WHO Launches Digital Health Initiative to Strengthen Global Health Security

In collaboration with European Commission, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a landmark digital health initiative to strengthen global health security.

Through this initiative, WHO will take up the European Union (EU) system of digital COVID-19 certification to establish a global system that will help facilitate global mobility and protect citizens across the world from ongoing and future health threats, including pandemics.

This is the first building block of the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) that will develop a wide range of digital products to deliver better health for all, according to WHO.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Building on the EU’s highly successful digital certification network, WHO aims to offer all WHO Member States access to an open-source digital health tool, which is based on the principles of equity, innovation, transparency, and data protection and privacy."

“New digital health products in development aim to help people everywhere receive quality health services quickly and more effectively," he noted.