The G20 has over the years influenced the growth trajectory of global digital health by ensuring international cooperation between different stakeholders at a global level
This essay is part of the series titled: World Health Day 2024: My Health, My Right
As the world is moving towards increased digitalisation, the use of technology for healthcare and well-being is also increasing rapidly. From direct patient interaction through the use of telemedicine to the use of data and cutting-edge information for health informatics, from remote monitoring to maintaining electronic health records, the use of digital health solutions can significantly contribute to the attainment of SDG 3—“Good health and well-being”.
To realise the true potential of digital health, it is important to have international coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between different stakeholders across the world. As the premier global forum for international economic cooperation that significantly impacts the global governance architecture, G20 has over the years influenced the growth trajectory of global digital health.
The discussions at the Health Working Group (HWG) and Leaders’ levels shall be analysed, along with any other outcomes that were discussed.
This piece aims to summarise the discourse on digital health through various past presidencies and discuss the potential direction that the discourse will take during Brazil’s presidency. For the same, the discussions at the Health Working Group (HWG) and Leaders’ levels shall be analysed, along with any other outcomes that were discussed.
The HWG was established under the German presidency in 2017 to put global health on the agenda of the G20. The priorities of the HWG were establishing global health crisis management, strengthening health systems and controlling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and there was no mention of digital health. However, subsequently, since 2018, digital health has been an important element of all G20 Health Ministers Meetings.
Under Argentina’s presidency, the G20 Health Ministers recognised the importance of using e-health tools and telemedicine and encouraged countries to develop and operationalise digital health systems. They also highlighted the need to improve collaboration in the area of e-health and to share best practices in e-health implementation.
Under Argentina’s presidency, the G20 Health Ministers recognised the importance of using e-health tools and telemedicine and encouraged countries to develop and operationalise digital health systems.
Under Japan’s presidency, the Ministers recognised the importance of ethical digital health technologies for accelerating the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). They sought the promotion of digital health technologies, including through strengthening and interoperability of digital health information systems and equitable access to digital health technologies. They also welcomed WHO's guidelines on digital health and looked forward to Global Strategy on Digital Health.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health became even more important during Saudi Arabia’s presidency. The Health Ministers recognised the potential of digital health solutions for promoting UHC and accelerating the progress on SDG 3. They noted that digital health is a fundamental tool during health emergencies and that making it a key element of health services infrastructure could result in higher efficiencies, safer interactions, and better health outcomes. They endorsed the creation of a Digital Health Taskforce which came out with a report for sharing best practices and strategies to harness the potential for digital health solutions. They also sought the development of a Digital Health Guiding Framework for Innovation and Transformation. The Ministers also supported the establishment of the Global Innovation Hub for Improving Value in Health (GIH).
During Italy’s presidency, the Health Ministers noted that integrating digital health and improving health information systems can have significant advantages. They also highlighted that digital health solutions must be implemented in a way that personal health data is protected. During Indonesia’s presidency, the importance of digital health solutions to aid the achievements of UHC and other SDGs was emphasised, and the ministers also deliberated on Global Health Protocols.
The Health Ministers recognised the potential of digital health solutions for promoting UHC and accelerating the progress on SDG 3.
Most recently, during India’s presidency, the importance of digital health in strengthening healthcare systems and the potential innovative technologies have for the achievement of UHC was focused on. The ministers also highlighted the importance of coordination between existing initiatives to support an interconnected digital health system. They committed to supporting the WHO's efforts to establish the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH).
The leaders remained committed to strengthening health systems through public and private sector innovation, including through the use of digital and other innovative technologies during Japan’s presidency. Similarly, during the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit under Saudi Arabia’s presidency, the leaders committed to leveraging digital technologies against the COVID-19 pandemic. The leaders also welcomed the establishment of GIH. During the Italian presidency, the leaders committed to enhancing innovation in digital and other health-related technologies. During Indonesia’s presidency, the leaders committed to collaborating for the formation of trusted global digital health networks. During India’s presidency, the leaders welcomed the establishment of the GIDH.
As noted above, the G20 has welcomed several reports and initiatives.
The WHO Guidelines “Recommendations on digital interventions for health system strengthening” were welcomed by the Health ministers during Japan’s residency. These guidelines are a result of a critical evaluation of evidence on digital health and provide recommendations for making informed decisions while making digital health interventions.
The leaders looked into the global strategy for digital health 2020-2025 during Japan’s presidency. The document aimed to improve health across the globe by promoting the adoption of digital health solutions and to use of health data for improving health and well-being and accelerating the progress of SDG 3. The document aimed to strengthen the application of digital health for different stakeholders to realise the vision of health for all.
The G20 Report on Digital Health Implementation Approach to Pandemic Management was launched by the G20 Digital Health Taskforce during Saudi Arabia’s presidency. This was the first G20 Report on Digital Health and outlined the proposed actions and recommendations for the application of digital health solutions during a health emergency. The report provided a blueprint for countries, for designing their digital health solutions. Responding to this report, the Saudi G20 Digital Health Secretariat released an addendum highlighting the role of digital health strategies in pandemic management.
The document aimed to improve health across the globe by promoting the adoption of digital health solutions and to use of health data for improving health and well-being and accelerating the progress of SDG 3.
The GIH was also established under Saudi Arabia’s presidency as a voluntary initiative with a five-year mandate. It is designed as a knowledge body with a mission to highlight approaches that can make health systems more resilient and responsive, and support the goal of UHC. The GIH produces and shares knowledge, engages with incumbent presidencies, supports national health systems and aims to inform policy.
The GIDH was an informal network of networks managed by the World Health Organization which aimed to facilitate the execution of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 and support the achievement of UHC by supporting the use of digital health solutions by member states. It envisioned that the G20 member countries would provide political, financial, and technical support to the GIDH. However, no such privilege was provided to the G20 countries under the GIDH.
As per the information in the public domain, the HWG will be focusing on “digital health, for the expansion of telehealth, integration, and analysis of data from national health systems” and GIDH during Brazil’s presidency. The continuity in the agenda of the HWG is commendable and it would be interesting to see how the discourse on digital health expands over the next year.
The GIH produces and shares knowledge, engages with incumbent presidencies, supports national health systems and aims to inform policy.
With a more specialised focus on telehealth, and integration and analysis of national health system data, it would be interesting to see how the overlap between the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) and HWG would be resolved. Issues such as the flow of data across borders, privacy concerns, and data protection, would fall within the ambit of DEWG and HWG may not have the specialisation to deal with such issues. It will also be interesting to see how the G20 will be able to support the GIDH.
Basu Chandola is an Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation
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Basu Chandola is an Associate Fellow. His areas of research include competition law, interface of intellectual property rights and competition law, and tech policy. Basu has ...
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