Global Digital Health Strategy Set to Address Critical Healthcare Challenges
Geneva, Tuesday, 24 June 2025.
From July 14-18, 2025, global leaders will discuss advancements in digital health strategies under WHO’s directive to enhance digital governance and equitable healthcare access globally.
Prioritizing Digital Health Transformation
The second Global Convening of the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH), taking place virtually from July 14 to July 18, 2025, serves as a critical platform for discussing WHO’s Global Health Strategy 2025-2028 priorities. These include digital and data governance, interoperability, and equitable access to patient-centric technologies. This initiative aims to address existing gaps in healthcare delivery systems, particularly in vulnerable communities, and to accelerate the transformation of national health frameworks via digital solutions [1].
Strategic Extensions and Renewals
During the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board in 2025, member states approved a two-year extension of the Global Strategy on Digital Health (GSDH) 2020-2025, extending it to 2027. A second strategy for 2028-2032 is pending discussion at the upcoming World Health Assembly. These strategic extensions and renewals are intended to encourage member states to invest in digital infrastructure, heighten digital health literacy, and develop workforce capacity to meet emerging healthcare challenges [1].
Leveraging Partnerships for Systematic Change
The GIDH convening not only plans to map priority actions under the GSDH extension but also aims to foster sustainable, country-led digital transformations through collective partnerships. By bringing together a global audience, the event will feature panel discussions and workshops to highlight innovative approaches in digital health. This emphasis on partnership is crucial for scaling effective practices and ensuring the equitable distribution of digital health technologies across different regions [1].
Global Implications and Future Directions
As digital health gains momentum, events like the GIDH convening play a pivotal role in shaping future initiatives. The discussions and collaborations expected during the event align with broader efforts by organizations such as Washington University in St. Louis, which has received significant funding to enhance community-engaged health policy, and the OECD’s recommendations for integrating digital solutions to address health disparities globally [2][3].