Global Initiative on Digital Health

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Context: India, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), will launch the Global Initiative on Digital Health as part of the ongoing G-20 summit in Gandhinagar.

Global Initiative on Digital Health

• It is the first such global initiative aimed at data convergence, the interface of health platforms and investments in the digital health space around the globe.
• The summit is aimed to be an interim medical countermeasure (MCM) before the next health emergency hits us.
• The interim medical countermeasure (MCM) is based on a ‘network of networks approach.
• India, in collaboration with WHO, is leading the advocacy.

Global Digital Health platform

The global digital platform would include

1.  an investment tracker,
2. an ask tracker (to understand who needs what kind of products and services) and
3. a library of existing digital health platforms.

Importance Global Initiative on Digital Health

• Digital health innovations and solutions would aid universal health convergence and improve healthcare service delivery.
• The global platform for data sharing will share analyses and work on the interoperability of data. This will ensure citizens’ data ownership.
• The summit is also working at garnering support for setting up a Climate and Health Initiative in India, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the launch of a patient and healthcare workforce mobility portal.

Ayushman Bharat National Digital Mission

• It will ensure access to quality healthcare by promoting the use of technologies such as telemedicine and supporting the national portability of health services.
• Citizens can create their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) numbers, to link their digital health records.
• The National Health Authority will be the implementing agency of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• It aims to create a National Digital Health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe manner.

https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/48036/OPS/GUBBKJRTP.1+GGSBKJSVQ.1.html