The G20 health ministers and the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) at the G20 Health Ministers Meeting hosted by the government of India.
The new GIDH initiative will operate as a WHO-managed network and platform to support the implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025. The aim is to converge global standards, best practices and resources, and have them in a fast-track digital health system.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel thanked the G20 Indian Presidency for continuing work on digital health issues, which began during Saudi Arabia’s presidency in 2020.
Al-Jalajel was invited by the Indian presidency to discuss health digital transformation and artificial intelligence in the Kingdom, including the Seha Virtual Hospital, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 health initiatives.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked the G20 countries and the India G20 Presidency for acknowledging WHO’s role in this area and for supporting the establishment of the GIDH network.
Speaking at the launch, India’s Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said: “Today was a momentous day in the history of the G20 Health Working Group, wherein G20 countries not only identified a priority for its relevance but collectively worked towards its launch.”
A World Bank report highlighting the essential role of technology and data in daily life, and the increasing demand for health care systems to provide new services for all was also presented at the launch.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
