Distinguished guests, dear colleagues and friends,
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, and welcome to this CSO dialogue on digital health.
Digital technologies hold enormous and rapidly evolving potential for transforming the health of entire populations.
In the global fight against COVID-19, for example, artificial intelligence is being used to screen populations, track infections, and monitor the supply and flow of critical health resources.
Digital technologies can improve service delivery and patient safety, facilitate the training of health workers, empower patients and families, and help to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
But of course, digital technologies are only a tool, and their power to help, or even harm, depends on careful stewardship.
We must pay careful attention to ensuring that digital technologies serve to narrow inequalities, not widen them.
We must address the disparity in access, quality and safe use of digital health technologies in low-income and underserved communities.
We must also work to protect safety, human rights and privacy.
To avoid or minimize these risks, a proactive approach is required.
As you may know, WHO has established a Department of Digital Health and Innovation to support countries to prioritize, integrate, and regulate digital technologies.
In September, the Department of Digital Health and Innovation held a round table with CSOs and NGOs, to discuss issues including digital transformation, early-warning disease surveillance systems, and the “Digital Health Network of Networks” to bring together the global digital health community.
Just last month, WHO’s Member States approved the Global Strategy on Digital Health at the World Health Assembly.
It is now time to implement that global strategy, to help countries adopt these 21st century tools as part of their journey towards universal health coverage, while strengthening governance and data protection.
We need everyone - individuals, communities, civil society, NGOs, private companies, academia, and governments - to be part of this important mission.
We need an extended but united network for effective global coordination, to support countries to adopt evidence-based and sustainable technologies that are aligned to their specific needs.
In our discussions today, I urge you to consider how we can co-create the digital transformation of health and bring together the global digital health community to implement the Global Strategy on Digital Health.
Thank you once again for your interest, commitment and support. Together, we have a very exciting opportunity to harness the power of technology for a healthier, safer and fairer world.
I thank you.