to 2027: What It Means for You

At the recent 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), countries around the world took a significant step by extending the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy on Digital Health until 2027. Launched in 2020, this strategy helps nations adopt digital health solutions aimed at improving healthcare delivery, ensuring fairness, and boosting resilience in health systems.

The WHO emphasized the importance of good governance in tech adoption. They provide goals and guidance to assist countries in scaling up digital health initiatives. In addition, there’s a plan to develop a new framework for a global digital health strategy from 2028 to 2033.

Since the original strategy was introduced, many positive changes have occurred:

• 129 countries now have national digital health strategies.
• Over 1,600 government officials from more than 100 countries have received training in digital health and AI.
• 130 member states conducted assessments to measure their digital health maturity.
• The WHO launched the Global Digital Health Certification Network.
• Guidance on ethical AI in health was issued, with workshops helping countries implement it responsibly.
• Countries have collaborated on digital health, with 40 member states joining the Global Digital Health Partnership.

Dr. Alain Labrique, director of the WHO’s Department of Digital Health and Innovation, highlighted that this extension isn’t just about time. It’s about actively enhancing digital health and ensuring it helps everyone. “From AI to telehealth, we have the tools; now we must ensure they reach and benefit everyone,” he stated.

The larger context reveals that digital health is becoming crucial in modern medicine. In 2024, the WHO will release a Digital Transformation Handbook for Primary Health Care, aimed at helping countries digitize health information and improve service delivery.

They also updated their Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Readiness Assessment Toolkit to help countries prepare for integrating AI into public health strategies. This toolkit was developed with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Pan American Health Organization.

Last year, the WHO introduced S.A.R.A.H (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health), a generative AI tool to provide information on health topics like healthy living and mental well-being. This multilingual assistant can engage users in eight languages and is accessible on various devices, covering crucial health issues like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

In summary, the WHA’s actions pave the way for a more connected and efficient healthcare system, using digital tools to improve patient care and public health globally.

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