Union Minister for Health Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched ‘Global Initiative on Digital Health, GIDH – a WHO Managed Network’ in the presence of Director General, World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the concluding day of the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting at Gandhinagar. Addressing the launch of GIDH, Mr. Mandaviya said India’s G20 presidency has leveraged its experience in developing a national digital health architecture through the convergence of digital health interventions. The Minister said it is 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. The Minister also released the World Bank’s Flagship Report on Digital-in-Health – Unlocking Value for Everyone.
G20 Health Ministers' Meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of the Outcome Document in Gandhinagar today. Briefing media in Gandhinagar, Union Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya said the world is looking at India as a trusted partner during health emergencies. Under India's G20 presidency, G20 countries showed commitment to build resilient, inclusive, accessible healthcare system to tackle future health emergencies. He said, India, which is known as the pharmacy of the world will soon become hospital on the earth with the rapid growth of medical tourism in the country. Talking about the important outcomes of the meeting, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Health, Lav Agrawal, said the global initiative on digital health and consensus on climate health initiative in India was one of the major outcomes of the G20 meet. The Member countries also showed commitment to strengthening the dialogue with the Finance track through the G20 Joint Finance-Health Task Force and welcomed the conclusion of the First Call for Proposals of the Pandemic Fund.
Besides, the G20 nations also supported a WHO-led inclusive consultative process for the development of an interim medical countermeasures coordination mechanism. They also committed to support WHO’s efforts to establish the Global Initiative on Digital Health. The initiative will support the implementation of WHO’s Global Digital Health Strategy 2020-2025. The G20 nations also committed to building sustainable and low-carbon and low greenhouse gas emission health systems and healthcare supply chains.
Speaking on the occasion, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said GIDH is an integrative step that fosters equity in healthcare by converging efforts and best practices. He added that the GIDH will ensure inclusivity, integration, and alignment of our goals by not leaving anyone behind. The three-day meeting was focused on three priority areas, including health emergencies prevention, preparedness, and response with a focus on anti-microbial resistance and One Health framework; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector and Digital Health innovations.
