G20 ministers launch digital health initiative

G20 health ministers recently launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health during a meeting in India in cooperation with the World Health Organization, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Through this initiative, WHO aims to support the implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 to promote global standards, best practices and resources to fast-track digital health system transformation and achieve measurable results.

During his speech, Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel thanked the Indian presidency for continuing to work on digital health, which started during the Kingdom’s presidency in 2020.

Al-Jalajel participated in launching the initiative when he was invited by the Indian presidency to speak about health digital transformation and artificial intelligence in the Kingdom, including the Seha Virtual Hospital and the Kingdom’s experience in this area.

Al-Jalajel also underscored the importance of collaborative action on comprehensive health coverage and ensuring the provision of health care to those in need worldwide.

The Saudi minister also participated in a joint meeting of ministers of health and finance, where he said that the Kingdom supported the group’s collective efforts and urged all relevant parties to benefit from the Pandemic Fund.

He also said that the fund was part of efforts initiated during the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 to bridge the funding gap for countries facing dire circumstances.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked the G20 states and India for supporting the technical role of WHO in this area and the establishment of the new GIDH network.

India’s Health Minister 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 toward its launch.”

During the launch of the Global Initiative on Digital Health, the World Bank’s report was released; it highlighted that technology and data are an essential part of daily life, adding that health care systems are facing increasing demands for offering new services accessible to everyone across the world.