The recent high-level summit saw the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on digital health for sustainable development. The final session of the ‘4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit’ marked this significant step towards a healthier future. The declaration advocates for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) leadership in digital health and urges that a specific mechanism be established to centrally coordinate digital health to aid its Member States. The focus on digital health is crucial in today’s technologically advanced era, and the application of digital health for sustainable development is evident in areas such as telemedicine, remote care, and mobile health.
Adoption of the Delhi Declaration
The Delhi Declaration came into existence as the result of a cooperative effort between ministers and delegations at the high-level summit. The 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit provided the platform for the adoption of this innovative approach towards public health. The declaration requests WHO’s leadership in digital health initiatives and encourages the establishment of a structured mechanism for comprehensive coordination.
The Importance of Digital Health
Digital health plays a pivotal role in sustainable development by enhancing the quality and accessibility of healthcare. It provides useful solutions such as telemedicine, remote care, and mobile health. These services deliver care directly to people’s homes, reducing the need for hospital or clinic visits, subsequently easing the pressure on these healthcare facilities and making healthcare more accessible to those who may find travel difficult.
Global Intergovernmental Meeting on Digital Health
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with WHO and the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP), hosted the global intergovernmental meeting on digital health. This meeting served as a forum for discussing the future of digital health and was a key driving factor in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.
| Key Partners | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Hosted the global intergovernmental meeting on digital health |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | Collaborated in hosting the meeting, declaration calls for WHO’s leadership in digital health |
| Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) | Assisted in hosting the meeting, instrumental in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration |
About the World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations specialized agency that focuses on international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, its constitution’s enforcement is celebrated annually as World Health Day. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it oversees the supreme decision-making body in health, the World Health Assembly. This assembly sees annual delegations from 194 member states, which portrays the global influence of the WHO.
